The papers of William A. Titus reflect his life as businessperson, historian, author, and Republican politician, of which business papers, especially of the Standard Lime and Stone Company, comprise the largest segment. Many other letters and financial papers pertain to his other investments: the Copper Belt Mines Company in Wyoming, mining property in Ontario, and real estate in Milwaukee, Chicago, and the northern lakes region of Wisconsin. His papers are divided by six series: Correspondence; Studies and Speeches; Articles on History; Business Records; Genealogy, Biography and Miscellaneous Materials; and Photographs.
The CORRESPONDENCE, 1835-1951, is arranged chronologically by month. The correspondence relates to Titus and his business enterprises, political affairs, family matters, and historical and literary interests.
Political issues and interests are reflected in the correspondence between 1912 and 1930. During this period he: supported Theodore Roosevelt for the presidency in 1912; was a member of the Fond du Lac school board (1914 to 1922); assailed Senator La Follette's opposition to the United States' intervention in World War I; served in the state senate (1921-1929); and unsuccessful bids for superintendent of schools in Fond du Lac County; a seat in congress; and a nomination as the Republican candidate for governor. Correspondents include several Wisconsin and national political figures. He corresponded with politicians such as Congressmen Frank B. Keefe (November 26, 1946), and Michael K. Reilly (June 7, 1932), Governors Francis McGovern, E.L. Philipp and Walter Goodland, and public figures such as Theodore Roosevelt (February 7, 1918), Guy D. Goff (September 7, 1917), and Gifford Pinchot (April 16, 1919).
As a collector of Indian artifacts from Mexico and the southwestern United States, Titus exchanged letters with other collectors. As a writer on state and local historical topics and a member of the Board of Curators of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, he carried on extensive correspondence with the directors and other staff members of the Society. He conducted correspondence with Louise P. Kellogg, Edward P. Alexander, and Clifford L. Lord. In addition, Titus pursued his literary interests in corresponding with the author, August Derleth.
Some family letters are also found in the correspondence. During World War II a series of letters, 1943-1945, written by his son Robert, describe experiences in the United States Navy from boot camp to the occupation of Okinawa. In a letter dated 1945 August 26, he describes the American occupation of Okinawa following the Japanese surrender. Robert Titus catalogued the appalling conditions upon the island, asserting,
The [American] officers in many cases were arrogant. They had good sleeping quarters from the time of the landing while the privates slept on the ground with bugs and lizards and snakes. That was to be expected, but when the first cots came in for the men, the officers grabbed them so as to have something to pile their clothes... also the first thing we had to construct was a recreation room for the officers when the men did not even have a place to wash and clean up decently. Finally a visiting marine sanitary engineer corrected that condition as soon as he saw it.
A few other letters were written by a grandson, Donald W. Titus, a member of a tank corps in the Pacific theater during World War II.
Titus also collected miscellaneous autograph letters and documents, most of which are dated prior to 1910. Among these are documents signed by George Boyd and Aaron Vanderpoel, James G. Percival, James D. Doty, and John Lawe; and letters signed by U.S. Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft (January 6, 1846), T.C. Chamberlin, Lyman C. Draper, Lucius Fairchild, Asa Gray, Edward E. Hale, Julian Hawthorn, T.W. Higginson, Emerson Hough, Rupert Hughes, Edward Salomon, U.S. Senator Philetus Sawyer (January 20, 1882), Henry R. Schoolcraft, and William E. Smith. Autographs scattered through the correspondence after 1910 include letters written by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1925), Joseph C. Lincoln (1925), and Harold Bell Wright (1917). The letter from Higginson is of interest as it explains the general abolitionists' strategy against slavery (October 18, 1857).
The STUDIES AND SPEECHES include Titus' studies concerning Indian tribes in the Upper Mid-West and Great Lakes Region, national affairs, and his senatorial speeches and campaign literature. “Mellon Treasury Plan” describes the Republican tax program of the 1920s. “The New Republic: As Related in 1976” discusses the future of the United States in relationship to the depression of the 1930s. The campaign speeches and political literature is from Titus' 1920 and 1924 senatorial campaigns and his 1922 congressional campaign.
ARTICLES ON HISTORY. These boxes contain some of Titus' articles, speeches and research notes regarding Fond du Lac and Wisconsin history, and non-Wisconsin history. Titus' original papers contained manuscripts of many of his published articles. In every case where the State Historical Society Library has copies of the articles, the manuscripts were not kept.
BUSINESS RECORDS. This box includes Titus' business records delineating his commercial and investment transactions. Business records include documents concerning the Copper Belt Mine Company, Standard Line and Stone Company, Citizens Loan and Investment Company, Norlake Realty Company and the Cass-Wayne Apartments.
GENEALOGY, BIOGRAPHY, AND MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS. These folders contain Titus' collection of clipped autographs and signed cards (including Edward P. Bragg, Henry Cabot Lodge, Charles Francis Adams and General W.T. Sherman), documents and certificates (such as his certificate of merit in Genealogy), and miscellaneous articles (such as an unpublished article entitled “A Blue Heron Nesting Place”). Autobiographical manuscripts by William A. Titus give his recollections and an appraisal of his life, especially his service as legislator and historian including, “My Idea of the Outstanding Achievements of My Life,” “William A. Titus, Fond du Lac, Wis.” “Wisconsin as I have Known It” discusses Titus' experiences in relationship to state history. “After Many Days” reviews Titus' legislative record. “Personal Contacts through Five Decades” describes Titus' mother and the family physician. Also includes genealogical material on the Titus family.
The PHOTOGRAPHS in the collection document William A. Titus; his family and their homes in Fond du Lac and Eden, Wisconsin; his work and co-workers at the Standard Lime and Stone Company; and events in and around Fond du Lac, including a GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) parade, as well as events and people at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Also included are images of properties owned by Titus in other states and family vacations to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Additional images include Native American artifacts collected by Titus now in the collections of the Wisconsin Historical Museum.
