Title: La Crosse, Wisconsin, Office of the Mayor, Patrick Zielke Records
Bulk Dates: 1981-1991
Inclusive Dates: 1976-1994

Creator:

• La Crosse (Wis.). Office of the Mayor.

Unique Identifier: La Crosse Series 045

Quantity: 1.6 cubic feet

Physical Description: 4 archives boxes

Repository:

La Crosse Public Library
Contact Information

Archival Location:

La Crosse Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Papers of Patrick Zielke, Council member from 1964-1974 and Mayor of the City of La Crosse from 1975 to 1997. Zielke held the mayoral position for 22 years, the longest of anyone in La Crosse history. About half of the papers are carbon copies of outgoing correspondence from the mayor’s office regarding board and committee appointments, and some correspondence about city topics. Many of the letters are routine in nature. The other half of the collection are newspaper clippings from the La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune on various topics and issues, such as river boat gambling, hotels, taxes, etc., dating from 1976; 1988-1989; 1992. There is no personal or biographical information on Zielke, other than a few editorials he wrote, 1984-1991.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.lcpl-lacrosseseries045

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46313460

(Accession no. 1997.031) Donated by Patrick Zielke, 1997 December

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

[Identification of item], La Crosse, Wisconsin, Office of the Mayor, Patrick Zielke Records, La Crosse Series 045, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

Processed by Jaime Dechant and Anita Taylor Doering, June 1999

The papers are arranged in three groups: Correspondence, Newspaper Clippings, and Other.

The Correspondence group includes two sections. The first are carbon copies of outgoing correspondence from Mayor Patrick Zielke’s office regarding various city subjects, such as airport, baseball stadium, hotels, Pammel Creek flood project, and the like. There is a small folder of constituent correspondence in this series as well. Many of the letters are routine in nature. The other section consists of carbon copies of outgoing correspondence appointing citizens and council members to various city boards, committees, commissions, and task forces.

Newspaper Clippings were clipped and organized by date by the Mayor and include articles from the La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune 1976; 1988-1989; 1992. Topics include issues of the day and some high school sports articles. Finally, Other includes organizational charts of city departments, 1980; letters from Zielke to city employees who retired, 1981-1991; and declarations from the Mayor’s Office, 1988-1991.

There is no personal or biographical information on Zielke, other than a few editorials he wrote, 1984-1991.

Patrick Zielke, a La Crosse resident and Trane Co. employee, was first elected to the La Crosse Common Council in 1964. He became alderman of the 7th ward in 1966. In 1975, he was elected mayor of the City of La Crosse, Wisconsin. He served in this capacity for 22 years, the longest time ever in La Crosse history.

Being pro-business and industry, Zielke’s accomplishments during his administration include riverfront restoration and redevelopment of the downtown area. The Harborview project, which includes the La Crosse Center, Radisson Hotel and the former G. Heileman Brewing Co. headquarters, as well as the construction of First Bank Tower (now U.S. Bank) and parking ramp are part of Zielke’s legacy. Some of La Crosse’s most historic and oldest buildings were destroyed using federal money so that vast tracts of land could be utilized in this project in an effort to revitalize the downtown.

Zielke also assisted with the development of Valley View Mall, a new Logan High School, Shelby Mall, and the Market Square parking ramp and apartments. Other improvements made during 1975-1997 dealt with transportation projects such as bridges. In addition, an airport terminal and airport industrial park were created during his tenure.

• Zielke, Patrick
• La Crosse (Wis.)--Politics and government
• Mayors--Wisconsin--La Crosse
• Municipal government--Wisconsin--La Crosse
• Public records--Wisconsin--La Crosse

	Outgoing Correspondence
	Subjects
Box 1   Folder 1	Airport/airlines, 1988-1991
Box 1   Folder 2	Baseball, 1988-1990
Box 1   Folder 3	Condolences, 1981
Box 1   Folder 4	Congratulations, 1988-1991
Box 1   Folder 5	Constituents, 1981-1992
Box 1   Folder 6	Editorials, 1984-1991
Box 1   Folder 7	Election congratulations, 1991
Box 1   Folder 8	Golf course/Hixon Forest, 1994
Box 1   Folder 9	Hotels, 1984-1994
Box 1   Folder 10	Industrial park, 1981-1991
Box 1   Folder 11	Letters of recommendation, 1981-1991
Box 1   Folder 12	Pammel Creek, 1981-1991
Box 1   Folder 14	Parking ticket reduction pleas, 1990-1991
Box 1   Folder 15	Police Department, 1988-1991
Box 1   Folder 16	Railroads, 1989-1991
Box 1   Folder 17	RSVPs to invitations, 1988-1991
Box 1   Folder 18	Sewer/water, 1981-1991
Box 1   Folder 19	Sign ordinance, 1981
Box 1   Folder 20	Thank you letters to citizens, 1981-1991
Box 1   Folder 21	Miscellaneous, 1980-1991
	Committee/Board appointments
Box 2   Folder 1	Aviation Board, 1988-1991
Box 2   Folder 2	Blue Ribbon Committee, 1990
Box 2   Folder 3	Board of Appeals, 1981-1991
Box 2   Folder 4	Board of Electrical Examiners, 1988-1991
Box 2   Folder 5	Board of Gas Examiners, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 6	Board of Harbor Commissioners, 1988-1991
Box 2   Folder 7	Board of Park Commissions, 1983-1991
Box 2   Folder 8	Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, 1981-1991
Box 2   Folder 9	Board of Public Works, 1991
Box 2   Folder 10	Board of Zoning Appeals, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 11	Citizens Board of Review, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 12	City Contribution Team, 1991
Box 2   Folder 13	City Plan Commissioners, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 14	Commercial Rehabilitation Committee, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 15	Community Based Residential Facilities Committee, 1991
Box 2   Folder 16	Community Development Block Committee, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 17	Data Processing Committee, 1988
Box 2   Folder 18	Disabled Parking Enforcement Assistance Council, 1988-1991
Box 2   Folder 19	Downtown Development Task Force, 1989-1991
Box 2   Folder 20	Epinal, France Committee, 1989-1990
Box 2   Folder 21	Finance and Purchase Committee, 1991
Box 2   Folder 22	Historic Preservation/Historic Sites Commission, 1981-1990
Box 2   Folder 23	Housing Appeal Board, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 24	Housing Authority, 1988-1991
Box 2   Folder 25	International Committee, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 26	La Crosse Center Board, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 27	La Crosse Committee on Equal Opportunities, 1990
Box 2   Folder 28	La Crosse Committee on Aging, 1991
Box 2   Folder 29	La Crosse Community Attitudes Task Force, 1991
Box 2   Folder 30	La Crosse Foundation District Committee, 1981
Box 2   Folder 31	Liability Claims Review Board, 1988-1991
Box 2   Folder 32	Library Board, 1981-1991
Box 2   Folder 33	Mini Bus Committee, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 34	Municipal Transit Utility Board, 1988-1990
Box 2   Folder 35	Personnel Director Search Committee, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 36	REACT, 1990
Box 2   Folder 37	Recycling Committee, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 38	Redevelopment Authority, 1990-1991
Box 2   Folder 39	Room Tax Commission, 1988-1991
Box 2   Folder 40	Rooming House/Rental Unit Committee, 1990
Box 2   Folder 41	Solid Waste Committee, 1990
Box 2   Folder 42	University Affairs Committee, 1991
Box 3 Box 4	Newspaper clippings, 1976-1992
	Other
Box 2   Folder 43	City department organizational charts, 1990
Box 2   Folder 44	City employee retirements, 1981-1991
Box 2   Folder 45	Mayoral declarations, 1988-1991