This collection consists of research materials gathered or written by Rucker for an uncompleted book on the history of Oconto County logging for the Oconto County Economic Development Corporation. It is arranged alphabetically by topic.
The county cultural resources folder contains National Register of Historic Places applications for the Holt and Balcom Logging Camp #1 and the Smyth Road Bridge in Lakewood. Also included in this folder is what appears to be a photocopied card file on Oconto County historic buildings, with detailed information on address, age, style, material, builder/contractor, and intended use of building (some photocopied photos attached).
The general local history folder contains notes, clippings, and booklets pertaining to Wisconsin communities outside of Oconto County, such as: Menasha, Green Lake, Green Bay, Racine, and Stockbridge/Munsee tribal lands and people. Compilations of Green Bay Catholic parishes, and Wisconsin “ghost parishes” are included.
Although the primary subject of the intended product of this research was logging, research on a number of other industries is also included, such as: fishing, maple syrup and maple sugar making, shingle making, tanning, shipbuilding, and pulp making.
Many towns in Oconto County are represented with files containing brief histories and clippings. Short biographies on prominent businessmen such as Anson Eldred, George Beyer, Freeland B. Gardner and Edwin Hart are included. Many of these compilations, along with the vast amount of logging history information included in the collection, contain no source documentation.
