Title: Clifton Williams Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1906-1967

Creator:

• Williams, Clifton, 1885-1972

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 329

Quantity: 0.4 cubic ft. (1 box)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Correspondence, speeches, course notes, and tax records, relating to Clifton Williams' (1885-1972) activities as a lawyer and dean of Marquette University Law School.

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-lhmc0329

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Clifton Williams was born 1 July 1885 in Richmond, Indiana, and graduated from Indiana University Law School in 1908. He worked as part of the legal staff of the Wisconsin Central Railway and was transferred from Chicago to Milwaukee in 1910. Shortly after he joined the staff of then-City Attorney Daniel Hoan and became City Attorney himself in 1916 when Hoan became Mayor. He served as City Attorney for Milwaukee from 1916-1922 but continued on as Special Assistant City Attorney on a part time type basis until 1929, when the position was cut in the 1930 budget by the Common Council. During his time as the Special Assistant City Attorney, he also practiced law privately and remained involved in civic organizations. In 1911 he joined the faculty at Marquette University’s Law school and became dean from 1917-1931. Williams also served as Uniform Law Commissioner of Wisconsin from 1927-1931. He retired from practice in 1933 and later moved to Santa Barbara, California where he died on 24 September 1972.

The bulk of the collection dates from 1910 to 1932 and concerns Williams’ public life and work, although it does include a series of personal tax returns from 1922-1932. The collection consists of papers from Williams’ time as City Attorney and a small amount of his tenure at Marquette University’s law school. It also includes material relating to disputes between various electric railroad operations within the city, a Wisconsin Supreme Court case involving the Illinois Steel Company and land rights, as well as speeches, publications, and notes on various cases and other legal matters.

The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically within each folder, whenever possible.

Williams, Clifton, Papers, 1906-1967, Collection 329. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

• City Attorney Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 1.

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

The collection was donated to the Milwaukee Public Library by Clifton Williams’ widow, Alma S.H. Williams, in 1973. Materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Described by Alice Richards, Fieldworker, 2014. Processed by Casey Lapworth, Archives Librarian, 2017. Final processing by Bob Jaeger, 2019.

Box   1 Folder   1	Electric Railroads, 1906-1912, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Income Tax Materials, 1922-1932
Box   1 Folder   3-4	Journals and Case Notes, undated
Box   1 Folder   4	Notes, Speeches, and Memorabilia, 1913-1952
Box   1 Folder   5	Publications, 1918-1967
Box   1 Folder   6	Wisconsin Supreme Court Case, City of Milwaukee v. State of Wisconsin, 1927