Department of Public Works Records, 1875-1993


Summary Information
Title: Department of Public Works Records
Inclusive Dates: 1875-1993

Creator:
  • Milwaukee (Wis.). Department of Public Works.
Call Number: City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 3

Quantity:
  • 4.7 cubic ft. (15 boxes)
  • 136 volumes
  • 5 oversize folders

Repository:
Archival Location:
Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:
Records of the Department of Public Works, which is responsible for developing and maintaining streets, alleys, bridges, docks, water works, sewerage system, and public buildings and grounds. The collection contains reports, meeting minutes, proposals, specifications, estimates and assessments, and other related materials.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.



Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-cmac0003
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Biography/History

Originally established as the Board of Public Works, a three man Commission ran the Department until 1910 when the Board was changed to the Department of Public Works (DPW) and a single Commissioner serving a three-year term became the standard. The Commissioner is responsible for developing and maintaining streets, alleys, bridges, docks, water works, sewerage system, and public buildings and grounds. An exception is property of the public schools.

The DPW was initially divided into the following sub-departments: Deputy Commissioner; City Engineer; Chief Engineer of Power Plants; and Five Superintendents (Street Construction, Street Sanitation, Water Works, Bridges and Public Buildings, and Sewerage). While these sub-departments and bureaus have changes over time, the DPW is currently comprised of four divisions: Administrative Services, Infrastructure Services, Operations, and Water Works.

Commissioners of Public Works
1869-1870 C. Latham Sholes
1869-1871 Henry Millman
1869-1872 James Reynolds
1870 C. Latham Sholes
1871 P. H. McCauley
1872 Jacob Veltan
1873 W. A. Nowell
1874 Francis P. Blodgett
1875 Jacob Velten
1876 C. Latham Sholes
1877 Francis P. Blodgett
1878 George A. Albert
1879 William T. Casgrain
1880 Francis P. Blodgett
1881 Charles P. Foote
1882 William P. O Conner
1883 James I. Frownfelter
1884 Charles P. Foote
1885 William P. O Conner
1886 George P. Traeumer
1887 Charles P. Foote
1888 William P. O Conner
1889 George P. Traeumer
1890 Garrett Dunck
1891 James Graham
1892 G. H. Benzenberg
1893 E. M. Schuengel
1894 Samuel J. Brockman
1895 Fred Schneider
1896 Paul Muenzberg
1897 Samuel J. Brockman
1898 Daniel B. Bush
1899 Vincenz Schoenecker, Jr.
1900 Charles Poetsch
1901 Christian Helms
1902 Vincenz Schoenecker, Jr.
1903 Frank Niezorawski
1904 Christian Helms
1905 Vincenz Schoenecker, Jr.
1906 Joseph P. Sherer
1907 Leonard A. Jansen
1908 Albert J. Grundman
1909 Joseph P. Sherer
1910-1912 Harry E. Briggs
1912-1917 Fred G. Simmons
1917-1921 Percy Braman
1922-1929 Roland E. Stoelting
1930-1931 David McKeith
1932-1939 Roland E. Stoelting
1940-1954 Walter W. Swietlik
1955-1961 Lloyd D. Knapp
1961-1963 Eugene A. Schmidt
1963-1982 Herbert A. Goetsch
1983-1987 David A. Kuemmer
1988-1992 John R. Bolden
1993-2000 James C. Kaminski
2000-2004 Mariano Schifalacqua
2004-2011 Jeffrey J. Mantes
2011-2018 Ghassan Korban
2018-2021 Jeffrey Polenske
2022- Jerrel Kruschke
Scope and Content Note

This collection is comprised primarily of administrative files. They include annual reports and correspondence to the Office of the Commissioner. Also included are departmental reports, meeting minutes and proceedings, construction and repair proposals, specifications and recommendations regarding methods and products for departmental operations such as construction and repair, as well as some publications. The early annual reports also contain reports from the City Engineer. Note: some annual reports are missing. There are also photographs of various street scenes, traffic lights and signs, and other related images. Most photographs have a location and an estimated date.

The bound volumes include books on estimates for work done, record of assessments of street work and street improvements, orders (indexed), record of public buildings and grounds, assessments water pipes laid, and an assessment of benefits and damages of property taken (indexed). The Certificates Redeemed and Sold is divided into three sections: Interest on Comptroller’s certificates (1855-1865), Street Commissioner’s certificates (1853-1876), and Redeemed and Sold Interest (1874-1897). The Special Assessments Installment Records lists assessments for improvements such as sidewalks, curbs and gutters, grade and gravel, water mains, installment of sanitary sewers, alley paving, water and sewer lateral extensions, and installation of permanent black-top roads.

The Appraisal of City-Owned Property details appraisal of property owned by the City and shows the reproduction cost of the land, building, and all equipment, furniture and fixtures contained therein as of the stated date. Total figures on summary sheet represent the cost to the City of Milwaukee to reproduce a building of the same cubical content, with equipment and fixtures as of that date. Also includes how land was acquired (i.e. copy of deed). W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) projects #2489 and #8409. Other W.P.A. projects are in the Report of Work Accomplished and Money Expended, includes final cost summary, cost summary by wards, work accomplished by wards; construction, work accomplished; outside of city; construction, cost summary of white collar projects, and work accomplished; city-wide; white collar. Volume 1 also covers C.W.A. (Civil Works Administration) and W.E.R.A. (Wisconsin Emergency Relief Administration).

Arrangement of the Materials

The collection is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

Preferred Citation

City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works Records, 1875-1993, Collection 3. City of Milwaukee Archival Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Related Material in the Milwaukee Public Library
Archival Collections

Publications and Other Items

City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works Organization and Management Study of the Water Works Division

Locations and Elevations of Bench Marks of the City of Milwaukee, 1914

Route Guide, Bicycle Milwaukee [map]

Water System Study : Capital Improvements Status

Administrative/Restriction Information
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view City of Milwaukee Archival Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.


Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).


Acquisition Information

Milwaukee Public Library receives official materials from city departments via the Milwaukee City Records Center, pursuant to state statutes and city ordinances governing the permanent retention of city records.


Processing Information

Papers processed by Robert Carter, 1997. Volumes processed by Janet K. Geronime 1996. Revised by Gayle M. Ecklund 2001. Materials added by Bob Jaeger, 2017. In 2018, Bob Jaeger combined the previous Department of Public Works collections with CMAC 3. Photographs added by Bob Jaeger, 2019.


Contents List
Volume   1-2
Advertisements for Bids, 1869-1880
Annual Reports
Box   1
1875-1893
Box   2
1894-1902
Box   3
1903-1910
Box   4
1911-1920
Box   5
Folder   1-5
1965-1993, 1999
Appraisal of City-Owned Property
Volume   3
City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. (8409), 1940
Volume   4
Curry Park Stone Quarry, Municipal Stone Quarry-County Loop Road (8409), 1940
Volume   5
Fire Houses, High Pressure Pumping Station, 2011 S. 1st St. and Repair Shop, 118 W. Virginia St. (2489), 1937-1938
Volume   6
Fire Houses #1-10 (#1: 784 N. Broadway; #2: 1325 N. 4th St.; #3: 118 W. Virginia St.; #4: See Volume 9; #5: 1125 W. Galena St.; #6: 1693 N. Franklin Pl.; #7: 1803 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.; #8: 642 W. North Ave.; #9: 502 N. 17th St.; #10: 176 N. Broadway) [2489], 1937
Volume   7
Fire Houses #11-20 (#11: 2526 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.; #12: 1738 S. 13th St.; #13: 1900 W. North Ave.; #14: 1554 W. Bruce St.; #15: 105 N. Water St.; #16: 2423 W. Walnut St.; #17: See Volume 9; #18: 2602 N. Richards St.; #19: not listed; #20: 533 N. 6th St.) [2489], 1937
Volume   8
Fire Houses #21-30 (#21: 2050 N. Palmer St.; #22: 2901 N. 30th St.; #23: 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave.; #24; 3100 W. Lloyd St.; #25: 3160 N. 3rd. St.; #26: 1140 S. 26th St.; #27: 2647 N. Bartlett Ave.; #28: 424 N. 30th St.; #29: 101 W. Cherry St.; #30: 2903 N. Teutonia Ave.) [2489], 1937
Volume   9
Fire Houses #31-37 (#31: 2400 S. 8th St.; #32: 3920 W. Vliet St.; #33: 2932 W. Forest Home Ave.; #34: 2669 N. 47th St.; #35: 407 N. Hawley Rd.; #36: 2509 W. Capitol Dr.; #37: 5174 N. Hopkins St.; #4: 1439 S. 8th St.; #17: 2228 W. State St.) [2489], 1937
Volume   10
Keenan Health Center, 3200 N. 36th St. (2489), 1938
Volume   11
Kinnickinnic and Milwaukee Rivers Flushing Tunnels (no W.P.A. number listed), 1935
Volume   12
Markets and Comfort Stations, City Market and City Sealer 1331 N. 5th St. and Green Market, 1 playground and 3 comfort stations (2489), 1936-1937
Volume   13
Municipal Service Building, 16th and Canal Streets (2489), 1936
Volume   14
Natatoria (pools), 6 locations (2489), 1937
Volume   15
Playgrounds #1-20, includes playground index (2489), 1936
Volume   16
Playgrounds #21-40 (2489), 1936
Volume   17
Playgrounds #41-60 (2489), 1936
Volume   18
Playgrounds #61-77 and Playground Service Bldg., 2821 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. (2489), 1936-1937
Volume   19
Playground Service Building, 3841 W. St. Paul Ave. (2489), 1937
Volume   20
Police Stations, Districts #1-7 (2489), 1938-1939
Volume   21
Public Museum (8409), 1940
Volume   22
Sewer Yards (2489), 1936
Volume   23-24
Sewers, Manholes, Catch-Basins, Range N 21 East (8409), 1939
Volume   25-26
Streets, Sidewalks, Curbs & Alleys, Townships 6, 7, 8, North Range 22 East (2489), 1937
Volume   27
Substations and Street Lighting (2489), 1938
Volume   28
Ward Yards, 1-10 (2489), 1936
Volume   29
Ward Yards, 11-20 (2489), 1936
Volume   30
Ward Yards, 21-27 (2489), 1936
Box   5
Folder   6
Asphalt Pavement Problem, 1915
Assessment List of Permanent Street Improvements
Volume   31
Bonds 1-77, 1894
Volume   32
Bonds 78-146, 1895
Volume   33
Bonds 147-212, 1897
Volume   34
Bonds 213-255, 1898
Volume   35
Bonds 256-349, 1899
Volume   36
Bonds 350-471, 1900
Volume   37
Bonds 472-603, 1901
Volume   38
Bonds 604-643, 1902
Volume   39
Bonds 644-663, 1903
Volume   40
Bonds 664-816, 1904
Volume   41
Bonds 817-841, 1905
Volume   42
Bonds 842-861, 1906
Volume   43
Bonds 862-909, 1907
Volume   44
Bonds 910-999, 1908
Assessment of Benefits and Damages of Property Taken for Public Uses
Volume   45
1870-1875
Volume   46
1875-1877
Volume   47
1877-1889
Volume   48
1889-1893
Volume   49
1893-1895
Volume   50
1895-1909
Volume   51
1909-1915
Volume   52
1915-1924
Volume   53
Assessments and Reports for Water Pipes Laid, 1885-1887
Box   5
Folder   7
Assessments Division, annual reports, 1979-1988
Box   5
Folder   8
Bascule Bridge, specifications, 1911-1913
Box   5
Folder   9-10
Board of Estimates, correspondence, 1919-1932
Box   6
Folder   1
Board of Public Land Commissioners, correspondence and reports, 1925-1926
Box   6
Folder   2
Budget Proposals and Budgets, 1911-1931
Bureau of Bridges and Public Buildings
Box   6
Folder   3
Histories, 1926, 1934, 1974
Box   6
Folder   4
Reports, 1913-1924, 1949-1950
Box   6
Folder   5
Bureau of Electrical Service, reports, 1923-1924
Box   6
Folder   6
Bureau of Engineers, reports, 1914-1923
Box   6
Folder   7-8
Bureau of Forestry, annual reports, 1950, 1964-1983
Box   6
Folder   9-11
Bureau of Garbage Collection and Disposal, annual reports, 1923-1970
Note: Became part of the Bureau of Sanitation in 1971.
Box   7
Folder   1
Bureau of Municipal Equipment, annual reports, 1931, 1974-1981
Box   7
Folder   2
Bureau of Plumbing Inspection, annual report, 1964
Bureau of Sanitation
Box   7
Folder   3-4
Annual Reports, 1971-1988
Box   7
Folder   5
History and Garbage Pamphlet, 1972, undated
Box   7
Folder   6
Bureau of Sewers, reports, 1913-1931, 1950
Box   7
Folder   7
Bureau of Street and Sewer Maintenance, preliminary annual reports, 1973-1981
Bureau of Street Construction and Repairs
Box   7
Folder   8
Maintaining Milwaukee’s Streets, study, 1951
Box   7
Folder   9
Reports, 1913-1950
Box   7
Folder   10
Specifications, 1953
Bureau of Street Sanitation
Note: Became part of the Bureau of Sanitation in 1971.
Box   7
Folder   11-12
Annual Reports, 1911-1970
Box   7
Folder   13
Municipal Quarry, report, 1925-1931
Box   7
Folder   14
Street Conditions, report, includes photographs, circa 1910
Box   14
Folder   7
Superintendent Examination, undated
Bureau of Traffic Engineering and Electrical Service
Box   7
Folder   15
Annual Inventory of Safety Activities, 1960
Box   8
Folder   1-9
Annual Reports, 1931, 1954-1970
Box   9
Folder   1-9
Annual Reports, 1971-1983
Box   10
Folder   1
Cordon Count Trends: Central Area, Vehicles and Persons, 1953
Box   10
Folder   2
Report and Recommendations for Traffic Operations Adjustments, 1955
Box   10
Folder   3
Some of the Problems of Public Transportation or Mass Transit Operations, 1955
Volume   54
Certificates Redeemed and Sold, 1853-1897
Box   10
Folder   4
City Hall, specifications and correspondence, incl. H.C. Koch, 1893-1895
Estimates
Volume   55
1st Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   56
2nd Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   57
3rd Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   58
4th Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   59
5th Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   60
6th Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   61
7th Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   62
8th Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   63
9th Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   64
10th Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   65
11th Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   66
12th Ward, 1869-1881
Volume   67
General City, 1869-1881
Volume   68
Estimates and Specifications, 1861-1869
Volume   69
Inventory of DPW and its Subdivisions, 1912
Volume   70
Journal, lists bonds and coupons, 1911-1913
Box   10
Folder   5
Land Acquisition Coordinating Committee, reports, 1974-1988
Box   10
Folder   6-7
Major Street Improvement Program, 1976-1989
Box   10
Folder   8
Milwaukee River, commercial navigation report, 1962
Milwaukee Water Works
Box   10
Folder   9
Correspondence and Brochures, 1926-1940
Box   10
Folder   10
Reports, 1914-1923, 1937-1940
Minutes of Board of Public Works
Volume   71-72
with index, May 1869-May 1870
Volume   73-74
with index, June 1870-December 1870
Volume   75-76
with index, January 1871-September 1871
Volume   77-78
with index, October 1871-December 1872
Volume   79-80
with index, January 1873-September 1874
Volume   81-82
with index, October 1874-July 1876
Volume   83-84
with index, August 1876-May 1878
Volume   85-86
with index, June 1878-August 1880
Volume   87-88
with index, September 1880-October 1883
Volume   89-90
with index, October 1883-October 1885
Volume   91-92
with index, October 1885-September 1887
Volume   93-94
with partial index, September 1887-July 1889
Volume   95
no index, July 1889-December 1890
Volume   96
no index, January 1891-May 1892
Volume   97
no index, May 1892-July 1893
Volume   98
no index, August 1893-August 1894
Volume   99
no index, August 1894-November 1895
Volume   100
no index, December 1895-May 1897
Volume   101
no index, May 1897-August 1898
Volume   102
no index, August 1898-March 1900
Volume   103
no index, March 1900-June 1901
Volume   104
no index, June 1901-September 1902
Volume   105
no index, September 1902-March 1904
Volume   106
no index, March 1904 - July 1905
Volume   107
no index, August 1905-December 1906
Volume   108
no index, January 1907-March 1908
Volume   109
no index, March 1908-May 1909
Volume   110
no index, May 1909-April 1910
Volume   111
Orders, undated
Office of the Commissioner
Box   11
Folder   1-2
Correspondence, 1911-1936
Box   11
Folder   3
Establishment of, 1910
Box   11
Folder   4
Traffic Signals, 1923-1940
Box   11
Folder   5
Organizational Charts, undated
Photographs
Box   14
Folder   1
Accidents, 1954, undated
Box   14
Folder   2
Intersections, incl. construction, circa 1925-1954
Box   14
Folder   3
Miscellaneous, 1935-1963
Box   14
Folder   4
Road Signs, circa 1925-1950
Box   14
Folder   5
Street Lights, circa 1925-1950
Box   14
Folder   6
Traffic Lights, circa 1935-1950
Box   11
Folder   6
Plumbing and Drainage Code, 1923
Oversize Folder   5
Posters, Earth Day, 1990
Power Plant Survey
Box   11
Folder   7
Correspondence, 1922-1935
Box   11
Folder   8
Reports and Data, 1921-1933, undated
Box   11
Folder   9
Reports of Other Cities for Comparison, 1931-1933
Proceedings
Volume   112
September 1870 - March 1871
Volume   113
March 1871 - July 1871
Volume   114
July 1871 - October 1871
Volume   115
May 1872 - August 1872
Volume   116
August 1872 - December 1872
Oversize Folder   1-3
May 1910 - November 1910
Proposals
Box   11
Folder   10
Consolidation of the Bureau of Plumbing Inspection with Health Department, 1941
Box   11
Folder   11
Cooperative Work between the Citizens’ Bureau of Municipal Efficiency and Department of Public Works, 1913-1914
Box   11
Folder   12
Municipal Waste Disposal, 1922
Box   11
Folder   13
Schedule and Projects for the Four Billion Dollar Work Relief Program, 1935
Box   12
Folder   1
“Rapid Transit: Who Needs It?”, documentary transcript, 1965
Volume   117-118
Record of Assessments, index in volume 118, 1869-1874
Volume   119
Record of Maintenance Bonds on Permanent Pavements, 1924-1964
Volume   120
Record of Public Buildings and Grounds, undated
Report of Work Accomplished and Money Expended in the City of Milwaukee, W.P.A.
Volume   121
1933-1936
Volume   122
1935-1936
Volume   123
1937
Volume   124
1938
Volume   125
1938
Volume   126
1940
Volume   127
1941
Volume   128
1942-1943
Box   12
Folder   2
Residential Collection System, solid waste, 1973
Box   12
Folder   3
Report of Special Committee Appointed to Investigate the Sewage Disposal Plant, 1926
Box   12
Folder   4
Report on Age and Condition of the Gas Distribution System, 1951
Box   12
Folder   5
Report on Effect of the Interests of the City of Milwaukee of the Eventual Conversion of Existing Streetcar Lines to Trackless Trolley or Motorbus Lines, 1948
Box   12
Folder   6
Report on Investigation of Chlorophenol Taste of Water Supply, Milwaukee Health Department, 1922
Box   12
Folder   7
Report on the Power and Heating Plant of the Milwaukee Public Museum and Library, City Engineer, 1940
Box   12
Folder   8
Report on Proposed Consolidation of Bureaus of Garbage Collection and Disposal and Street Sanitation, 1951
Box   12
Folder   9
Report on Proposed Waste to Energy Facility, 1987
Box   12
Folder   10
Report on Sanitary Survey of Bathing Beaches, Milwaukee Health Department, 1923
Box   12
Folder   11
Report on Street Lighting Survey, 1915
Box   12
Folder   12-13
Resume of Activities of the Various Bureaus of the Department of Public Works, 1932-1941
Box   13
Folder   1
Seven Years of Progress: 1948-1954, 1955
Box   13
Folder   2
Snow Clearance Report, 1947
Box   13
Folder   3
Solid Waste Management Plan, 1988
Special Assessments Installment Records
Volume   129
Town of Greenfield, Town of Wauwatosa, and Town of Lake, 1949-1966
Volume   130-131
Town of Lake, 1953-1964
Volume   132
Town of Lake, City of St. Francis, and City of Cudahy, 1953-1960
Volume   133
Town of Granville and Village of Brown Deer, 1953-1964
Box   13
Folder   4
loose items from volumes, 1956
Specifications
Box   13
Folder   5
Purchase of Fuel, Central Board of Purchases, 1917-1931
Box   13
Folder   6
Road Paving, 1922
Box   13
Folder   7
Sidewalks, Driveways, Curbs, and Gutters, 1962
Box   13
Folder   8
State of Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Registrations for Milwaukee County, 1971
Street Lights
Volume   134
List of Electric Lights, 1901-1907
Volume   135
List of Gas Lamps, 1901-1907
Volume   136
List of Naphtha Lamps, 1902-1909
Oversize Folder   4
Streets and Curbs, cross section drawings, 1894-1913, undated
Box   13
Folder   9
Whelan, Thomas J., grievances of Garbage Disposal Plants, report, 1961
Box   15
Work Stoppages, planning for a strike, 1960-1978