Title: City Comptroller Records
Inclusive Dates: 1845-2001

Creator:

• Milwaukee (Wis.). Office of the City Comptroller.

Call Number: City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 22

Quantity:

• 2.5 cubic ft. (8 boxes)
• 574 volumes
• 1 oversize folder

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Records of the City of Milwaukee Comptroller, who prepares the annual city budget and exercises fiscal control over the activities of city departments and agencies. The majority of the collection is comprised of ledgers and other record books documenting the various financial activities of the City. Also contains reports, correspondence, and publications.

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-cmac0022

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The Comptroller is the chief financial officer for the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This office prepares the annual city budget and exercises fiscal control over the activities of city departments and agencies. The revised city charter of 1852 established the office of Comptroller. Initially appointed by the Common Council, in 1853 the Comptroller became an elected position, serving a one-year term. In 1874, the term of office was extended to two years and, in 1924, to four years.

1852-1854	Cicero Comstock
1854-1857	John B. Edwards
1857-1858	Ezra L.H. Gardiner
1858-1859	John L. Hathaway
1859-1860	Ezra L.H. Gardiner
1860-1866	Ferdinand Kuehn
1866-1868	Fred Wardner
1868-1869	Fred Wilmans
1869-1870	Max Gerlach
1870-1872	Jeremiah Quin
1872-1879	James S. White
1880-1882	George Paschen
1882-1884	Henry Smith
1884-1886	Ferdinand Kuehn
1886-1890	George W. Porth
1890-1894	Roman Czerwinski
1894-1898	William J. Fiebrantz
1898-1901	John R. Wolf
1902-1906	Peter Pawinski
1906-1908	Paul Bechtner
1908-1910	August M. Gawin
1910-1912	Carl P. Dietz
1912-1933	Louis M. Kotecki
1933-1949	William H. Wendt
1949-1958	Virgil H. Hurless
1958-1972	John E. Kalupa
1972-1992	James A. McCann
1992-2011	W. Martin Morics
2012-2020	Martin Matson
2020-2024	Aycha Sawa
2024-	Bill Christianson

This collection contains the records of the Comptroller. It is largely comprised of volumes, detailing the accounting and financial activities of the City. Some correspondence and publications, such as annual reports, are included as well. For a complete listing of volume numbers, dates, and additional description, please see the index.

The collection is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder. The materials are presented in the original volumes as created in the department of origin. Volume numbers were assigned during archival processing.

A complete listing of volume numbers, dates, and additional description can be found here: Comptroller Index.

A transcription of the Civil War draft fund and bounty tax fund from volume 24 is available in the Humanities Department: General Account Book.

City of Milwaukee Comptroller Records, 1845-2001, Collection 22. City of Milwaukee Archival Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Archival Collections

• Carl P. Dietz Papers. Local History Manuscript Collection 10.

• City Assessor Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 67.

• City Clerk Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 17.

• City Treasurer Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 68.

• Comstock Family Papers. Local History Manuscript Collection 7.

Publications and Other Items

Budget

Financial Summary

Five Governments

Special Taxes and Licenses : City of Milwaukee

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

Processed by Janet K. Geronime, Archives Volunteer, 1996. Additional materials processed by Gayle M. Ecklund, Archives Technician, 2000. Described by Gayle M. Ecklund, Archives Technician, 2004. Materials added by Bob Jaeger, 2017. In 2018, Bob Jaeger combined the previous City Comptroller collections with CMAC 22.

Volume   1-2	Account Book, 1846-1853, 1901
Box   1 Folder   1	Account Book, 1866-1872
Volume   3-22	Account Book, Cash, 1860-1919
Volume   23	Account Book, Corrections, 1881-1896
Volume   24-27	Account Book, General, 1865-1929
Box   8 Folder   1	Account Book, General, loose items found in volumes, 1865-1880
Volume   28	Account Book, Milwaukee County, 1869-1871
Box   8 Folder   2	Account Book, Milwaukee County, loose items found in volume, 1869-1871
Box   1 Folder   2-5	Accountant’s Report of Audit, 1906-1912
Volume   29-30	Accounts, Audited, 1869-1871, 1896
Volume   31-32	Accounts, Record of Balances between Treasurer and Comptroller, 1881-1885
Box   1 Folder   6	Activities Statement and Report, 1971-1981
Volume   33-67	Annual Consolidated Department Reports, 1868-1908
Box   2 Folder   1-3	Annual Reports, 1858, 1911-1920
Volume   68-132	Annual Reports, 1862-1965
Box   4	Annual Reports, 1966-1971
Box   5	Annual Reports, 1972-1976
Box   6	Annual Reports, 1977-1981
Box   7	Annual Reports, 1982-1987
Volume   133	Appropriations and Allowances for General Expenses, 1852-1855
Volume   134	Assessment Roll and List for Bounty Taxes, 1865
Volume   135-180	Assessment Roll, Personal Property, 1874-1913
Box   2 Folder   4	Bank Book, 1888-1890
Volume   181	Bank Depository Bonds Book, 1928-1931
Volume   182-184	Bills Audited, 1869-1900
Volume   185-189	Blotter, 1897-1909
Volume   190-221	Bond and Coupon Records, 1848-1923
Box   8 Folder   3	Bond and Coupon Records, loose items found in volumes, 1848-1923
Oversize Folder   1	Bond Register, 1897-1922
Volume   222	Budget, 1911
Box   8 Folder   4	Budget, loose items found in volume, 1911
Box   2 Folder   5	Bureau of Street Construction and Repair, Uniform Classification of Construction Costs Accounts, supplements, 1947-1952
Volume   223-225	Cash Book, 1880-1881
Volume   226	Cash Book, Street and Alley Work, 1926-1928
Volume   227	Chattel Mortgage Record, 1894
Box   2 Folder   6	Codification Catalog, 1940
Box   8 Folder   5	Comparative Financial Statement of the City of Milwaukee from 1884-1898, 1898
Volume   228-234	Comptroller's Record of Common Council Proceedings, 1886-1908
Box   8 Folder   6	Comptroller's Record of Common Council Proceedings, loose items found in volumes, undated
Volume   235	Contracts, 1851-1863
Box   8 Folder   7	Contracts, loose items found in volume, 1851-1863
Volume   236	Corporate Property of the City of Milwaukee, 1877-1895
Box   3 Folder   1-3	Correspondence, regarding bills pending in the Wisconsin State Legislature, 1953-1957
Box   8 Folder   8	Departmental Circulars, nos. 1-12, circa 1911
Volume   237	Departmental Estimates, 1911
Box   3 Folder   4	Directions for Preparing the Budget, 1916, undated
Volume   238	Distribution of Charters and Ordinances, 1895-1905
Volume   239	Estimates for Contracts and Payments to Contractors, 1868-1871
Volume   240-241	Evidences of Debt, 1861-1869
Box   3 Folder   5	General City and Ward Expenditures, 1860-1861
Volume   242-243	Index of Orders Passed, 1879-1880
Volume   244	Index of Payments to Individuals and Firms, 1877-1879
Volume   245	Index to Deeds, 1846-1896
Volume   246	Index to Orders Issued, 1860-1861
Volume   247	Insurance, Tax and Bonds, 1890-1900
Box   8 Folder   9	Insurance, Tax and Bonds, loose items found in volume, 1890-1900
Volume   248	Investigation of Tax Certificates, Redemptions and Uncalled For Interest, 1880-1892
Volume   249-273	Journals, 1851-1920
Volume   274-310	Ledger, 1851-1917
Box   8 Folder   10	Ledger, loose items found in volumes, 1852-1911
Volume   311-312	Ledger, Payroll, 1862-1875
Volume   313	License Fund, 1876-1880
Volume   314-315	Mail Books, 1884-1890
Volume   316	Memorandums Regarding Various Accounts, 1856-1892
Volume   317	Meter Repairs, 1890-1896
Volume   318	Miscellaneous Accounting Records, 1850-1872
Box   3 Folder   6	Miscellaneous Reports, 1911-1956
Volume   319	Monthly Bank Balances, 1921-1925
Volume   320	Old Debt, 1852-1855
Volume   321-322	Personal Property Assessment Schedule for Merchant's Stock, 1871-1881
Volume   323-331	Petty Ledger, 1861-1871
Volume   332	Postage, 1906-1911
Box   3 Folder   7	Poverty in Milwaukee, Personal Economic Indicators, 1988
Box   3 Folder   8	Press Release, 1956
Volume   333	Property Assigned, 1877-1880
Volume   334	Property Purchased by the City of Milwaukee, 1921-1924
Volume   335-341	Public Statements, 1910-1947
Box   8 Folder   11	Public Statements, loose items found in volumes, 1910-1947
Volume   342	Reassessment Roll, 1856-1857
Volume   343	Record of Checks and Deposits, 1895-1896
Volume   344	Record of Deliveries to the Poor, 1870-1871
Volume   345	Record of Public Buildings and Grounds, undated
Volume   346-347	Record of Street Commissioners, 1861-1868
Volume   348-350	Record of Sundry Accounts, 1880-1896
Volume   351-373	Redemptions and Tax Certificates Sold, 1852-1904
Volume   374-423	Redemptions Received and Paid, 1867-1916
Box   8 Folder   12	Refuse Disposal Facilities, general obligation notes, 1951
Volume   424	Register of Accounts or Bills, 1896
Volume   425-430	Registry, 1869-1872
Box   3 Folder   9	Report of Finances, 1949-1958
Volume   431	Report of the Maintenance Fund, 1915
Volume   432-436	Reports to Common Council, 1860-1869
Volume   437	Retained Street Paving Balances, 1894-1910
Volume   438	Returns of Orders Paid and Surrendered by City Treasurer to Comptroller, 1893-1895
Volume   439	Schedule of Allocations of Positions, circa 1934
Volume   440-441	Settlement of the City Treasurer with the Comptroller, 1859-1862
Volume   442-443	Settlements, 1852-1855
Volume   444	Statement of Bills and Presented, 1869-1872
Volume   445-446	Street and Sewer Improvement Certificates, 1914-1915
Box   3 Folder   10	Street Commissioner Certificates, 1852-1853
Volume   447-457	Street Commissioner Certificates, 1854-1869
Volume   458-460	Tax Bills Paid, 1881-1882
Volume   461	Tax Certificates, 1889-1893
Volume   462	Tax Certificates, advance, 1902-1933
Volume   463-466	Tax Certificates, held by the city, 1881-1886
Box   3 Folder   11	Tax Dollar and Property Tax Reports, 1919-2001
Volume   467-521	Tax List, 1845-1859
Volume   522-524	Tax Record, 1847-1872
Volume   525-538	Tax Roll, 1868-1872
Volume   539-543	Tax Roll, blotter, 1883-1908
Volume   544-547	Tax Roll, special, 1871
Volume   548-553	Taxes, back taxes, 1845-1901
Volume   554	Taxes, paid, 1894-1902
Volume   555-559	Treasurer's Bank Balances, 1909-1938
Volume   560-561	Trial Balance, 1904-1911
Volume   562	Unemployment Fund, 1932-1935
Volume   563-572	Ward Contracts, 1852-1870
Volume   573	Water Fund, 1908-1910
Volume   574	Water Tax and Property Assigned, 1876-1880