The records of the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association, 1909-1955, include correspondence, minutes, resolutions, financial records, other organizational records, speeches and articles, newspaper clippings, and records of the Wisconsin Dairy Cow Competition. The records of the Wisconsin Junior Dairymen's Association are interfiled with those of the senior Association because many single items refer to both organizations.
Correspondence (1918-1955) is both incoming and outgoing and contains letters to and from the various secretaries of the Association (notably Paul C. Burchard and B.R. Dugdale) concerning activities and programs, meetings, and legislation. The letters provide insight into the policies of the WDA, and reveal that its members viewed themselves as the voice of the dairy industry.
Minutes (1933-1955) mainly cover meetings of the Board of Directors of both the junior and senior organizations. Many of the minutes prior to 1933 can be found in the Record Book (Box 3, Folder 3).
Resolutions (1918-1955) consist of motions passed at the annual conventions of the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association. Some early resolutions can also be found in the Record Book (Box 3, Folder 3).
Financial records (1919-1953) range from comprehensive annual treasurer's reports to fragmentary entries in account books. The treasurer's reports contain detailed statistics on credits and disbursements, salaries, inventories, and other expenses.
Other organizational records (1917-1955) include articles of incorporation, annual reports to the Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture, official summaries of activities, and membership lists (both in folders and bound volumes). The history of the organization can be found in the Secretary/Treasurer's Report of 1922 and in the “Story of the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association” (undated) written by Paul C. Burchard and J.C. Nisbet. The bound Record Book (1917-1944) contains a variety of additional records such as clippings, minutes, programs, and secretary's reports.
Speeches and articles (1919-1954) originated mainly in the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association annual conventions and cover a variety of topics ranging from cow diseases to improvements in marketing techniques. Transcripts of question and answer periods following speeches are also often included.
Newspaper clippings (1933, 1948, 1953) concern largely programs and activities of the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association, panel discussions to be held, and accomplishments by individual members.
The volumes on the Wisconsin Dairy Cow Competition (1909-1911) contain statistics on the cows being tested, including name of cow, owner's name, breed, ages, days in milk at the beginning of the test, pounds of milk and butterfat, and credit for the month in pounds of fat.
Photographs (circa 1940s) depict a class of young farmers and a Junior Dairymen's Association display.
