Administrative and working files including organization newsletters, press releases, correspondence, reference materials, newspaper clippings, testimony, speeches, flyers, and an article and paper written about the group by Virginia Kemp Fish, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point sociology professor. The records document the group's activities which included testifying, publicizing the issues surrounding nuclear dangers to the community, researching issues, and networking with similar groups. The files include material both produced by LAND and produced by other organizations and collected by LAND. The collection is divided into three series: GENERAL FILES, ACTION/RESEARCH FILES, and OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
The GENERAL FILES pertain to the administrative and outreach efforts of the organization. Included is correspondence (and supporting reference files) with nationally known nuclear experts including Sister Rosalie Bertell, Larry Bogart, Dr. David Dinsmore Comey, Doug DeNike, Dr. John Gofman, and Dr. Charles Huver. There is also correspondence with Wisconsin politicians including Gaylord Nelson, William Proxmire, and David Obey; and with federal and state nuclear and utility regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and the Wisconsin Radiation Protection Council and Public Service Commission.
Also included are the organization's press releases, pamphlets and flyers, notes, materials from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, information about speakers sponsored by LAND, scattered membership records, and some conference materials. There are some statements, speeches, and testimonies given by Gertrude Dixon as well as a copy of the book, Methodologies for the Study of Low-Level Radiation in the Midwest (1979) and related materials. Two of the organization's newsletters are included: LAND Newsletter (1973-1974) and LANDLEAF Newsletter (1975-1990).
The collection documents well the untiring efforts of a small group of small-town and rural people, mainly women, to get the attention and respect of powerful people, such as utility executives, politicians, federal officials, and newspaper editors. However, the collection does not contain much information on how the group originally formed or recruited members. There are no meeting minutes or correspondence between members to document the relationship between members and the internal workings of the organization.
ACTION/RESEARCH FILES pertain to political action and research undertaken by the organization. Included are reference materials, news clippings, data, correspondence, notes, and miscellaneous materials relating to cancer rates, drinking water, effects of radiation on workers, evacuation emergencies from nuclear power plants, Wisconsin Senate Bill 230 proposing a nuclear power plant moratorium, mining in Rusk County, uranium mining, the Price-Anderson Act (concerning insurance liability issues in nuclear accident), nuclear war, transportation of nuclear waste, nuclear waste storage, Wisconsin power plant capabilities, and the Wisconsin Radioactive Waste Review Board.
Of particular interest are files pertaining to actions taken against proposed plants to be located in Wisconsin: Genoa, Koshkonong, Point Beach, Rudolph, and Tyrone. Two such actions involved a milk radiation contamination study at Point Beach and involvement of the cranberry growers at Rudolph. A file of relevant news clippings from Wisconsin newspapers and of letters written to editors of various Wisconsin newspapers are useful because they document the small-town newspaper coverage of the organization's activities.
The OTHER ORGANIZATIONS series consists of materials received and collected by LAND from environmental and anti-nuclear organizations, primarily in Wisconsin. These files contain a lot of information about other groups also working around Wisconsin at the time. Included are materials pertaining to the Independent Phi Beta Kappa Environmental Study Group, June 12th Disarmament Coalition, Madison Draft Resistance Coalition, Don't Waste America (Lake Superior Region Radioactive Waste Project), Pollution and Environmental Problems, Inc. (Palatine, Ill.), Portage County (Wis.) Emergency Government and Office of Civil Defense, Safe Haven, Ltd. (Sheboygan, Wis.), Secure Adequate Future Energy, Stop Project ELF, Wisconsin Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign, and Women of All Red Nations (Sioux Falls, S.D.). There are also copies of anti-nuclear resolutions passed by other organizations and government bodies.
