The collection has been arranged in ten series, reflecting the organization and activities of the Madison YSA; these are Organizational Records; Financial Records; Conventions and Election Campaigns, Files of YSA and SWP; Publicity and Publications; YSA Activities and Reports Regarding Activities; U.W. Campus Activities with which YSA was Involved; Other Groups; General Papers and Subject File; Other Wisconsin Locals; and Other Locals. To some extent the original arrangement, as created by donor Patrick Quinn, has been retained, with modifications made for clarifying the arrangement, as necessary.
The ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS of the Madison YSA consist of a copy of the national YSA constitution, minutes of the general and executive committee meetings, minutes of the fractions, reports to the national YSA organization; correspondence, including that of the state organizer; and contact lists. FINANCIAL RECORDS supplement the Organizational Records, and include such materials as chapter bank statements, bills and receipts, records of book and newspaper sales and subscriptions, income and expenditure records, dues, financial correspondence, and records of the Che Guevara Book Store and movie showings. Many of these records are fragmentary in nature, but together present a good picture both of the chapter's financial situation and its activities.
There is a large series of records documenting YSA and SWP cooperation during CONVENTIONS AND ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, including newspaper clippings, correspondence, press releases, endorser lists, petitions, research notes, and financial records concerning candidates supported by the two organizations. There are documents from both local (1964, 1967-1972) and national (1964, 1968, and 1976) races, with scattered material from other states, primarily dating from 1969 and 1970.
Four series, PUBLICITY AND PUBLICATIONS, YSA ACTIVITIES AND REPORTS REGARDING ACTIVITIES, U.W. CAMPUS ACTIVITIES WITH WHICH YSA WAS INVOLVED, and OTHER GROUPS WITH WHICH YSA WORKED document the activities of the Madison local and its members. Publicity and Publications files include leaflets, press releases and drafts prepared by local members; copies and drafts of the City Letter newsletter, and mailing lists. Within the Activities and Reports series are copies of the “Tasks and Perspectives” evaluations of chapter activities; and reports regarding recruitment of new members, forums, speaking and educational work, the TAA strike and Third World fractions, and visits by out-of-state YSA members. Materials documenting U.W. Campus Activities include newspaper clippings, leaflets issued by YSA and allied groups concerning particular events, and working papers, such as task sign-up sheets, and rental papers for meeting rooms. The records of Other Groups with Which YSA Worked contain materials from local and national defense committees, both those linked with YSA and those like-minded, but independent.
GENERAL PAPERS AND SUBJECT FILE consist of convention papers from regional YSA gatherings; YSA statements and notes concerning ecology and the Middle East; the Madison YSA membership term paper file; and miscellaneous clippings and leaflets (not all of which were produced by the YSA).
Two small series illustrate YSA's involvement with OTHER WISCONSIN LOCALS and OTHER NON-WISCONSIN LOCALS. These consist of correspondence, minutes, notes, and newsclippings, and are fragmentary. Other Wisconsin YSA locals were located at University of Wisconsin campuses at Oshkosh, La Crosse, and Milwaukee. Also included are correspondence and papers of the YSA Midwest Organizers.
