The papers of Democratic legislator Tim Cullen are primarily comprised of files on two committees which he chaired: the Senate Committee on Aging, Business and Financial Institutions, and Transportation and the Legislative Council's Committee on Mining. The files date from the period 1976 to 1982 and thus predate his election as majority leader; however, even for this period the files do not appear to be a complete record of Cullen's activities. The ABFIT files contain correspondence, memoranda, notes, clippings, reports, and selected research material. The correspondence includes letters from legislative colleagues and staff, state agencies, and constituents. Unlike most state legislators' collections, the letters of the last type are not a major portion of Cullen's papers. In subject, the files cover mortgage subsidization plans which Cullen sponsored to promote home building during a period of high interest rates; raising the minimum drinking age; the appointment of Owen Ayres to head the Department of Transportation; property tax deferrals for the elderly, another concept which Cullen introduced; and other issues which came before the committee for consideration.
In addition to the above mentioned types of documentation, the Mining Committee files include agenda, summary meeting minutes, and statements and testimony for committee hearings. Despite the inclusion of these types of documents and the fact that Cullen chaired the committee, these records cannot be considered the official records of the Mining Committee. This section also includes analogous files on several subcommittees which he chaired, especially the Subcommittee on Uranium Exploration and Safety. Taken together these files provide excellent documentation on various taxation and health and safety issues raised by the exploration of northern Wisconsin by mining companies during the late 1970's and early 1980's.
Among the alphabetically-arranged committee files in the collection are several smaller groups of records. Most notable among these are materials on the Joint Conference Committee on Possession, Consumption and Sale of Alcohol to Minors.
