The Alcohol Problems Council of Wisconsin (APCW) records are arranged into six groups of records: HISTORICAL RECORDS (1948-1982), EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RECORDS (1968-1987), EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE (1962-1990), CORRESPONDENCE AND SUBJECT FILES (1960-1989), ALCOHOL PROBLEMS NEWSLETTERS AND CORRESPONDENCE (1956-1991), FINANCIAL RECORDS (1963-1991), and PHOTOGRAPHS. The records document APCW's effort to educate Wisconsin citizens of the dangers of beverage alcohol. Although the records cover the years 1948-1991, they are most complete for the period 1969-1981. The collection does not contain files of the Director of Education or the Director of Public Relations. There is very little documentation of the Alcohol Studies Summer Camp or the relationship between APCW and public and private schools throughout Wisconsin. The most comprehensive evidence of APCW's operations can be gleaned from the Historical Records and the Executive Committee Records.
The HISTORICAL RECORDS, 1948-1982, consist of APCW history, Historical Documents, and personal material. It documents the beginnings of APCW and includes a typewritten historical account of the first twelve years of the organization written by Dr. Earnest Parish in 1960, the year he resigned as Executive Director.
The Historical Documents file (1948-1967) records the merger of three temperance organizations into one new corporation. The file contains the constitution of Wisconsin Temperance Movement, minutes of the first meeting of members of the United Temperance Movement of Wisconsin (UTMW) containing the signatures of all the founding members, by-laws of UTMW and APCW, and numerous corporation documents.
The personal material documents the lives of Charles Velte and Claude Witt. Charles Velte was an attorney from Neenah-Menasha and a long-time President of APCW. Velte stepped down from the Presidential position in 1977 at the age of 94. Included in the file is Velte's official signature for tracing purposes and use on the mimeograph machine. Claude Witt was APCW's Executive Director from August 1977 to July 1983. The majority of the personal correspondence is focused on Witt's search for a pastoral position with a Southern Baptist Church and includes his resume. Witt's file includes correspondence with the First Baptist Church of McFarland, the Village of McFarland, and Witt's son's high school basketball coaches.
The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RECORDS, 1968-1987, consist of both packets and minutes documenting the activity of the Executive Committee. Executive Director Bayley distributed packets to the Board of Directors on a monthly basis to keep them informed of Executive Committee activities. A typical packet includes minutes, a financial statement, copies of mass mailings to constituents or legislators, and a cover letter further explaining each part of the packet. When Bayley resigned in 1973, the packet format was discontinued. The remaining minutes after the Bayley era are also found in the Executive Committee Records. Additional correspondence with the Board of Directors is filed under the general correspondence of the Executive Director's Office.
The EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE, 1962-1990, documents the day-to-day operations of the Executive Director's office. The Executive Director was responsible for the overall administration of APCW, but members of the Executive Committee also helped run the office. Executive Committee members also overtook operations during 1974-1976 when APCW was without an Executive Director. Additional Executive Director Office correspondence is located in the Correspondence and Subject Files.
The Executive Director's Office Correspondence is subdivided into two categories: general correspondence and church presentation correspondence. The general correspondence covers the years 1962 to 1984 and 1987 to 1990, although the bulk of the correspondence is from 1969 to 1981. It is arranged in chronological order. The incoming and outgoing correspondence is interfiled. Executive Directors Bayley and Witt wrote the bulk of the outgoing correspondence. President Charles Velte, Vice President William Stevens, Treasurer Lester C. Rilea, and Director of Public Relations Russell Reed also wrote letters. The file consists of incoming and outgoing exchanges with the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Wisconsin legislators, clergymen, students requesting alcohol information, and friends of APCW. Incoming and outgoing correspondence with specific groups is located within the subject files.
The church presentation correspondence is arranged chronologically and covers 1970-1972 (Bayley administration) and 1976-1980 (Witt administration). The correspondence documents the relationship between APCW and various church denominations throughout Wisconsin. The later correspondence documents the lack of support of APCW by the Christian community.
The CORRESPONDENCE AND SUBJECT FILES, 1960-1989, document the operations and activities of APCW. The files are arranged alphabetically by subject. The original folder headings were retained, but the amount of material within each folder is sparse. The bulk of the material is from 1969 to 1982 with scattered material before and after those dates. Most of the subject files consist of incoming and outgoing exchanges with various school, church and business organizations, stock brokers, attorneys, state agencies, state legislators and the media. The subject files document such activities as the essay contest, surveys, and plays.
The ALCOHOL PROBLEMS NEWSLETTERS AND CORRESPONDENCE, 1956-1991, documents efforts to inform Wisconsin citizens of the dangers of alcohol as well as the relationship between APCW, the national branch of American Council on Alcohol Problems (ACAP) and other state branches of Alcohol Problems. The series begins with the Wisconsin newsletter followed by the national chapter and subsequent state branches arranged in alphabetical order by state. APCW corresponded with ACAP, California Council of Alcohol Problems, Kansas United Dry Forces, Kentucky Temperance League, and the Michigan Council on Alcohol Problems. APCW filed all correspondence with each corresponding newsletters therefore this organization has been retained.
The FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1963-1991, document APCW's financial struggle. Although the records cover 1963 to 1991, the bulk of the records cover 1970 - 1981. The series includes audits, financial statements, and correspondence with state and federal agencies. Additional financial statements for 1969 - 1973 are filed in the Executive Committee Packets of the Executive Committee Records series. Of particular interest is the correspondence between Executive Director Claude Witt and the Internal Revenue Service documenting APCW's financial problems.
PHOTOGRAPHS document the activities of APCW and include views of alcohol billboards, editorial cartoons, educational objects handed out at APCW exhibit booths, and speakers, but most of the views are of APCW activities or staff members. Activities covered include: alcohol camp, presenting an alcohol film, breathalyzer demonstration, educational exhibit booths, and meetings. Portraits of important APCW leaders include Executive Directors Bayley and Parish, School Assembly Presenter Glenn Cunningham, President Frank Nelson, and Director of Public Relations Russell Reed.
