These materials were collected by Lloyd W. Woodruff, a faculty member at the University of
Wisconsin Extension Division Bureau of Government from 1950 to 1957 and member of the County
and Local Government Study Group of the Menominee Indian Study Committee (MISC).
The federal government terminated federal recognition of the Menominee Indian Tribe of
Wisconsin by passing Public Law 83-399 on June 17, 1954. On June 17, 1955 the Wisconsin
State Legislature passed Joint Resolution No. 72 A. and formed the Menominee Indian Study
Committee (MISC) to study the problems created by the withdrawal of federal responsibility
for tribal services and to aid the Joint Legislative Council in developing legislation
necessary for the Menominee to transition from federal supervision to local
self-government.
The committee researched how the transition would impact taxation, public welfare, local
politics, education, healthcare, highways, forestry, and the criminal justice system. The
committee members in August of 1955 included Attorney General Veron W. Thomson, Menominee
Tribal Chairman James G Frechette, Menominee Treasurer Bernard Gringon, and Menominee
Advisory Councilmember Hilary Waukau, representatives of Shawano county and Oconto county,
Senator Hugh Jones, Assembly members Rueben LaFave and Robert G. Marotz, and representatives
of the Wisconsin Department of Taxation, Department of Public Welfare, Department of Public
Instruction, Highway Commission, Conservation Commission, and Governor's Commission on Human
Rights. In August 1957, Attorney General Stewart G. Honeck replaced Thomson as chairman.
On August 8, 1955 the Executive Committee of the MISC invited members of the University of
Wisconsin Extension Bureau of Government to study local government programs that would be
impacted by termination and potential alternatives in a County and Local Government Study.
The MISC also researched potential plans for control of tribal assets, particularly the
Menominee forest. On May 4, 1956 University of Wisconsin faculty including Woodruff and
Menominee tribal members formed the Law and Order Study Committee, led by Advisory
Councilmember Hilary Waukau. The Committee analyzed the impact of Public Law 280 which
transferred civil and criminal jurisdiction over the Menominee reservation from the federal
to state government.
The Menominee General Council created the Coordinating and Negotiating Committee in
November, 1957 to help develop a termination implementation plan. The Chairman was George W.
Kenote assisted by Gordon Dickie, Mitchell A. Dodge, and James G. Frechette. Menominee
leaders lobbied for a transitional period, first until December 31, 1958, and later extended
until December 31, 1960.
On July 17, 1959, the Wisconsin legislature passed three bills and a Senate Resolution
previously reviewed by the MISC. Chapter 259 created Menominee County, while Chapter 258
taxed the Menominee forest lands on a sustained yield basis, and Chapter 260 transferred
taxes collected on incomes, utilities, and liquor taxes to Menominee County. Senate Joint
Resolution 52 called for federal funding for essential services including highway
improvement, education, and healthcare for Menominee County. On April 30, 1961 the Menominee
reservation became Menominee County and Menominee Enterprises, Inc. took ownership of
Menominee assets. This collection refers to the Wisconsin Legislative Council's Menominee
Indian Study Committee and the research undertaken by the University of Wisconsin faculty
and staff at the committee's request.
