The Reynolds gubernatorial papers consist of biographical material, speeches and writings, legislative bill files, correspondence, appointment files, legal files, notes, photographs, films, and sound recordings. Because the papers were deeded to the Historical Society before the law was changed to make such records public property, the Reynolds Papers were a private donation to the Society.
Perhaps because of this provenance, the papers are somewhat more diverse both in character and in time coverage than most gubernatorial collections received via the Public Records Law. In addition to the normal gubernatorial records, this series also includes some miscellaneous material touching on Reynolds' four years as attorney general and files pertaining to his political activities and electoral campaigns from 1954 through 1964. The papers include much routine administrative material, although perhaps because of the budget deadlock which characterized state government for much of his tenure and because Reynolds served only two years as governor this type of documentation is more limited than in many of the collections of other Wisconsin governors of the period. The full extent of the routine and redundant material was further reduced by weeding in the Archives. Nevertheless, coverage ranges from constituent letters asking for information and assistance to letters discussing the development of high-level policy. Of greatest interest to researchers are files touching most of the important issues of the Reynolds administration including the tax deadlock, confrontation with the legislature over the governor's appointment powers, highway construction funding, and reapportionment. In addition, the political files contain considerable information on his own political races, the way in which they were planned and managed, and on his participation in the 1964 presidential election.
BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL include brief campaign biographies, an extended resume covering the legal aspects of his career, and (on microfilm only) clipping scrapbooks documenting his career from 1958 through 1964. After filming, the originals of these clippings were destroyed. Photographs housed in the Visual and Sound Archives and also documenting this period are chiefly comprised of publicity shots. Quite a number of them document Reynolds with various leaders of the Democratic Party including John and Robert Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, John Gronouski, Patrick J. Lucey, and Gaylord Nelson.
SPEECHES AND WRITINGS consist of variant drafts of speeches, writings, and statements given by Reynolds as governor. This section is, however, not the only location of such material in the collection. Speeches of earlier date are filed with the attorney general's files. In addition, drafts of veto messages (which were eventually published in the Legislative Journals) are filed with the legislative bill files and many speeches and statements are duplicated with the files of press releases. Finally, in addition to written material this section consists of three sound recordings and two films of the Governor's Report series carried by WHA. (The separately-catalogued WHA Public Affairs Department records include three additional Reynolds speech recordings).
Also with the speeches are reference materials used in the preparation of papers and remarks. These files have been extensively weeded and are filed alphabetically by subject. Some contain pre-1963 material which indicates that the files may have been used for information while he was attorney general.
LEGISLATIVE BILL FILES, one of the most important portions of the gubernatorial papers, contain reports and memoranda prepared by departmental officials, legislative leaders, and staff concerning pending legislation, together with their recommendations on whether the governor should sign the bill. In some cases drafts of veto messages are included. This material is arranged by legislative house and by bill number.
CORRESPONDENCE was filed in several ways by the Reynolds administration. The most valuable files for a study of policy are the alphabetical subject files which contain not only correspondence of a diverse character but also memoranda, reports, and reference materials. In this section one will find not only correspondence concerning the budget from constituents, but also information submitted by departments for use in the preparation of the executive budget (and a film of one of his innovative budget tours) and legislative material relating to the inability to pass either the executive or legislative versions of the spending bill. Available only on microfilm are minutes of disaster committees from around the state and federal aid application forms which detail the impact of the drought of 1963 and 1964. Also relating to the farm situation are the files and one tape on Reynolds and Lieutenant Governor Jack Olson's response to the National Farm Organization strike. Also in this section of the correspondence are weekly news memoranda from departmental officials, the governor's daily schedule sheets, and proclamations.
Departmental correspondence is subdivided into a file for departments and another for boards and commissions and is largely made up of constituent correspondence routed to the relevant office for reply. Some constituent letters such as the extensive files on taxation contain representative citizen views on important issues. There are, in addition, some exchange for departments and another for boards and commissions and is largely made up of constituent correspondence routed to the relevant office for reply. Some constituent letters such as the extensive files on taxation contain representative citizen views on important issues. There are, in addition, some exchanges in these files with departmental personnel of more substantial value and some informational material sent to the governor such as board minutes and reports. A large portion of the routine constituent requests originally contained in these files were weeded in the Archives. Also part of the correspondence is a small file of general letters filed alphabetically by name.
Documenting Reynolds' penchant for publicity are extensive files of press releases (like the speeches, press releases pertaining to Reynolds' tenure as attorney general are filed in that section of the series). Although the internal numbering device by which the releases are filed suggests that many releases are missing, it is more likely that the numbering plan was instead altered. Nevertheless, the press releases provide informative documentation of administration activities, ranging from Reynolds' schedule and complete text of many of his speeches and public statements to biographical information about his appointees.
The APPOINTMENT FILES consist of letters of recommendation and some related correspondence concerning governmental positions which Reynolds had the authority to fill. These files are arranged alphabetically by agency name. Given the controversy over this aspect of his authority, the correspondence here is generally disappointing and routine. Researchers, however, will find important supplemental material, correspondence, and legal documents concerning the related court tests of appointment powers in the LEGAL FILES. Also in the legal files is material pertaining to the hiring of special counsels (which was done extensively by Reynolds), correspondence from prisoners concerning pardons and parole, material pertaining to extraditions and requisitions, and letters of a general legal nature from constituents.
The GOVERNOR'S PERSONAL NOTES, a title given to this small file by Reynolds' office, consist of miscellaneous material in Reynolds' handwriting. Most of these notes are unidentified and undated.
The POLITICAL FILES are no doubt among the most valuable portions of the series. Included are documents ranging from Reynolds' leadership in the Brown County Democratic organization in 1954 (such documents are scarce) to his reelection defeat in 1964. For each of his election campaigns during these years the collection includes extensive correspondence, planning materials and notes, position papers, campaign literature, itineraries, media files (and some television spots) and financial information. In addition, there are files on other political activities, although these are by no means complete, ranging from Reynolds' attempt to persuade Arthur Altmeyer to run against Alexander Wiley in 1956 to his support for John Kennedy in 1960 and participation in the 1964 presidential campaign. The file on Reynolds' candidacy in the Democratic primary as a stand-in for Lyndon Johnson against George C. Wallace contains numerous letters from Wisconsin and Alabama. Reynolds' vocal opposition to the Republican candidate Barry Goldwater is also documented.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S FILES consist of miscellaneous material, much of it of a political nature, which supplement the other Department of Justice records held by the Historical Society. Among the alphabetically-filed subject files are memoranda to and from departmental staff, material on several important cases (academic freedom and water diversion), press releases, schedules, and speeches. The file on county correspondence, which is filed alphabetically by county, contains letters mainly of a political nature. The remainder of the correspondence is of a general character.
