Title: Milwaukee Yacht Club Records
Inclusive Dates: 1871-2012

Creator:

• Milwaukee Yacht Club

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 88

Quantity:

• 5 cubic ft. (15 boxes)
• 1 oversize folder

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

The Records of the Milwaukee Yacht Club, founded in 1871, located on Lake Michigan's lakefront in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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-lhmc0088

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The Milwaukee Yacht Club (MYC) was founded in 1871 and is one of the oldest yacht clubs on Lake Michigan. Their focus is on promoting the enjoyment of and activities on Milwaukee’s lakeshore. Throughout their history, they have offered events and programming that include races/regattas, sailing school/education, an annual “Commodore’s Ball”, various ceremonies and a “Shipmates” Ladies Auxiliary. The Clubhouse is located in the Milwaukee Bay, within McKinley Marina, north of the Milwaukee River and east of the former Northwestern railway tracks. The original clubhouse was built on pilings near the old flushing tunnel slip. Over the years, three MYC clubhouses have been built/rebuilt on that site. During the 1920s and 1930s, the present outer breakwater, a barrier to protect the harbor from waves, was constructed under the leadership of William George Bruce, one of the founders of the Club, and Chairman of the Milwaukee Harbor Commission for almost 20 years.

In 1943 a fire destroyed the original clubhouse. In 1945 a small concrete structure was built at the north end of the Club’s property to serve until wartime building restrictions were lifted. The 1945 structure remains and functions as the dock master’s office, as well as the Junior Club Facility. After the war, a land dispute occurred between the Milwaukee Yacht Club and Milwaukee County. Each claimed ownership over the land where the Club stood. Eventually, the County established ownership and the Milwaukee Yacht Club entered into a 25 year lease of the premises. In 1967, a new two and one-half story clubhouse overlooking the Milwaukee Harbor was built at a cost of over $300,000. In 1994, the County and the Club agreed to extend the lease for 25 years giving the Club an option for another 25 years.

The collection contains records of the Milwaukee Yacht Club from 1871-2011, with the bulk of the material covering 1945-2005. The collection is divided up into 8 series: Board of Directors, Committees, Membership, Miscellaneous, Photographs/Slides, Publications, Races and Shipmates. The Milwaukee Yacht Club's earliest records were mostly destroyed by a fire in 1943. However, some early meeting minutes (1894-1909) survived and are included along with later meeting minutes/notices. The collection also contains photographs/slides, reports, financial records, correspondence, membership and roster lists, officer records, committee assignments and records from the “Shipmates” auxiliary women’s group. Additionally, materials can be found relating to past races, dinner events and programs. There is a variety of the Club’s publications, The Milwaukee Yacht Club Bulletin, The Milwaukee Yacht Club, Centennial Issue 1871-1971 : Salute to Yachting, The Milwaukee Yacht Club Log and The Spreader along with various copies of newspaper articles relating to the Club.

The collection is arranged into the following series:

1. Board of Directors, 1871-2011
2. Committees, 1917-2011
3. Membership, 1928-2011
4. Miscellaneous, 1894-2006
5. Photographs / Slides, 1906-1996
6. Publications, 1937-2011
7. Races, 1948-2011
8. Shipmates, 1963-1992

The series are arranged alphabetically. Within each series, folders are generally arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

Milwaukee Yacht Club Records, 1871-2012, Collection 88. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

• Torsten R. Hedengren Papers. Local History Manuscript Collection 353.

Milwaukee Yacht Club centennial, 1871-1971 : Salute to Yachting

1953 Star Class North America Championships Sponsored by Milwaukee Yacht Club, Under the Auspices of the Milwaukee Star Street, August 24th to 28th

Constitution, by-laws, sailing regulations, etc. of the Milwaukee Yacht Club, 1898

Yearbook

MYC log

Great Lakes Championship, Fourth district I.S.C.Y.R.A.

Milwaukee Illustrated

Shipmates cookbook

Related Great Lakes Marine Collection "Shipshape" files

Nomad

Pinta

Rouse Simmons

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 Local History Manuscript 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

Originally donated by John Strassman on behalf of the Milwaukee Yacht Club Board of Directors on February 20, 2001 and supplemented by a delivery by Joseph P. Gilsinger on March 30, 2006. In 2011, Michael & Linda Norderhaug donated a few additional materials. Materials accessioned as Local History Manuscripts Collection.

Processing Information

Initially processed in 2001 by other staff/volunteers. Processing finalized by volunteer Christine H. Sentz, 2020. Finding aid completed by Casey Lapworth, 2021.

	Series: 1. Board of Directors, 1871-2011
Box   1 Folder   19	Annual Meeting - Minutes, 1968-1991
Box   1 Folder   1	By-laws and working documents, 1895- 2006, undated
Box   1 Folder   9	Commissioning Ceremony, 1990
Box   1 Folder   10	Commodore John D. Haliday - Correspondence, 1988-1990
Box   1 Folder   11	Commodore Robert C. Mahnke - Correspondence, 1993-1995
Box   1 Folder   12	Commodore’s Report, 1946-1949
Box   1 Folder   13	Correspondence to Board of Directors, 1960-1996
Box   1 Folder   14	Correspondence to General Membership, 1967-2006
Box   1 Folder   20-21	Elections, 1962, 2006
Box   1 Folder   2	Incorporation, 1871
Box   1 Folder   3	Lloyds Register of American Yachts - Subscription, 1962
Box   1 Folder   4	Minutes of meeting of Milwaukee Yacht Club, 1944
Box   1 Folder   15	Notice of Meeting, 1948-2003
Box   1 Folder   16	Officers and committee assignments, 1948-1951
Box   1 Folder   5	“Origins of the Milwaukee Yacht Club” by Hub Ranger, 2001
Box   1 Folder   6	Permission to build MYC Club House; extract from Common Council Proceedings, 1895-1896
Box   1 Folder   7	Recruiting Register of the First Cluster in the Order of Affiliated Cirrobranchiata Barnacles attached in the Port of Milwaukee District of the Inland Seas, 1969-1956
	Regular meeting - Minutes
Box   1 Folder   22-23	1931-1959
Box   2 Folder   1-6	1960-1995
Box   3 Folder   1-8	1996-2005
Box   4 Folder   1-6	2006-2011
Box   1 Folder   8	Secretary’s minute book of Director’s meetings, 1894-1909
Box   4 Folder   7	Special meeting - Minutes, 1945-1991
Box   1 Folder   17	Suggested changes in Classes of Membership and By-laws, internal date, 1962
Box   1 Folder   18	Timetable for Duties of the Secretary, 1961
	Series: 2. Committees, 1917-2011	⇧
Box   4 Folder   8	Community Outreach and Park Service Committee - Annual Report, 2007
	Dock Committee
Box   4 Folder   9	Report, 1953-2006
Box   4 Folder   10	Correspondence, 1961-2004
Box   4 Folder   11	Fleet Captain’s Report to General Membership, 1969
Box   4 Folder   12	Slip and Boat Storage Agreement, 1995
Box   4 Folder   13	Slip Rentals and Agreements, 1991-2001
Box   4 Folder   14	Yard and Tender Rules and Charges, 1990-1995
	Entertainment Committee
Box   4 Folder   15-17	Miscellaneous Event Flyers, 1917-2006
Box   4 Folder   18	Menu, undated, 1968-1969
Box   4 Folder   19	Opening Dinner Dance, 1924
Box   4 Folder   20	Schedule of Events, 1986-1992
	Finance Committee
Box   5 Folder   1	Balance sheets with operating expenses, 1945-1959
Box   5 Folder   2	Budget, 1948-1990
Box   5 Folder   3	Capital Improvement Fund, 1962
Box   5 Folder   4	City Emblem Company, 1962
Box   5 Folder   5	Comparative statement of income, 1964-1994
	Correspondence
Box   5 Folder   6	Ervin J. Golembiewski, 1962
Box   5 Folder   7	Lease Agreement with Park Commission, 1969
Box   5 Folder   8	Miscellaneous, 1962-1996
Box   5 Folder   9	Sales Tax, 1962
Box   5 Folder   10	Final figures on cost of construction, 1967
Box   5 Folder   11	Minutes and reports, 1960-1983
Box   5 Folder   12-13	Financial Statements, 1999-2002
Box   5 Folder   14	Gasoline Audit Report, 1954
Box   5 Folder   15	Indemnity Agreement, 1962
Box   5 Folder   16	Insurance Correspondence, 1959-1968
Box   5 Folder   17	Insurance Summary, 1968
Box   5 Folder   18	Memorandum of collateral deposited with First Wisconsin National Bank of Milwaukee, 1967
Box   5 Folder   19	North American Star Class Championship Analysis, 1953
Box   5 Folder   20	Petty Cash Expenditures, 1950
Box   5 Folder   21	Profit and Loss Statements, 1961-1994
Box   5 Folder   22	Resolution Designating Depository, 1952-1962
Box   5 Folder   23	Sale of Government Property - Bid Award, 1961
Box   5 Folder   24	Stationery Quotes and Correspondence, 1961
Box   5 Folder   25	Van Dyke and Lindemann Lease Agreement - Simplicity Tractor, 1968
Box   5 Folder   26	Grounds and Tender Service Committee - Report, 1953
Box   5 Folder   27	House Committee - Miscellaneous Documents, 1962-2004
Box   5 Folder   28	Juniors Committee - Report, 1953
	Marketing Committee
Box   5 Folder   30	Publicity Report, 1953
Box   5 Folder   29	Samples, undated
Oversize Folder   1	T-shirts, 2011 Physical Description: 10 - 11"x17" color photocopies
	Series: 3. Membership, 1928-2011	⇧
Box   6 Folder   1	Activity / Status, 1951-2002
Box   6 Folder   2	Annual Meeting Minutes, 1928-1993
Box   6 Folder   3	Application, 1951
Box   6 Folder   4	Complimentary Membership, 1968-1969
Box   6 Folder   5	Correspondence, 1961-2004
Box   6 Folder   6-10	Directories, 2004-2008, undated
Box   6 Folder   11	Elections, 1994
Box   6 Folder   12	Handbook, 1967
Box   6 Folder   13	Minutes, Special Meetings, 1929, 1945-1946
Box   6 Folder   14	Past Due and Delinquent, 1962, 1990-1995
	Rosters / Yearbooks
Box   7 Folder   1-4	1969-1999
Box   8 Folder   1	2000-2012
Box	Series: 4. Miscellaneous, 1894-2006	⇧
Box   8 Folder   2	Adult Learn to Sail Program, 2003, 2006
Box   8 Folder   3	Boat Plans - “Morgan 45”, 1968
Box   8 Folder   4	Cruising Sailors, 1980
Box   8 Folder   5	“Fourth of July…” by Joe Gilsinger, undated
Box   8 Folder   6	Joe Biddle movie, 1968
Box   8 Folder   7	Junior Sailing Lessons, 2002-2006
Box   8 Folder   8	Lake Michigan Yachting Association – Correspondence, 1953-1969
Box   8 Folder   9	Lending Library – Booklist, 2004-2006
Box   8 Folder   10	Milwaukee County Organization File, 1969
Box   8 Folder   11	Newspaper Clippings, 1894-1998
Box   8 Folder   12	Notecards – Fritz Gerlach, 1970s-1980s
Box   8 Folder   13	Sailing School Application, 1968-1969
Box   8 Folder   14	Sketches, 1970s-1980s
	Series: 5. Photographs/Slides, 1906-1996	⇧
Box   15 Folder   1	Album – Bucholtz, Fred & Vicki, 1967
Box   15 Folder   2	“Annual Gorge of the Barnacles”, 1915
Box   14 Folder   1-10	Astra, 1946-1962
Box   14 Folder   11	Auchter, Sue, 1968
Box   14 Folder   12-14	Awards Banquet, 1986
Box   14 Folder   15	Boat Yard, 1976
Box   14 Folder   16-18	Boats on Lake Michigan, undated
Box   14 Folder   19	Buddy M[?], 1986
Box   14 Folder   20	Charmer III / Antares, 1969
Box   14 Folder   21-25	Clubhouse, 1906-1942
Box   15 Folder   3	Clubhouse, 1915-1920, undated
Box   15 Folder   4-7	Clubhouse & Marina, 1973, undated
Box   14 Folder   26	Cockatoo, undated
Box   14 Folder   27	Commander’s Photo, 1990
Box   14 Folder   28-30	Commission, 1987
Box   14 Folder   31	Commodore Chuck Blank, undated
Box   14 Folder   32-41	Commodore’s Ball, 1986-1989
Box   14 Folder   42	County Supervisor Terrence Pitts, 1988
Box   14 Folder   43-47	Dedication, 1967
Box   14 Folder   48	Dedication of Great Ship Milwaukee, 1988
Box   14 Folder   49	Elko #46, 1942
Box   14 Folder   50-51	Elsa, undated
Box   14 Folder   52	[firing of the cannon], 1988
Box   14 Folder   53-54	Gypsy, undated
Box   14 Folder   55-56	Heart of America, 1986
Box   14 Folder   57-64	International Regatta, 1987
Box   14 Folder   65	Junior Awards Banquet, 1987
Box   14 Folder   66	Kamps, Charlie & Goldsmith, Bruce, 1971
Box   14 Folder   67	Kracht, Doug, 1986
Box   14 Folder   68-69	Lafayette Hill Before Lincoln Memorial Drive, undated
Box   14 Folder   70	Lake Michigan, undated
Box   14 Folder   71	Lightning 11107, undated
Box   14 Folder   72-73	Lily E at Milwaukee Yacht Club, 1916
Box   15 Folder   8	“Louis Quarles, Commodore, 1937-1940”, 1937-1940
Box   14 Folder   74	Luders 16, undated
Box   14 Folder   75	Lutke, Jack, undated
Box   15 Folder   9	Marina, undated
Box   14 Folder   76	Midwest District’s Winter Meeting, 1970
Box   14 Folder   77	My Lady, undated
Box   14 Folder   78	Norquist, John, 1988
Box   15 Folder   10	“Open Boat Party”, 1987
Box   14 Folder   79	Parlor, 1930
Box   14 Folder   80	Return from National Juniors, 1948
Box   14 Folder   81	Sally, 1950
Box   14 Folder   82	Schoedorf, Joe & Jackson, Morgan, undated
Box   14 Folder   83-84	Schultz, David, 1988
Box   14 Folder   85	Second Time Around 3 Mile Course, undated
Box   14 Folder   86	Sentry, Rob, 1970
Box   14 Folder   87-88	Skoal, 1956
Box   14 Folder   89	Soling, undated
Box   13 Folder   9	Soling World Championship (slides), 1988
Box   14 Folder   90	Spetz, John aboard Carolyn Too, 1945
Box   14 Folder   91-93	Swimming during “Roaring 20s”, undated
Box   14 Folder   94	“Tahuna” Christmas Greeting, undated
Box   14 Folder   95	Trophies, 1996
Box   14 Folder   96	Unidentified boat, undated
Box   14 Folder   97-99	Unidentified children, 1936, undated
Box   15 Folder   11	Unidentified events, 1967-1968, undated
Box   14 Folder   100	Unidentified man, undated
Box   14 Folder   101-103	Unidentified persons, 1995, undated
Box   15 Folder   12	Unidentified persons, undated
Box   15 Folder   13	Unidentified sailboats, 1966-1968, undated
Box   14 Folder   104-105	Unidentified sailboats - A-5, undated
Box   14 Folder   106	Unidentified sailboats - C-13, undated
Box   14 Folder   107	Unidentified sailboats - E 14, undated
Box   14 Folder   108	Unidentified sailboats - US 3928, undated
Box   15 Folder   14	Unidentified sailboats/races, 1968-1973, undated
Box   14 Folder   109-110	Youth Regatta, 1979
	Series: 6. Publications, 1937-2011	⇧
Box   9 Folder   1	Milwaukee Yacht Club Bulletin, 1949
Box   9 Folder   2	Milwaukee Yacht Club Centennial, 1871-1971 : Salute to Yachting, 1971
	Milwaukee Yacht Club Log
Box   9 Folder   3-25	1937, 1953-1979
Box   10 Folder   1-18	1980-1999
Box   11 Folder   1-11	2000-2011
Box   11 Folder   12	The Spreader, 1952
	Series: 7. Races, 1948-2011	⇧
	Awards Banquet programs
Box   12 Folder   24	1973-2008
Box   13 Folder   1-2	1995-2008
Box   12 Folder   1	Class Selection Committee Report, 1984-1985
Box   12 Folder   2	Junior Sailing School Awards Dinner, 2005-2011
Box   12 Folder   3	Laser Masters North American Championship, 2006
Box   12 Folder   4	Mackinac Race & Dinner, 1952
Box   12 Folder   5	Marine Handicap Race, 1968
Box   12 Folder   6	Milwaukee Bay Offshore Series Racing Manual, 2006, undated
Box   12 Folder   7	Milwaukee Journal Annual Yacht Regatta, 1951
Box   12 Folder   8	Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1962-1969
Box   12 Folder   9	Queen’s Cup Race Results, 1999
Box   12 Folder   10	Permanent Trophy Record from 1897 to 1978, circa 1978
Box   12 Folder   11	Race Schedule Bulletin, 1969
Box   12 Folder   12	Sail Regatta Committee Report, 1948-1949
Box   12 Folder   13	Sears Cup Race, 1948
Box   12 Folder   14	Suggested Changes and Additions to LMYA Racing Rules, 1968
Box   12 Folder   15	Trophy History, 1970-1976, undated
Box   12 Folder   16	Twentieth Annual PRO-AM Fishing Regatta, 2002
Box   12 Folder   17	U.S. Junior Sailing Championships, 1984
Box   12 Folder   18	U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championships, 2006
Box   12 Folder   19	U.S. Sailing Association Commendation, 1996
Box   12 Folder   20	U.S. Singlehanded Championship, 2006
Box   12 Folder   21	U.S. Youth Sailing Championship, 2003
Box   12 Folder   22	Winners’ Dinner, 1948
Box   12 Folder   23	Winners’ Dinner programs, 1952-1972
	Series: 8. Shipmates, 1963-1992	⇧
Box   13 Folder   3	Auxiliary – By-laws, 1964, 1984-1987
Box   13 Folder   4	Board Meeting – Minutes, 1985-1988
Box   13 Folder   5	Membership Roster, 1973-1991
Box   13 Folder   6	Social Organization, 1986-1988
Box   13 Folder   7	Style Shows, 1985-1988
Box   13 Folder   8	Treasurer’s Report, 1963-1992