Summary Information
Willis Hutnik Papers
1954-1970
Eau Claire Mss AS
1.8 c.f. (5 archives boxes) and 4 photographs
UW-Eau Claire McIntyre Library / Eau Claire Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of a Republican from Ladysmith, Wisconsin, who served in the Assembly from 1953 to 1971. Included are correspondence from constituents, colleagues, state agencies, and advocacy groups; subject files on pending legislation; material concerning work on the Highway Safety Advisory Committee; press releases and other publicity; campaign files; and personal papers.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-ec00as ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Republican legislator Willis J. Hutnik was born in the town of Elk in Price County, Wisconsin on March 23, 1915. After education in local schools and the Price County Normal School, Hutnik attended Central State College in Ohio and the University of Wisconsin. He worked as a teacher and as a school principal, but at the time of his tenure in the Wisconsin Legislature he owned and operated a school and office supply business in Ladysmith. Among Hutnik's civic interests were serving as an officer of the Rusk County Conservation Congress, the Ladysmith Community Club, and the Price County Education Association. In addition, he worked with the 4-H Club and with local youth athletics.
A Republican, Hutnik was elected to the Assembly in 1952 to represent Price, Rusk, and Sawyer counties. Much of his committee work in the Wisconsin Legislature was focused on his interest in education and highways. In addition to serving for several sessions on the Education Committee, he served as chairman of the Highway Committee in 1967 and 1969 and as co-chairman of the Legislative Council's Committee on Highways. In 1967 he was vice-chairman of the Advisory Committee on State Highway Safety. In addition, Hutnik was chairman of Rules in 1967, Labor in 1955, and vice-chairman of the Legislative Council's Committee on Reapportionment in 1969. In 1969 he was elected speaker pro-tem of the Assembly. A full listing of Hutnik's legislative work is included in the Wisconsin Blue Book.
Scope and Content Note
The Willis Hutnik Papers are a typical collection of legislative papers including correspondence, legislative subject files, press material, campaign files, and miscellany. The original collection, which was received by the Historical Society in 1972, was very disordered, and to make the material accessible to researchers an organizational scheme was imposed. At the same time routine and ephemeral material was removed, and publications contained in the collection were transferred to the Society's library.
The CORRESPONDENCE, which is generally representative of constituent concerns and issues deliberated upon while Hutnik was in the legislature, is arranged chronologically. The majority of the correspondence dates from the mid-1960's with no papers whatsoever from the 1953-1954 and 1955-1956 sessions.
LEGISLATIVE SUBJECT FILES contain draft of bills requested by Hutnik from the Legislative Reference Bureau, additional correspondence, and reference material distributed to legislators by state agencies and advocacy groups. These files are arranged chronologically by session and then alphabetically by subject. These files cover the period 1959-1968, but none of the individual topics are extensively documented. The COMMITTEE FILES primarily document Hutnik's work on the Highway Safety Advisory Committee, 1966-1969.
Perhaps the most valuable portion of the papers is the file of press releases drafted by the Assembly Republican Caucus, some written specifically for Hutnik and others tailored from samples written by the caucus for all Republican assemblymen. Unfortunately because no comprehensive files of press material are held by the Archives, these files cover only 1969 and 1970. Also included with the PRESS MATERIAL are xeroxed biographical news clippings. Several photographs of Hutnik taken for publicity purposes are housed in the Visual Materials Archive.
CAMPAIGN AND ELECTION MATERIAL, 1954-1970, consists of election statistics, correspondence, clippings, literature, and financial statements for Hutnik and some opponents. The MISCELLANY consists of fragmentary correspondence concerning his business.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Willis J. Hutnik, Ladysmith, Wisconsin, July 17, 1972. Accession Number: M72-250
Processed by C. Schoenleber (FGH student), Carolyn J. Mattern, 1987.
Contents List
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Eau Claire Mss AS
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Series: Correspondence
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Box
1
Folder
1-12
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1957, January-1960, June
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Box
2
Folder
1-12
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1960, July-1963, November
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Box
3
Folder
1-9
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1963, December-1970, n.d.
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Series: Subject Files
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1959
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Billboards
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Constitutional amendment
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Finances and budget
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Fox bounties
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Gasoline taxes
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Trucking industry
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Veterans
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Water resources
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Box
4
Folder
2
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1961 session
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Box
4
Folder
2
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State finances and budget
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Box
4
Folder
3
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Milk
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Box
4
Folder
3
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Schools
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Box
4
Folder
3
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Veterans
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1963 session
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Box
4
Folder
4
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Chiropractors
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Box
4
Folder
4
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Highways
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Box
4
Folder
4
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Indians
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Box
4
Folder
4
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Schools
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Box
4
Folder
4
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Trading stamps
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1965 -1968 sessions
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Box
4
Folder
5
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Trading stamps
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Box
4
Folder
5
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Trucking
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Series: Committee Files
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Box
4
Folder
6-8
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Highway Safety Advisory Committee, 1966-1969
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Box
4
Folder
9
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Miscellany, 1969-1970
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Series: Press Material
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Box
4
Folder
10-12
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Press releases, 1969-1970
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Box
4
Folder
13-14
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Biographical clippings, 1957-1969
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PH Eau Claire Mss AS
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Publicity photographs
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Eau Claire Mss AS
Box
5
Folder
1-4
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Series: Campaign and Election Material, 1954-1970
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Box
5
Folder
5
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Series: Miscellany, 1956-1967
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