The collection contains many typewritten copies of manuscript items, the originals of which exist elsewhere. There is material relative to the famous “Heresy Trial” of Professor Richard T. Ely, economist and political scientist; most of it is excerpts from and references to newspapers. There is some material relative to anarchist Emma Goldman, her visit to Madison in 1910, and the ramifications of the visit. There is information about Professor Edward A. Ross, famous sociologist, and his connection with the Goldman incident and with bringing Parker Sercombe, of Chicago, to lecture at the University. There are some copies of Charles Van Hise-Lincoln Steffens correspondence. The bulk of the material deals with the efforts of the leaders of the Class of 1910 to get their class gift, the bronze “sifting and winnowing” plaque, posted in a prominent place on the campus after the Board of Regents rejected it in 1910. There is also one folder of references to and excerpts from newspapers dealing with the above subjects.
