Title: Marvin Pratt Aldermanic and Mayoral Records
Inclusive Dates: 1982-2004

Creators:

• Pratt, Marvin E.
• Milwaukee (Wis.). Common Council.
• Milwaukee (Wis.). Office of the Mayor.

Call Number: City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 76

Quantity:

• 5 cubic ft. (13 boxes)
• 1 oversize folder

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

This collection contains the aldermanic and mayoral records of Marvin Pratt, who served on Milwaukee’s Common Council from 1987 until 2004, when he became Acting Mayor for four months. Contains correspondence, reports, mayoral proclamations, and planning documents.

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-cmac0076

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Marvin E. Pratt was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1944 and his family moved to Milwaukee in 1959. Pratt graduated from North Division High School and later joined the Air Force. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1968, he returned to Milwaukee and earned a degree in political science from Marquette University in 1972. Pratt married Dianne Sherrill in 1971 and they had two children together.

Pratt first worked as an intern under Mayor Henry Maier. He later ran for a spot on the Milwaukee Common Council in 1984, losing to Roy Nabors. Pratt ran again for the same seat in 1987, winning a special election and became the alderman for Milwaukee's First Ward. Shortly after he took office, Pratt was appointed to the Finance and Personnel Committee, a position he held for most of his time on the Common Council. In 2000, he was elected President of the Common Council.

When Mayor John Norquist resigned in January 2004, Pratt then became Acting Mayor, the first African American mayor of Milwaukee. He lost his bid to become mayor for a full term when Tom Barrett defeated him in the April election. Pratt was later appointed interim Milwaukee County Executive after Scott Walker resigned when he became governor in 2011. Pratt then became the first person to serve as both Mayor of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County Executive.

1846	Solomon Juneau
1847	H. N. Wells
1848	Byron Kilbourn
1849-1850	Don A. J. Upham
1851	George H. Walker
1852	Hans Crocker
1853	George H. Walker
1854	Byron Kilbourn
1855-1857	James B. Cross
1858-1859	William A. Prentiss
1859	Herman L. Page
1860	William Pitt Lynde
1861	James S. Brown
1862	Horace Chase
1863	Edward O’Neil
1864	Abner Kirby
1865-1866	John J. Tallmedge
1867-1870	Edward O’Neil
1870-1871	Joseph Phillips
1871-1872	Harrison Ludington
1872-1873	David G. Hooker
1873-1876	Harrison Ludington
1876-1878	A. A. R. Butler
1878-1880	John Black
1880-1882	Thomas H. Brown
1882-1884	John M. Stowell
1884-1888	Emil Wallber
1888-1890	Thomas H. Brown
1890	George W. Peck
1890-1893	P. J. Somers
1893	Henry Hase (Acting)
1893-1896	John C. Koch
1896-1898	William G. Rauschenberger
1898-1906	David S. Rose
1906-1908	Sherburn M. Becker
1908-1910	David S. Rose
1910-1912	Emil Seidel
1912-1916	Gerhard A. Bading
1916-1940	Daniel W. Hoan
1940-1942	Carl Zeidler
1942-1948	John L. Bohn
1948-1960	Frank Zeidler
1960-1988	Henry W. Maier
1988-2003	John Norquist
2004	Marvin Pratt (Acting)
2004-2021	Tom Barrett
2021-	Cavalier Johnson (Acting)

Scope and content notes of each series are provided in the contents list.

The collection is arranged into the following series:

1. Aldermanic Records, 1982-2002
2. Mayoral Records, 2003-2004

The materials are in alphabetical order by subject or personal name, and then chronologically within each folder.

Pratt, Marvin E., Aldermanic and Mayoral Records, 1982-2004, Collection 76. City of Milwaukee Archival Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Archival Collections

• Common Council Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 6.

• Milwaukee Mayors. Milwaukee Public Library Digital Collections.

Publications and Other Items

History Makers Video Oral History with The Honorable Marvin Pratt [electronic resource]

Inaugural Address, Mayor Marvin Pratt

Marvin Pratt Newsletter

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 Bob Jaeger, 2021.

	Series: 1. Aldermanic Records, 1982-2002 Scope and Content Note: This series contains records from Pratt's time on the Common Council. Most of the materials date from the 1990s and deal with topics such as crime in the city, the cryptosporidium outbreak, and African American issues. Includes correspondence, reports, and planning documents.
Box   1 Folder   1	Affirmative Action, 1998-1999
Box   1 Folder   2	African American World Cultural Center, Inc., 1996-1999
Box   1 Folder   3	Art Commission, 1996
Box   1 Folder   4	Atkinson-Capital-Teutonia Project, 1996-1998
Box   1 Folder   5	Barrett, Tom, 1996-1999
	Black Community Relief Task Force
Box   1 Folder   6-7	Correspondence, 1989-1992
Box   1 Folder   8	Recommendations from Committees, 1989
Box   1 Folder   9	Black Elected Officials, 1995-1998
Box   1 Folder   10	Black Panthers, local objectives, undated
Box   1 Folder   11	Board of Ethics, 1993-1997
Box   2 Folder   1	City Assessor, 1995-1999
Box   2 Folder   2	Department of Public Works, sanitation, 1990-1999
Box   2 Folder   3	Fire and Police Commission, 1997
	Fire Department
Box   2 Folder   4	Correspondence, 1989-2001
Box   2 Folder   5	Fire Cadet Program, 1997-2001
Box   2 Folder   6	Reorganization, 1987-1988
Box   2 Folder   7-8	Floods and Flooding, 1996-1999
Box   2 Folder   9	Fourth of July, 1991-1995
Box   2 Folder   10	Gay Rights, domestic partnerships, 1993-1999
Box   3 Folder   1	Groppi Memorial (Father James Groppi), 1987
Box   3 Folder   2	Gun Control, 1989-1994
Box   3 Folder   3	Health Department, 1994-1997
	Insurance Redlining
Box   3 Folder   4	Correspondence, 1994-2000
Box   3 Folder   5	Greenline Program, 1996-2000
Box   3 Folder   6	Lead Program, 1998-1999
Box   3 Folder   7-8	Light Rail, 1990-1998, undated
Box   3 Folder   9	Liquor and Beer Licenses, 1988-1993
Box   4 Folder   1	Milwaukee Public Library, 1990-1998
Box   4 Folder   2	Milwaukee Sesquicentennial, 1996
	Milwaukee Water Works
Box   4 Folder   3	Correspondence, 1988-1997
Box   4 Folder   4	Cryptosporidium, 1993-1994
Box   4 Folder   5	Report Materials, 1994
Box   4 Folder   6	Sale of Water to Other Municipalities, 1998-2000
Box   4 Folder   7	Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program, 1993
Box   4 Folder   8	Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1991-1998
Box   4 Folder   9	National Association of Black Veterans, 1995-1997
Box   4 Folder   10	Newsletters, 1999-2003
Box   4 Folder   11	Pensions, 1993-1999
	Police Department
Box   5 Folder   1	Arreola, Philip, 1992-1996
Box   5 Folder   2	Correspondence, 1988-1999
Box   5 Folder   3	Crime Statistics, 1993-2000
Box   5 Folder   4	Hate Crime Legislation, 1992
Box   5 Folder   5	Jones, Arthur L., 1996-2001
Box   5 Folder   6	Merging of Classifications, 1999-2000
Box   5 Folder   7	Milwaukee Police Historical Society, 1999-2002
Box   5 Folder   8	Narcotics Arrests, 1995-1997
Box   5 Folder   9	Staff Study Regarding Police Mounted Patrols, 1987
Box   5 Folder   10	Violations Bureau Report, 1992
Oversize Folder   1	Poster, "Wisconsin's African American Elected Officials Welcome You", 1995
Box   6 Folder   1-2	Potawatomi Expansion, 1997-2000, undated
Box   6 Folder   3	Prostitution/Solicitation Ordinance, 1996
Box   6 Folder   4	Race and Race Relations, 1991-1992, undated
Box   6 Folder   5	Redistricting, 1990-1992
	Reports
Box   6 Folder   6	Crime in the City of Milwaukee, 1988
Box   6 Folder   7	Milwaukee Urban Atlas, 1982
Box   7 Folder   1	M/WBE Disparity Study for the County of Milwaukee, City of Milwaukee, and Milwaukee Public Schools (Minority and Women Business Enterprise), 1992
Box   7 Folder   2	Minority Males in America - Update, 1994
Box   7 Folder   3	Neighborhood Identity Project, 1989
Box   7 Folder   4	Plan to Increase the Employment of Minorities in Management Positions in Milwaukee's Hospitality Industry, 1992
Box   7 Folder   5	Police Protection of the African American Community in Milwaukee, 1994
Box   7 Folder   6	Project Black Milwaukee, 1989
Box   7 Folder   7	Project Care: Relocation Specialist, undated
Box   7 Folder   8	Public Health Services Annual Report, 1996
Box   7 Folder   9	Status of the Hidden Black Elderly in the Inner Core of Milwaukee, WI, 1990
Box   7 Folder   10	Task Force on Financial Support Structures for Minority Enterprises, 1988
Box   7 Folder   11	Wisconsin Minority Business Resource Directory, 1988
Box   8 Folder   1-2	Residency Requirement, 1990-1999, undated
Box   8 Folder   3	Rufus King, neighborhood and school, 1995-1999
Box   8 Folder   4	St. Mark AME Church, 1987-1997
Box   8 Folder   5	St. Michael Hospital, 1989-1997
Box   8 Folder   6	Tax Commissioner, 1991
Box   8 Folder   7	Ten Commandments Monolith, 2000-2001
	Tourism and Conventions
Box   8 Folder   8	Correspondence, 1992-1994
Box   8 Folder   9	Indicators of Equal Opportunity Climate, 1990-1993
Box   9 Folder   1	Summerfest, 1988-1999
Box   9 Folder   2	Wisconsin Center District, 1995-1997
Box   9 Folder   3	Town Hall Meetings, 1990-1999
Box   9 Folder   4	United Association of Black Landscapers and the Bureau of Forestry, 1988-1990
Box   9 Folder   5	Vacant and Boarded-Up Homes Task Force, 1989
Box   9 Folder   6	Welfare, 1994-1998
Box   9 Folder   7-8	Wisconsin Works Program (W-2), 1996-1998, undated
	Series: 2. Mayoral Records, 2003-2004 Scope and Content Note: This series contains records from Pratt's time as Acting Mayor and most of the materials are from early 2004, but some late 2003 items are included as well. They typically deal with the day-to-day functions of the Mayor's Office. Includes correspondence, proclamations, invitations to events, and a photograph.	⇧
Box   10 Folder   1	Acting Mayor, historical perspective (copies), undated
Box   10 Folder   2	African American Chamber of Commerce, 2004
Box   10 Folder   3	Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   4	Certificates of Recognition, 2004
Box   10 Folder   5	City Attorney, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   6	City Clerk, 2004
Box   10 Folder   7	Clippings, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   8	Congratulations (to Pratt), 2004
Box   10 Folder   9	Congratulatory Letters (outgoing), 2004
Box   10 Folder   10	Crime, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   11	Department of City Development, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   12	Department of Neighborhood Services, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   13	Department of Public Works, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   14	Doyle, Jim, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   15	Fire and Police Commission, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   16	Floods and Flooding, 2004
Box   10 Folder   17	Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   18	Health Department, 2003-2004
Box   10 Folder   19	Homeland Security, 2004
Box   10 Folder   20	Inauguration, 2003-2004
Box   11 Folder   1-4	Invitations, 2004
Box   12 Folder   1	Invitations, sent to Barrett, 2004
Box   12 Folder   2	Jones, Timothy, "House of Corruption", 2004
Box   12 Folder   3	Lawsuit, Milwaukee Police Association vs. City of Milwaukee, 2004
Box   12 Folder   4	Letterhead, undated
Box   12 Folder   5	Local Organizations, 2003-2004
Box   12 Folder   6	Mayoral Race, 2004
Box   12 Folder   7	Mayoral Transition, 2004
Box   12 Folder   8	Mayors of Other Cities, 2004
Box   12 Folder   9	Milwaukee County, 2003-2004
Box   12 Folder   10	Milwaukee Police Department, 2003-2004
Box   12 Folder   11	Milwaukee Public Library, 2004
Box   12 Folder   12	National League of Cities, 2004
Box   12 Folder   13	Nominations, 2004
Box   12 Folder   14	Photograph, 2004
Box   12 Folder   15	Potawatomi Bingo, 2003-2004
Box   12 Folder   16-17	Proclamations, January-February 2004
Box   13 Folder   1-2	Proclamations, March-June 2004
Box   13 Folder   3	Staff, 2004
Box   13 Folder   4	Town Hall Meetings, 2004
Box   13 Folder   5	Wisconsin Departments, 2004
Box   13 Folder   6	Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, 2004
Box   13 Folder   7	YMCA, 2004