Although Harvey Dueholm served in the Wisconsin Legislature for twenty years, the Dueholm Papers donated to the Historical Society represent only a small portion of his papers. The collection chiefly pertains to the period 1974-1978, and it is presumed that the majority of the earlier documentation was destroyed. Although the paper documentation inadequately covers his long career, Dueholm was interviewed extensively for the Wisconsin Agriculturists Oral History Project, and this separately-catalogued interview covers his career in the Legislature and that of his father Marius Dueholm, as well as his early farming career and his Progressive political philosophy. Dueholm also retells many of the stories and anecdotes for which he was famous concerning political issues and other legislators.
Included in the Dueholm Papers are constituent correspondence, subject files, bill files, and biographical material.
The BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL includes vitas and resumes, voting records, memorabilia, a 1967 student interview, and microfilmed biographical clippings. Correspondence between the Society and Dueholm referred to the existence of career scrapbooks prepared by Mrs. Dueholm when she worked in his legislative office. The clippings received by the Society, however, consisted of several cartons of loose materials, and it is unlikely that they were the documentation referred to in the correspondence. These clippings are available only in microfilmed form.
The CORRESPONDENCE is of two types. First, there is general constituent correspondence arranged alphabetically which documents the period 1974-1978. A second correspondence file consists of letters from the period 1959-1978 which were received unfoldered. This section, which has been titled personal correspondence, includes references to local politics, congratulations, and some additional constituent correspondence. Prominent correspondents found here include William Osborne Hart, Hubert Humphrey, Gaylord Nelson, David Obey, Walker K. Wyman, and John Wyngaard. Also of note is a copy of a testimonial speech concerning Gaylord Nelson given by Hubert Humphrey in Clear Lake, Wisconsin, in 1967 and a 1967 statement of Dueholm's political philosophy.
The alphabetical SUBJECT FILES include correspondence, memoranda, background and reference material and genre files of form letters, speeches, extensive numbers of newsletters and press releases. The file also includes a sample of a large volume of congratulatory letters sent out by Dueholm to his constituents and friends. There are also letters, advertisements, reports, and publicity materials concerning several reelection campaigns. Files dealing with legislative issues are somewhat miscellaneous and incomplete even for the 1974-1978 period.
Two boxes of BILL FILES contain distributions in bill number order from lobbyists, advocacy groups, state agencies, and others concerning legislation introduced during the 1977-1978 session.
