Title: Henry Crosby Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1969-1976

Creator:

• Crosby, Henry

Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 188

Quantity: 2 cubic ft. (3 boxes and 1 beer case)
Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

This collection contains Henry Crosby's papers pertaining to the 1970 acquisition and the 1972 closure of the Peoples Brewing Company. Crosby was on the board of directors of this company. This brewery was owned by a group of Milwaukee-based African American Investors. As a result of this purchase and the subsequent African American directed stock sale, the Peoples Brewing Company became the first major African American owned brewery in Wisconsin. The Henry Crosby Papers consist of documents relating to the Peoples Brewing Company in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; the president of the Peoples Brewing Company, Theodore Mack; minority business initiatives; the Wisconsin brewing industry; and the Small Business Administration (SBA), which is the federal government agency whose function is to council and assist the interests of small businesses. The collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, legal documents, publications, public stock records, Peoples Brewing Company business records, a publication from the Afro-Urban Institute, cardboard beer case labels, and Peoples Brewing Company and Oshkosh Brewing Company regalia. This collection has profound significance not only as the first African American owned brewing company, but in the federal investigations that were prompted from SBA mishandling of the company's closure. In addition, it incited investigations of other corporations and federal bureaus that were related to Mack's initial suit against the SBA and the Defense Department in 1972.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0188

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The Peoples Brewing Company was the first instance of African American ownership of a major Wisconsin Brewery. The plant was started in 1911 by Henry J. Durler, and located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at 1506-1512 South Main Street. The brewery was sold to a group of African American investors in 1970. This group, including Henry Crosby, consisted of the first, and only, board of directors. This board dated from 1970-1972 and included Henry Crosby as well as Ray Alexander, Louis Maxey, and Robert Peeble. Crosby, Alexander, Maxey, and the Peoples Brewing Company president, Theodore Mack were also members of United Black Enterprises, an organization that came out of the Northtown Planning and Development Council. This council was connected to the Afro-Urban Institute, working as a Milwaukee ghetto non-profit group that encouraged African American involvement in the economic community. This organization had attempted to buy Blatz Brewing Company the year before, bidding $9,000,000 for the operation. It was declined the summer of 1969, and sold to G. Heileman Brewing Company of La Crosse for $10,750,000.

The Peoples Brewing Company was sold for a total of $365,000 with an additional $70,000 paid for the existing inventory. The purchase was facilitated by a $390,000 Small Business Administration backed loan from Marshall and Ilsley Bank in Milwaukee on the condition that the group raise an additional $200,000 for operating costs through stock sales. After the stock sale, another building was purchased on Wright Street in Milwaukee to be used as the headquarters.

While the plant was in operation, Peoples Brewing Company produced Wurtzer Beer, Old Derby Ale, Peoples Beer, Chief Oshkosh, Rahr's, Badger, and Liebrau, and in 1971 purchased the labels of the Oshkosh Brewing Company. It also made improvements on the existing company by installing a new tapping system, palletized inventory, and canned its beer in pop top cans.

Despite these changes and growth, by November 1972 Theodore Mack ceased production. Discrimination and poor sales in Milwaukee, a $35,000 tax lien placed on the company by the Internal Revenue Service, and a suit that Mack brought against the Small Business Administration and the Defense Department seeking 100 million dollars in defense contracts contributed to this decision. The equipment was subsequently sold by the Small Business Administration to relieve the debt that was left by the closure. The sale provided only a fraction of the market value of the equipment and an investigation of the Small Business Administration and the Office of Minority Business Enterprises resulted.

Additional allegations, resulting from the inquiries, led to an investigation by August Bequai of the Securities and Exchange Commission into payoffs made to retailers with the intent that they would sell only a single beer product. Many clippings regarding this investigation are included within this collection.

Each folder contains a variety of information relating to the operations of the People's Brewing Company and the Wisconsin brewing industry, 1969-1976. The correspondence outlines the problems that the Peoples Brewing Company underwent during the first half of the 1970s. It includes internal company correspondence, government funding requests, inquiries regarding the sale of Peoples Beer to the armed services, legal communications, a Pan African Business Information Center inquiry, stockholders' communications, and a letter of intent of sale. The clippings are comprised of various brewing industry articles. However, the clippings predominately feature news about the Peoples Brewing Company and the Small Business Administration probe that took place after the closing of the Peoples Brewing Company. Many of the articles touch upon the topic of minorities in business. A brewing industry themed newspaper insert contains extensive information regarding a variety of large and small breweries within Wisconsin during 1969. The business records outline finances, by-laws, articles of incorporation, internal documents, grant requests, and other government information. Also included within this collection are District Court records regarding the case between the Peoples Brewing Company and the Small Business Administration, as well as brewing industry publications, a bound Afro-Urban Institute publication, and Peoples Brewing Company objects.

Of specific interest to African American history is the publication, About the Business of Business for Inner City North Through: Business Assistance, Business Opportunities, and Business Development in box one, folder one. The Afro-Urban Institute is a tax exempt, non-profit community development corporation for the Black Community in Milwaukee. Its goals include promoting positive economic development of Milwaukee's inner city north to extend economic opportunities and employment. They do this through assisting minority entrepreneurial development and conducting coordinating services. This City of Milwaukee Afro-Urban Institute publication includes newspaper clippings, letters, and financial statements regarding North Milwaukee issues. Most of the items in the publication date from 1969 through 1972, and constitute a compilation of sources regarding subjects such as the Milwaukee Black Economic Development Institute, United Black Enterprises, North Milwaukee State Bank, Peoples Brewing Company, Center City Supermarket, Central City Cooperative, Martin Luther King Park, Halyard Park, Northside Community Design Center, Cable Television, or CATV, APEX Cab Company, workshops, and the Afro-Urban Institute.

Several artifacts are also part of this collection. They include a Peoples Beer Case, Peoples Beer cans, Holiday Beer and Oshkosh Brewing Company bottles, a Peoples Beer bottle opener, and a Peoples Brewing Company enameled tray. The artifacts may be used only with the assistance of the Archives' staff.

The collection is arranged in the following series:

1. General Papers, 1969-1976
2. Artifacts,1962-1971

The papers are arranged in alphabetical files, with the contents of each file arranged chronologically. Newspaper clippings have been photocopied and are contained in boxes one and two. The artifacts are in box three. The beer case is a separate, additional box.

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

Access Restrictions

The artifacts are restricted and may be used only with the assistance of the Archives' staff.

There are no access restrictions on the other materials in the collection, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.

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

Henry S. and Janet E. Crosby donated this collection to the Archives in August 2002 (accession 2002-034).

Processing Information

Jacqueline Frank processed this collection in the Archives September through November 2002.

	Series: 1. General Papers, 1969-1976
Box   1 Folder   1	Afro-Urban Institute Booklet, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Brewing Industry Clippings, 1969-1976
Box   2 Folder   1	Brewing Industry Newspaper Insert, 1969
Box   1 Folder   9	Correspondence, 1971-1974
Box   1 Folder   3	Government Assistance Requests, 1972
	Peoples Brewing Company
Box   1 Folder   4	Accounting Records, 1970-1971
Box   1 Folder   5	Advertising and Labels, undated
Box   1 Folder   6	Annual Reports, 1971
Box   1 Folder   7	Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, 1970-1971, undated
Box   1 Folder   8	Bids, undated
Box   2 Folder   2	District Court Documents, 1972-1973
Box   1 Folder   10	Media Releases, 1972, undated
Box   1 Folder   11	Meeting Minutes, 1970-1973
Box   1 Folder   12	Operations Proposals, undated
Box   1 Folder   13	Public Stock Documents, 1970-1971, undated
Box   1 Folder   14	Stockholders' Meeting Minutes, 1972
	Series: 2. Artifacts, 1962-1971 Access Restrictions: Restricted	⇧
	Subseries: Oshkosh Brewing Company
Beer Case   1	Chief Oshkosh Beer Bottle, undated Physical Description: Amber-Brown Glass, Crown Top, 12 oz. (Orange Shield on Gold Label),
Beer Case   1	Chief Oshkosh Beer Bottle, 1962 Physical Description: Amber Glass, Crown Top, 12 oz. (Building and Lake on Label)
Beer Case   1	Chief Oshkosh Beer Bottle, 1965 Physical Description: Amber Glass, Crown Top, 12 oz. (Chief in Headdress and Lake on Label)
	Subseries: Peoples Brewing Company	⇧
Beer Case   1	Beer Can, pre-1971 Physical Description:
Box   3	Bottle and Can Opener, undated
Beer Case   1	20 Bottle Carton/ Beer Case, undated
Box   3	Enameled Metal Tray, undated
Beer Case   1	Holiday Beer Bottles, undated Physical Description: 2 Bottles
Beer Case   1	Ring Top Self-Opening Metal Can, undated