Title: Milwaukee Water Works Records
Inclusive Dates: 1871-2003

Creator:

• Milwaukee Water Works

Call Number: City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 53

Quantity:

• 1..4 cubic ft. (4 boxes)
• 38 volumes

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Records of the Milwaukee Water Works, which furnishes water for 16 communities in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties. Contains reports, publications, and ledgers.

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-cmac0053

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The Milwaukee Water Works is a City owned utility. Established by city ordinance in 1855, it officially began operations on September 14, 1874. On May 24, 1875, the Department of Public Works assumed control of the Water Department. At first, it supplied water only to the City, but as the metropolitan area grew, it expanded to suburbs and outlying areas of Milwaukee County. The Water Works currently furnishes water for 16 communities in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties. It oversees almost 2,000 miles of water mains, and other equipment and facilities. The Water Works has three Sub-Divisions: Business, Plants, and Distribution.

1872-1874	Matthew Keenan
1874-1875	Charles MacRitchie
1876-1880	L. W. Johnson
1880-1882	G. B. Seaman
1882-1884	B. F. Cooke
1884-1889	F. Eissfeldt
1889-1890	C. W. Moody
1890-1896	W. A. Yunker
1896-1899	A. B. Geilfus
1899-1908	A. N. Meyer
1908-1911	John Lemanski
1911-1914	John Doerfler
1914-1917	B. F. Cooke
1912-1940	Henry P. Bohman
1941-1948	H. H. Brown
1949-1955	Edward F. Tanghe
1956-1963	Arthur Rynders
1964-1970	Elmer W. Becker
1971-1980	Nathan E. Miller
1981-1986	Henry J. Balconi
1987-1992	Francis T. Wengler
1993-1996	Jesse Cooks
1997-2017	Carrie Lewis
2017-2019	Jennifer Gonda
2019-	Karen Dettmer

Collection is comprised of annual reports, with later years containing both statistical and annual reports (some years are missing), along with other general reports and publications. Also included is a journal of accounting entries by month listing the amount and a brief description. The Water Pipe Assessments provides benefits and amount chargeable upon property by reason of laying water pipe; information includes property description, frontage, number of feet laid and assessment. The Contract Documents are from the Division of Engineers and cover heating, electrical, and plumbing for the chemical and service building superstructures for the water purification plant. It contains specifications and drawings. Another volume from this set is missing.

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

Milwaukee Water Works Records, 1871-2003, Collection 53. City of Milwaukee Archival Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Archival Collections

• Board of Harbor Commissioners Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 70.

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

• City Comptroller Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 22.

• Bureau of Engineers Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 7.

• Department of Public Works Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 3.

Publications and Other Items

Annual Report

Charter Provisions, Rates, Rules, Regulations and Ordinances Governing the Introduction, Supply and Consumption of Water Furnished by the Water Works of the City of Milwaukee

Milwaukee Water Works : Owned and Operated by the City of Milwaukee

Milwaukee's Water Purification Problem

Report on Milwaukee Water Works

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, 1996. Revised by Gayle M. Ecklund, 2001. Materials added by Bob Jaeger, 2017. In 2018, Bob Jaeger combined the previous Water Works collections and renumbered it CMAC 53. Bob Jaeger added materials in 2021.

Box   2 Folder   1	Act Creating the Water Works, 1871
	Annual Reports
Volume   1	1912
Volume   2	1913
Volume   3	1914
Volume   4	1915
Volume   5	1916
Volume   6	1917
Volume   7	1918
Volume   8	1919
Volume   9	1920
Volume   10	1936
Volume   11	1937
Volume   12	1947
Volume   13	1948
Volume   14	1949
Volume   15	1950
Volume   16	1951
Volume   17	1952
Volume   18	1953
Volume   19	1954
Volume   20	1955
Volume   21	1956
Volume   22	1957
Volume   23	1958
Volume   24	1959
Volume   25	1960
Volume   26	1961
Volume   27	1962
Volume   28	1963
Volume   29	1964
Volume   30	1965
Volume   31	1966
Volume   32	1967
Volume   33	1968
Box   1	1969-1980
Box   2	1981-1990
Volume   37-38	Bacteriological Examination of Raw Water at North Point Pumping Station, 1938-1939
Box   2 Folder   2	Charter Provisions, Ordinances, Rules, and Rates, 1921
Volume   34	Contract Documents, 1937
Box   2 Folder   3	How Milwaukee Operates Its Water Works, undated
Box   2 Folder   4	Filtration Plant – What It Will Do For Our Water Supply, undated
Volume   35	Journal, 1910
Box   3 Folder   1	Management Studies, 1951-1977
Box   3 Folder   2	“Milwaukee Water Works”, descriptions, 1940-1942, undated
Box   3 Folder   3	Need of Water Filtration Plant, report, 1921
Box   3 Folder   4	Proposals For Building A Distributing Reservoir, 1872
Box   3 Folder   5	Report of Experiments on the Purification of the Water Supply, 1920
Box   3 Folder   6	Report on Water Rates, 1957
Box   3 Folder   7	Report on Water Works System, 1956
Box   3 Folder   8	Riverside Pumping Station, includes drawings, 1969
Box   3 Folder   9	Rules and Regulations Governing Water Service and Hydrant Inspections, 1931, 1966, 1985
Box   3 Folder   10	Sewage Disposal History, 1933-1938, undated
Box   4 Folder   1	Story of Water Supply in Milwaukee, 1965-1970
Volume   36	Water Pipe Assessments, 1954
Box   4 Folder   2	Water Purification Plant, 1936-1944, undated
Box   4 Folder   3	Water Quality Report, 2003
Box   4 Folder   4	Water Service Piping Specifications, 1968
Box   4 Folder   5	Water Tower, North Point Pumping Station, statistics, 1911
Box   4 Folder   6	Water, Water Everywhere, undated
Box   4 Folder   7	Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, 1970, undated