Established in Madison, Wisconsin in August 1970, the People's Office was a nonprofit 24-hour telephone counseling and referral service provided free to the community. It was created in response to a perceived need for an alternative to the Madison Police Department, which was believed to be unsympathetic (if not a contributing factor) to the problems of the liberal campus-area population. Such problems included medical, drug-related, and sexual problems; low-cost and short-term housing; police harassment; and runaways and missing persons. Proclaiming a leftist and anti-Vietnam War ideology, the Office also helped coordinate rallies and demonstrations in the University area.
People's Office was a registered student organization at the University of Wisconsin, but not all members were students. The size of the staff varied, but averaged 20-25 volunteers. During its brief history, the Office was located at three different addresses in the campus area: State Street (1970-1971), Gilman Street (1971--March 1973), and Bassett Street (March-May 1973).
As an anti-establishment group, the People's Office generally avoided any formal system of governance. Instead, they relied on a form of collective authority where decisions were based on discussion at general meetings held each Thursday. This highly decentralized and informal method of creating Office policy often led to conflicts among individuals and sporadic compliance with directives. Member disunity was a major contributing factor to the Office's closing in 1973.
In an attempt to improve communications and unity, Office members kept a logbook. Usually handwritten, the log recorded all calls received, including suggestions by staff members about how to improve Office responses and procedures. Reference files were also compiled (although lacking from this collection) on other community groups and services, laws, education, housing, and other topics.
A weekly newsletter, The People's Release, outlined services provided by the People's Office, and recorded current anti-war activity and editorial views of world politics. The information was generally compiled and copied on Sunday for distribution Monday morning to record stores, co-ops, and dormitories, and to a limited extent by mail. Circulation was approximately 1,000 copies. The Office also prepared the “People's Calendar,” a nightly recording of community events, mostly films, for broadcast over a local radio station. Beginning in January 1971, the Calendar was designed to increase public awareness of the services provided by the People's Office.
Locating sufficient funds to continue People's Office services was a continuing problem. Two major Office expenses were rent and telephone bills, both of which were difficult to pay. Members were encouraged to bring their own office supplies, if possible. The only consistent source of income came from the sale of Kaleidoscope, to which the Office regularly contributed articles. Film festivals and the sale of “bootleg” records received from their “contacts” at a local radio station were also sources of funds.
In May 1973, the People's Office closed. The exact reason for dissolution is difficult to determine, although 1973 minutes and logbook entries suggest heightened disunity among staff about Office operation. There was also a belief that community support was inadequate despite attempts to publicize the Office. To the staff, the frequent outside requests for films or other entertainment heightened the belief that their services were not taken seriously. For whatever reasons, the People's Office closed after less than three years of operation.
