Republican Party of Wisconsin Records, 1900-1974


Summary Information
Title: Republican Party of Wisconsin Records
Inclusive Dates: 1900-1974

Creator:
  • Republican Party (Wis.)
Call Number: Mss 649

Quantity: 6.6 c.f. (4 record center cartons and 9 archives boxes)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:
Records of the Republican Party of Wisconsin consisting of printed constitutions, minutes of executive committee meetings, records of annual conventions, and executive directors' correspondence. The collection mainly documents the period 1946-1970. In addition to correspondence, lists, platforms, and resolutions, the convention records include full secretarial transcriptions of proceedings. For several conventions, speeches and remarks of John Byrnes, Thomas Coleman, Glenn Davis, Everett Dirksen, Gerald Ford, Barry Goldwater, Charles Halleck, Warren Knowles, Melvin Laird, Joseph McCarthy, William Miller, Thruston Morton, Richard Nixon, Donald Nutter, Oscar Rennebohm, and Alexander Wiley are included. The executive directors' correspondence consists primarily of the correspondence of George Greeley (1960-1970), although a few scattered items pertain to other individuals who held that post. These files concern fund raising events and party finances, inaugural planning, and monitoring of Republican and Democratic politicians. Of the state chairmen of the period, only Ody J. Fish is extensively represented, although there are small files for the majority of the leading Republican office holders of the era. The national convention files include recollections of delegates to the 1960 and 1964 national conventions.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00649
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Biography/History

The Republican Party of Wisconsin was founded at an anti-slavery meeting in a schoolhouse in Ripon on March 20, 1854, the same schoolhouse which is generally credited with being the birthplace of the national Republican Party. During the 19th century and the first third of the 20th century the Republicans dominated Wisconsin politics, and the most important voter decisions were made in the primary elections between the progressive and stalwart factions of the party.

During the Depression, the independent Progressive Party was in the majority in Wisconsin, and its demise in 1946 created a major political realignment. This realignment, which was not evident until the election of 1958, was characterized by electoral contests for power between the Republicans and Democrats which more precisely mirrored the national two party patterns.

For a decade after the demise of the Progressive Party, the Republicans were able to maintain their dominance largely as a result of the organizational abilities of state chairman Thomas Coleman (1943-1947). During the Coleman era the Republicans not only held the vast majority of the state offices and seats in the Legislature, but they also held a monopoly on county offices. Despite their electoral success, however, the 1950's were a period of internal disunity for the Republicans because of the controversy surrounding Senator Joseph R. McCarthy in state politics. It was the special election following his death in 1957 which brought these conflicts to the surface and which contributed to the Democrats' first statewide electoral breakthrough.

The party's more pragmatic and less ideological response to what one historian has called the “unprecedented challenge of partisan balance” of the 1960's was reflected in the record of Governor Warren P. Knowles (1964-1970), a representative of the moderate wing of the party, and the meticulous local organizing skills of State Chairman Ody J. Fish. Their efforts paid off with renewed electoral success for the Republicans during the late 1960's. The early 1970's, however, were difficult years for the party which was beset by debt, the image of the Watergate scandal, and an inability to recruit strong candidates. During the latter part of the decade the financial difficulties were ended thanks to the efforts of Financial Chairman Daniel Parker and the electoral fortunes of the party were improved as a result of the popularity of Governor Lee S. Dreyfus and President Ronald Reagan.

Related Material

Researchers may wish to consult the papers of Chairmen Thomas Coleman and Wayne Hood which are also held by the Historical Society. Earlier records of the party (1893-1904 and 1925-1931) held by the Milwaukee Public Library complement the Society's holdings. These records, bound as 15 volumes, include earlier convention minutes, transcripts, and lists, and some correspondence pertaining to the statewide party and to the Milwaukee County organization.

Publications of the party--Action, Facts about Your Government, Focus, Wisconsin Insider, and Wisconsin Republican--are available in the State Historical Society Library.

Scope and Content Note

The records of the Republican Party of Wisconsin held by the State Historical Society chiefly document party history during the 1950's and 1960's. Although the records are disappointing and incomplete even for the limited period which they document, they do provide coverage of a significant period in the party's history. Approximately half of the collection consists of documentation on the annual party conventions, 1938-1963; the other half consists of the correspondence of George Greeley, the party's executive director, 1960-1970. The remainder of the collection consists of a small file of printed copies of the party constitutions and minutes of the executive committee. Because of his function as executive director, Greeley's papers tend to deal primarily with administrative matters rather than policy issues or statewide political campaigns. With the exception of Ody Fish, there is little documentation from any of the state chairmen who held office during the era covered by the collection.

The CONSTITUTIONS section consists of printed copies of the constitution and revisions issued from 1940 through 1970. In the executive directors' files there is one folder on the 1967 Constitutional Revision Committee.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES include mimeographed and draft records of the body which made policy for the party between its annual conventions. Because the minutes were removed from George Greeley's papers they document only that era in party history, and even for that period there are breaks in the coverage. They do include, however, drafts of the minutes, comments by committee members, and some material distributed to the committee for review. The minutes are supplemented by the executive committee correspondence filed in the executive directors' section and by the numerous memoranda distributed to the committee by Ody Fish.

STATE CONVENTION FILES, mainly 1946-1963, include correspondence, platforms and resolutions, local arrangements material, lists of delegates, and transcripts. The transcriptions, which make up one of the most valuable portions of the collection, include full coverage of speeches and floor remarks as well as the general proceedings. Among the prominent state and national political figures who addressed the convention are John Byrnes, Thomas Coleman, Glenn Davis, Everett Dirksen, Gerald Ford, Barry Goldwater, Charles Halleck, Warren Knowles, Melvin Laird, Joseph McCarthy, William Miller, Thruston Morton, Richard Nixon, Donald Nutter, Oscar Rennebohm, and Alexander Wiley. (See also the Miscellaneous Items described below.)

The EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS' FILES consist primarily of records maintained by George Greeley who held that post from 1960 through 1970, although there are a few scattered items from other individuals who held that post such as Stanley York. These files include correspondence, clippings, memoranda, financial reports, and press releases and primarily concern administrative matters such as convention and inaugural planning, fund raising events, and party finances. Several special organizing efforts such as projects for returning Wisconsin veterans, naturalized citizens, senior citizens, and youth are also represented. There are small files for most of the party leaders of the era such as Mary Ising, Claude Jasper, Warren Knowles, and Wilbur Renk, as well as some files on their Democratic opposition. Notable among these are the files on Robert Kastenmeier and the Liberal Papers controversy.

There is very little information on statewide or national electoral campaigns or public relations in the file; miscellaneous printed materials pertaining to individual candidates found here have been transferred to the Wisconsin Political Vertical File. This series also contains reminiscences of delegates to the 1960 and 1964 national conventions which were solicited by the State Historical Society.

The final segment of the collection are MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS consisting primarily of platforms and convention minutes. All were received and cataloged individually prior to presentation of the files described above.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by the Republican Party of Wisconsin via George Innes and William Applegate, 1976-1978, with small additions from Mrs. Clifford W. Chatterson, Eau Claire; Scott M. Cutlip, Madison; Thomas E. Fairchild, Madison; David Fellman, Madison; Claude Jasper, Madison; Warren P. Knowles, New Richmond; Philip G. Kuehn, Milwaukee; Dwight T. Parker, place unidentified; Fred A. Risser, Madison; Edward J. Samp, Madison; Henry C. Shadeberg, Burlingon; Mrs. M. L. Wilcox, Wauwatosa; and Mrs. John E. Wise, Madison. Accession Number: M60-154, 169, 176, 184, 196, 200; M61-014; M64-218; M65-179, 256; M67-056; M71-015; M76-548; M77-056; M78-275, 381, 385


Processing Information

Processed by Carolyn J. Mattern, April, 1985. Miscellaneous Items processed by Karen J. Baumann, September 1995.


Contents List
Box   1
Folder   1
Series: Constitutions, 1940-1970
Box   1
Folder   2-4
Series: Executive Committee Minutes, 1958-1974
Series: State Convention Records
Box   2
Folder   1
1938, Transcript
Box   2
Folder   2
1940, Green Bay, Transcript
Box   3
Folder   1
1940, La Crosse, Transcript
1946
Box   3
Folder   2
Transcript
Box   3
Folder   3
Rules, Principles, Miscellany
Box   3
Folder   4
1947, Transcript
1948
Box   3
Folder   5
Transcript
Box   3
Folder   6
Delegate list
1949
Box   3
Folder   7
Transcript
Box   4
Folder   1
Delegate list
1950
Box   4
Folder   2
Transcript and platform
Box   4
Folder   3
Delegate list
1951
Box   4
Folder   4
Transcript
Box   4
Folder   5
Delegate list
1952
Box   4
Folder   6
Delegate list
Box   5
Folder   1
Transcript
1953
Box   5
Folder   2
Delegate list
Box   5
Folder   3
Transcript
1954
Box   5
Folder   4
Transcript, program, platform
Box   5
Folder   5
Delegate list
1955
Box   5
Folder   6
Transcript
Box   5
Folder   7
Delegate list
Box   5
Folder   8
Miscellany
1956
Box   5
Folder   9
Transcript
Box   5
Folder   10
Resolutions
Box   5
Folder   11
Delegate list
Box   5
Folder   12
Interim Platform Committee
Box   5
Folder   13
Miscellany
1957
Box   5
Folder   14
Transcript
Box   5
Folder   15
Delegate list
Box   5
Folder   16
Resolutions
Box   5
Folder   17
Miscellany
1958
Box   6
Folder   1
Transcript
Box   6
Folder   2
Delegate list
Box   6
Folder   3
Resolutions and platform
Box   6
Folder   4
Correspondence
Box   6
Folder   5
Miscellany
Box   6
Folder   6
Interim Platform Committee
Box   6
Folder   7
Rules
1959
Box   6
Folder   8
Transcript
Box   6
Folder   9
Resolutions
Box   6
Folder   10
Delegate list
Box   6
Folder   11
Correspondence
Box   6
Folder   12
Miscellany
1960
Box   6
Folder   13
Transcript
Box   6
Folder   14
Platform and resolutions
Box   6
Folder   15
Interim Platform Committee
Box   6
Folder   16
Correspondence
Box   6
Folder   17
Delegate list
Box   6
Folder   18
Miscellany
1961
Box   7
Folder   1
Transcript
Box   7
Folder   2
Chairmen's dinner remarks
Box   7
Folder   3
Resolutions
Box   7
Folder   4
Miscellany
Box   7
Folder   5
Correspondence
1962
Box   7
Folder   6
Transcript
Box   7
Folder   7
Resolutions and platform
Box   7
Folder   8
Correspondence
Box   7
Folder   9
Miscellany
1963
Box   7
Folder   10
Transcript
Box   7
Folder   11
Correspondence
Box   7
Folder   12
Miscellany
Box   7
Folder   13
Resolutions
Box   7
Folder   14
Printed platforms, 1964-1970
Series: Executive Directors' File
Box   8
Folder   1
Allied Development Corporation, 1965
Box   8
Folder   2
Calendar, 1966-1972
Box   8
Folder   3
“Campaign Central,” 1968-1969
Box   8
Folder   4
Campaign literature for statewide campaigns, 1950-1968
Box   8
Folder   5-6
Campaign schools, 1963-1974
Box   8
Folder   7
Caravans, undated
Box   8
Folder   8
Clapp, Norman, 1961
Box   8
Folder   9
Common Cause, 1971
Box   8
Folder   10
Committee lists, Miscellaneous, 1967-1971
Box   8
Folder   11
Constitutional Revision Committee, 1967
Box   8
Folder   12
County chairmen correspondence, 1971-1972
Box   8
Folder   13
Democratic Party of Wisconsin, 1961-1965
Box   8
Folder   14
Directories, 1965-1969
Box   8
Folder   15-16
Endorsement, 1942-1971
Box   8
Folder   17
Erickson, John, undated
Box   8
Folder   18
Ethnic groups, undated
Box   8
Folder   19-21
Executive Committee correspondence, 1963-1972
Box   8
Folder   22
Executive secretaryship, 1955
Box   8
Folder   23
F, 1969-1970
Box   8
Folder   24
Facts, 1965-1967
Box   8
Folder   25-26
Fair booth program, 1968-1971
Field reports
Box   8
Folder   27
Brueggemann, D., 1972
Box   8
Folder   28
Innes, George, 1972
Box   8
Folder   29
Jordan, J. J., 1972
Box   8
Folder   30
Kussart, G. E., 1972
Box   8
Folder   31
Mihajlov, T. P., 1972
Box   8
Folder   32-33
Finance Committee, 1952-1954, 1972
Box   8
Folder   34
Innes file, 1968
Box   8
Folder   35
Kimberly, John R., 1965
Box   8
Folder   36
Pickard, Samuel N., 1958-1960
Box   8
Folder   37
Viviani, Peter J., 1968-1969
Box   8
Folder   38
First Voters program, 1956
Box   8
Folder   39-41
Fish, Ody J., 1967-1971
Box   8
Folder   42
“Skirmish Line,” 1965-1967
Box   8
Folder   43
Focus, 1969
Box   8
Folder   44
Ford, Henry, II, 1964
Box   8
Folder   45
Friend, Edward, 1963
Box   9
Folder   1
Fund raising, Samples of tickets, 1958-1961
Box   9
Folder   2-3
Fund raising dinners, 1961-1969
Box   9
Folder   4
G, 1954-1970
Box   9
Folder   5
Goetz, James B., 1967-1969
Box   9
Folder   6
Goldwater, Barry, 1959-1964
Box   9
Folder   7
Greeley personal correspondence, 1967-1972
Box   9
Folder   8
H, 1960-1972
Box   9
Folder   9
Hinsman, Keith A., 1961-1966
Box   9
Folder   10
Hood, Wayne J., 1963-1964
Box   9
Folder   11
Hough, John E., 1968-1969
Box   9
Folder   12
Housing and Urban Development, Milwaukee office, 1971
Box   10
Folder   1
I, 1956-1970
Box   10
Folder   2-4
Inaugural balls, Gubernatorial, 1965-1969
Box   10
Folder   5
Inaugural balls, Presidential, 1972
Box   10
Folder   6
Insider, 1968
Box   10
Folder   7
Ising, Mary, 1961-1969
Box   10
Folder   8
J, 1958-1970
Box   10
Folder   9
Jasper, Claude J., 1963-1969
Box   10
Folder   10
Job applicants, 1970
Box   10
Folder   11
Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1966
Box   10
Folder   12
K, 1960-1970
Box   10
Folder   13
Kastenmeier (Liberal Papers), 1960-1962
Box   10
Folder   14
Kirk, Claude R., 1968
Box   10
Folder   15
Knowles, Robert, 1956-1963
Box   10
Folder   16
Knowles, Warren, 1958-1970
Box   10
Folder   17
L, 1950-1970
Box   10
Folder   18
LaFave, Reuben, 1960
Box   10
Folder   19
La Follette, Bronson, 1963-1967
Box   11
Folder   1
Laird, Melvin D., 1965-1969
Box   11
Folder   2
LaRocco, John, 1968
Box   11
Folder   3
Leonard, Jerris, 1966-1969
Box   11
Folder   4
Lincoln Day dinners, 1960-1970
Box   11
Folder   5
Lorge, Gerald, 1962-1963
Box   11
Folder   6
M, 1961-11968
Box   11
Folder   7
Midwest Republican Conference, 1971
Box   11
Folder   8
Moses, Robert, 1960
Box   11
Folder   9-10
National Republican Convention, 1960
National Republican Convention, 1964
Box   11
Folder   11
General file
Box   11
Folder   12
Recollections of delegates
Box   11
Folder   13
National Republican convention, 1968
Box   11
Folder   14-15
Naturalized citizens program, 1965-1971
Box   12
Folder   1
Neighborhood-to-Neighborhood fund drive, undated
Box   12
Folder   2
Nikolay, Frank M., 1960-1961
Box   12
Folder   3
O'Konski, Alvin, 1970
Box   12
Folder   4
Olson, Jack, 1966-1967
Box   12
Folder   5
Olson, John D., 1965-1969
Box   12
Folder   6
P, 1970
Box   12
Folder   7
Parker, Dan, 1961-1965
Box   12
Folder   8
Peckham, Ann, 1967-1969
Box   12
Folder   9
Peterson, Elly, 1963-1965
Box   12
Folder   10
Peterson, R. W., 1968
Box   12
Folder   11
Pierce, Robert L., 1962-1965
Box   12
Folder   12
Presidential electors, 1956-1968
Box   12
Folder   13
Primary election revision, 1956
Box   12
Folder   14
Primary, Presidential preference, 1968
Box   12
Folder   15
Proxmire, William, 1958-1964
Box   12
Folder   16
Rabinovitz, David, 1963
Box   12
Folder   17
Renk, Wilbur, 1962
Box   12
Folder   18
Rennebohm, Oscar, 1948-1968
Box   12
Folder   19
Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, 1969-1970
Box   12
Folder   20
Republican Leadership Conference, 1970
Box   12
Folder   21
Republican National Committee, 1969-1970
Box   12
Folder   22
Resolutions re deceased members, 1962
Box   12
Folder   23
Returning Wisconsin servicemen project, 1967-1969
Box   12
Folder   24
Reynolds, John W., 1962-1964
Box   12
Folder   25
Ripon as home of Republican Party, 1964-1967
Box   12
Folder   26
Rohde, Gilbert, 1961
Box   12
Folder   27
Romney, George, 1962-1967
Box   12
Folder   28-30
Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, 1968-1971
Box   12
Folder   31
Special elections, 1967
Box   12
Folder   32
Springer, Floyd, 1963-1968
Box   12
Folder   33
Staff, State headquarters, 1964-1969
Box   12
Folder   34
Staff training conference, 1971
Box   12
Folder   35
State Central Committee lists, 1955-1966
Box   12
Folder   36
Steiger, Carl E., 1963
Box   12
Folder   37
Steiger, William A., 1967-1969
Box   12
Folder   38
Surveys, 1968
Box   12
Folder   39
T, 1960-1965
Box   12
Folder   40
Teen-age Republicans, undated
Box   12
Folder   41
Tewes, Donald, 1956-1964
Box   12
Folder   42
Thomson, Vernon, 1968-1969
Box   12
Folder   43-48
Treasurer, Invoices approved for payment, 1965-1970
Box   12
Folder   49
U-V, 1956-1971
Box   12
Folder   50
United Republicans of America, 1967
Box   12
Folder   51
University of Wisconsin, 1951-1960
Box   12
Folder   52
W, 1946-1966
Box   12
Folder   53
WEA, 1968
Box   12
Folder   54
Wallace, George, 1968
Box   12
Folder   55
Warren, Robert W., 1968-1970
Box   12
Folder   56
Wiley, Alexander, 1960-1962
Box   12
Folder   57
Wisconsin Almanac and Government Guide, 1969-1970
Box   12
Folder   58
Wisconsin Association of School Boards, 1968
Box   12
Folder   59
Wisconsin Press Association, 1962-1967
Box   12
Folder   60
Women's statewide conference, 1970
Box   12
Folder   61
Workshop of Wisconsin, 1961
Box   12
Folder   62
Y-Z, 1960-1970
Box   12
Folder   63
YGOP, 1966-1970
Box   12
Folder   64
Yerly, Everett, 1957-1968
Box   12
Folder   65-66
Youth Task Force, 1971
Box   12
Folder   67
Zawacki, Edmund, 1961
Box   12
Folder   68
Zimmerman, Robert, 1968-1969
Box   12
Folder   70
Zuckerman, Stanley, 1963-1964
Series: Miscellaneous Items
Box   13
Folder   1
, 1900 and 1902: Statements of election expenses
Box   13
Folder   1
, 1902: Certificate of nominations for state officers
Box   13
Folder   1
, 1914: Party platform (typewritten carbon)
Box   13
Folder   1
, 1924: State Convention minutes (typewritten carbon)
Box   13
Folder   1
, 1928: State Convention minutes and platform (typewritten carbon)
Box   13
Folder   1
, 1930: State Convention minutes and platform (typewritten carbon)
Box   13
Folder   1
, 1932: Proceedings of the Platform Convention and its Committee on Resolutions (typewritten carbon)
Box   13
Folder   2
1936: State Convention proceedings (1 volume, typewritten)
Box   13
Folder   2
1938 August 5: Opening campaign address by Edward J. Samp, candidate for U.S. Senate, Waukesha, Wis. (at back of volume above)
Box   13
Folder   3
, 1938: State Convention proceedings (typewritten carbon)