Herbert E. Neuenschwander Papers, 1930-2006


Summary Information
Title: Herbert E. Neuenschwander Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1930-2006

Creator:
  • Neuenschwander, Herbert E., 1919-2006
Call Number: Mss 1022

Quantity: 10.4 c.f. (26 archives boxes)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:
Papers of Hustisford, Wisconsin native Herbert E. Neuenschwander, naturalist, historian, high school biology teacher, and field biologist. Included are notes and drafts for a book on the history of Hustisford; records of water levels and the effects of pollution on the native fish in Lake Sinissippi, Horicon Marsh, and Rock River (1930s through the 2000s); journals of hunting and fishing activities; personal reminiscences of Hustisford residents and genealogies of prominent Hustisford citizens; detailed accounts of important events in the history of Hustisford; and maps of Hustisford and Lake Sinissippi. Also included are records documenting changes in the landscape of Hustisford over time, the wildlife, flora and fauna of Hustisford, as well as journals and essays reflecting Neuenschwander’s personal views on subjects ranging from the decline of society to local conservation issues.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss01022
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Biography/History

Herbert E. Neuenschwander was born in Hustisford, Wisconsin, on May 22, 1919, the son of Ernst and Mathilda (née Radke) Neuenschwander. His interest in the history of Hustisford was piqued when, as a teenager, he conducted a series of interviews with first and second-generation descendants of Hustisford pioneers. After serving in the army in World War II, he returned to Hustisford, where he earned a Master's Degree in fisheries biology and wildlife from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

He spent the better part of his life in Hustisford, working as a high school biology teacher and field biologist. In 1970, he married Alice Borth, who predeceased him in 2001. In 1971, as a result of an effort to save Hustisford town founder John Hustis's home, he helped found the Hustisford Historical Society and served as its president for several years.

Neuenschwander wrote and published articles on the natural history of Hustisford and Dodge County in such publications as The Wisconsin Archeologist and Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences and Letters, as well as a weekly nature column in The Mayville News. An avid amateur historian, he documented the history of the town of Hustisford, its families, social life, and important events. He served on the Hustisford village park board and planning commission, and was a member of the Rod and Gun Club for 27 years. He died on August 11, 2006 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Scope and Content Note

The papers of Herbert E. Neuenschwander were written between 1930 and 2006 to document both the natural and social history of Hustisford, Wisconsin. They consist of a series of handwritten notes and revisions for a book on the history of Hustisford, as well as measurements of the water levels of various bodies of water in and around Hustisford, primarily Lake Sinissippi and Rock River. Neuenschwander's personal philosophy and worldview are also documented in these records, as well as his observations of nature, Hustisford's land masses, wildlife, and his interest in hunting and fishing. In addition to handwritten notes, the collection also contains transcriptions of older records, spiral bound notebooks, plat books, correspondence, and hand drawn maps detailing changes in Hustisford's landscape over time.

The collection is comprised of six series: the WATER series, which includes all records relating to Hustisford's main bodies of water; the AQUATIC BIOLOGY series, which consists of records relating to plants and fish in these bodies of water; the LAND, FLORA AND FAUNA series, which details changes in land masses, plant and animal life over time; the PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY/LIFE series, which gives insight into Neuenschwander's views on various subjects both social and natural; the HUNTING AND FISHING series, which documents Neuenschwander's enthusiasm for these sports and their importance in the lives of Hustisford's townspeople; and the HUSTISFORD TOWN HISTORY series, which contains the background material for a book about the history of Hustisford, as well as numerous revisions.

The WATER series consists of Neuenschwander's handwritten measurements, maps, journals, and notebooks documenting the changes in Hustisford's bodies of water, primarily Lake Sinissippi and the Rock River, from 1943-2001. There are also transcriptions of older data from the early 19th Century pertaining to these bodies of water. The records contain both objective scientific data on water levels and water quality during this period, as well as Neuenschwander's personal views on the impact of human negligence on these bodies of water.

The AQUATIC BIOLOGY series contains handwritten notes and journals documenting the spawning patterns of various species of fish, such as Buffalo Suckers and Walleyes, found in the lakes and rivers of Hustisford as well as changes to Hustisford's aquatic plant life due to pollution and misuse of its waterways, from the 1930s-1990s.

The LAND, FLORA AND FAUNA series is made up of handwritten journals, notebooks and loose notes documenting changes in Hustisford's land masses, animal and plant life from 1930-2004. These records are the land-based counterpart to the records in found in the Water and Aquatic Biology series, as they provide similar kinds of detailed data for Hustisford's land-based natural resources.

The PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY/LIFE series contains notebooks, incoming and outgoing correspondence, poems, and to-do lists, all of which serve to document Neuenschwander's personal philosophy and life. Correspondence between Neuenschwander and his various friends and colleagues are also found in these records which provide insight into Neuenschwander's views on state control of land and water ways.

The HUNTING AND FISHING series consists of journals and notebooks that document both Neuenschwander's and other residents' hunting and fishing activities from 1937-2006. These records speak to Neuenschwander's enthusiasm for hunting and fishing, as well as the methods used by him and other sporting enthusiasts for hunting and trapping. Taken as a whole, these records document the history and importance of hunting and fishing in the life of the Hustisford community.

The HUSTISFORD TOWN HISTORY series contains hand drawn maps, journals, notes, transcriptions of personal reminiscences, and genealogies. There are also transcriptions of the personal papers of prominent Hustisford citizens, such as town founder John Hustis, herein. The records in this series document extensively all aspects of the history of Hustisford, from its formation through 2006. They also document Neuenschwander's activities as an amateur historian and the manner in which he gathered and compiled data that he thought was important for this endeavor.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by Herbert E. Neuenschwander, Hustisford, Wisconsin, August 11, 2006. Accession Number: M2007-002


Processing Information

Processed by Michael Brunelle (Practicum student), May 2007.


Contents List
Mss 1022
Series: Water
Box   1
Folder   1
Aquatic Resources, 1945-1948
Box   1
Folder   2
Causes of Frequent Unnatural Floods, 1992
Box   1
Folder   3
Camper's Island/Lake Sinissippi, 2001
Box   1
Folder   4
Dams, 1996-1997
Box   1
Folder   5
Destroying Lake Folly, 1991
Box   1
Folder   6
Destruction of Rock River, 1943-2001
Box   1
Folder   7
Destructive Ideas-Rock River/Lake Sinissippi, 1999
Box   1
Folder   8
Extended Drawdown of Lake, 1991
Floods
Box   1
Folder   9
Flood Insurance Study-Hustisford, 1980
Flood Plain
Box   1
Folder   10
1975
Box   1
Folder   11
1994
Box   1
Folder   12
Flood Plain Map, 1975
Box   1
Folder   13-15
Flood Plain Zoning, 1944-1979
Box   1
Folder   16
Floods, 1999
Box   1
Folder   17
Flow Rock River, 1931-1995
Box   1
Folder   18
Flow Through Gate Calculations-Hustisford Dam, 1954
Box   1
Folder   19
Folly of 1-Foot Drawdown-Lake Sinissippi, 1974-1984
Box   1
Folder   20
Fox Lake/Beaver Dam/Ashippun/Green Lakes, 1984
Box   1
Folder   21
General Notes/Water Levels, 1990
Box   1
Folder   22
History of Crawfish River, 1982-1983
Horicon Marsh
Box   1
Folder   23-26
History, 1846-2000
Box   2
Folder   1
Folly, 1961
Box   2
Folder   2
State, 1846-1957
Box   2
Folder   3
Hustisford Dam, 1995
Box   2
Folder   4
Hustisford Rapids, 1953-1994
Box   2
Folder   5
Illegal Flooding, 1974-1975
Box   2
Folder   6
Ixonia, 1992
Lake
Box   2
Folder   7
Folly, 1990
Box   2
Folder   8
Folly Commentary, 1990
Box   2
Folder   9
Plan to Destroy, 1991
Box   2
Folder   10
Misconceptions, 1998-1999
Box   2
Folder   11
Notes, 1990-1992
Box   2
Folder   12-13
Papers, 1972-1989
Sinissippi
Box   2
Folder   14
1858-1998
Box   2
Folder   15
1910-1950
Box   2
Folder   16
Wetlands, Boathouses, 1975, 1984
Box   2
Folder   17-18
Engineer Data, 1845-1957
Box   2
Folder   19
Nearly Dry, 1972
Box   3
Folder   1
Survey, 1957-1959
Box   3
Folder   2
Water Levels, 1948
Box   3
Folder   3
Lower Rock River Floods/Upper Rock River Dams, 1991
Maps
Box   3
Folder   4
1836-1968
Box   3
Folder   5
Greenlake, undated
Box   3
Folder   6
Villages/Lake, 1836-1975
Box   3
Folder   7
Meanders of Rock River, 1836
Box   3
Folder   8
Mill Race/Wild Cat Creek, 1966-1969
Box   3
Folder   9
Miscellaneous Water, 1976-1999
Box   3
Folder   10
Motor Boats, 1992
Box   3
Folder   11
Navigable Waters, 1960-1067
Box   3
Folder   12
Notes on “L.D. Folly,” 1938-1952
Box   3
Folder   13
Original Streams/Lakes/Vegetation of Dodge County, 1834-1837
Box   3
Folder   14
Perpetual Flooding, 1995
Box   3
Folder   15
Preserving Rock River, 1993
Box   3
Folder   16
Right of Way-Our Lake, 1976
Rock River
Box   3
Folder   17
1932-1950
Box   3
Folder   18
Condons Bridge/Mud Lake, 1995
Box   3
Folder   19
Flood Data, 1952-1994
Box   3
Folder   20
Flood Flow, 1992
Box   4
Folder   1
Flood Profile, 1924-1936
Box   4
Folder   2
Floods, 1992
Box   4
Folder   3
Folly, Ignorance, 1999
Box   4
Folder   4
Water Levels, 2000
Box   4
Folder   5
Book 1, 1837-1962
Box   4
Folder   6
Book 2, 1940-2000
Box   4
Folder   7
Book 3, 1929-1959
Box   4
Folder   8
Book 4, 1951
Box   4
Folder   9
Book 5, 1852-1993
Box   4
Folder   10
Profile, 1994
Box   4
Folder   11
Recent Thoughts, 1998
Box   4
Folder   12
Shoreline Profile, 1982
Box   4
Folder   13
Survey/Meander, 1836
Box   4
Folder   14
Meander Map, 1836
Box   4
Folder   15
Water Levels/Laws, 1944-1952
Box   4
Folder   16
Water Level Regulations, 1991
Box   4
Folder   17
Water Quality, 1991
Box   4
Folder   18
Waters, 1955
Box   5
Folder   1
Special Records, 1847-1986
Box   5
Folder   2
Special Rock River, 1822-1947
Box   5
Folder   3
Spring Flood Flow, 1999
Box   5
Folder   4
Spring Flood Flow-Watertown, 1933-1972
Box   5
Folder   5
Unnecessary Flooding, 1995
Box   5
Folder   6
Upper Rock River-Errors of the State, 1990
Box   5
Folder   7
Upper Rock River-State Irregularities, 1989
Box   5
Folder   8
Upper Rock River Study, 1994
Box   5
Folder   9
Very Special Notes, 1837-2000
Box   5
Folder   10
Very Special Records, 1844-1997
Water
Box   5
Folder   11
Floods, 1952
Box   5
Folder   12-13
Regulations, 1952-1978, 1984-1988
Box   5
Folder   14
Levels, 1939-1953
Box   5
Folder   15
Levels, Measurements, Gorges, 1908-1998
Box   5
Folder   16
Wetlands, 1990-1991
Box   5
Folder   17
Wetlands Special, 1979-1983
Box   5
Folder   18
Wildcat Creek/Rock River Benchmarks, 1997
Box   5
Folder   19
Wisconsin Water Law, 1995
Series: Aquatic Biology
Box   6
Folder   1
Algae, 1946
Box   6
Folder   2-4
Aquatic Biology, 1936-1950
Box   6
Folder   5
Biology, Ecology, Wetlands, 1944-1981
Box   6
Folder   6
Botany, 1946
Box   6
Folder   7
Buffalo Suckers, 1917-1981
Box   6
Folder   8
Buffalo Suckers/Walleye, 1936-1952
Box   6
Folder   9-10
Ciscoes of Lake Mendota, 1852-1973
Box   6
Folder   11
Criminal Destruction of Native Fish, 1973
Box   6
Folder   12-13
Fish/Wildlife, 1836-1953
Box   7
Folder   1
Lake Sinissippi Biology, 1973-1979
Box   7
Folder   2
Lower Rock River Fisheries Resources, 1974-1976
Box   7
Folder   3
Lower Rock River Spawning Rapids, 1998
Box   7
Folder   4
Pollution, Rusty Crawfish, Zebra Mussels, 1995
Box   7
Folder   5
Record Fish #5, 1948-1973
Box   7
Folder   6
Rock River Fisheries, 1944-1975
Box   7
Folder   7
Special Notes-Walleye, 1938-1988
Box   7
Folder   8
Upper Rock River Fisheries, 1972-1973
Series: Land, Flora and Fauna
Biology
Box   7
Folder   9
1972-1984
Box   7
Folder   10
1983-1994
Box   7
Folder   11
Birds #1, 1936-1957
Box   7
Folder   12
Birds #2, 1869-1984
Box   7
Folder   13
Class Mammalia, undated
Box   7
Folder   14
Crop Reporting Service Bulletin, 1953
Box   7
Folder   15
Diameters/Ages of Trees, undated
Box   7
Folder   16
Ecology/Biology, 1983-1998
Box   7
Folder   17
Flora of Dodge County, 1833-1837
Box   7
Folder   18
Forest Soils, 1948
Box   7
Folder   19
Fox Bounties, 1961-1962
Box   7
Folder   20
Fox Trails, 1949-1997
Box   8
Folder   1
General Information-Original Government Survey, 1836-1837
Box   8
Folder   2
Grayling Notes, 1900-1902
Box   8
Folder   3
Information Sheet-Zoning Ordinance, Dodge County, 1986
Box   8
Folder   4
Land Atlas/Plat Book, 1996
Box   8
Folder   5
Land Surveys/On Ice, 1839-1926
Box   8
Folder   6
Local Wildlife, 1930-1994
Box   8
Folder   7
Local Wildlife Notes, 1975-1999
Box   8
Folder   8
Natural History, 1983
Box   8
Folder   9
Nature Notes, 2001
Box   8
Folder   10
Original Survey, 1834-1837
Box   8
Folder   11
Phenology Record, 1959-1981
Box   8
Folder   12
Plant Ecology, 1946
Box   8
Folder   13-19
Plat Books, 1947-1989
Box   8
Folder   20
School Forest Notes, 1958-1959
Box   8
Folder   21
Surveyors Records, 1836
Vegetation of Dodge County
Box   9
Folder   1
1834-1837
Box   9
Folder   2
1939-1947
Box   9
Folder   3
Wildlife Observations, 1930-1975
Series: Personal Philosophy/Life
Box   9
Folder   4
An Appreciation of Nature, undated
Box   9
Folder   5
Books to Write, 1979-1980
Box   9
Folder   6
Calendars, 1936-1999
Box   9
Folder   7
Conservation Comments, 1954-1957
Box   9
Folder   8
Destroyer, 1994-1996
Box   9
Folder   9
Expressions of a Naturalist, 1950
Box   9
Folder   10
Fish and Game Biologists, undated
Box   9
Folder   11
Historical Society Observations, 1986
Letters
Box   9
Folder   12
Incoming, 1942-1984
Box   9
Folder   13
Outgoing, 1946-1986
Box   9
Folder   14
Master Copies-Best Commentaries, 1991
Box   9
Folder   15
Miscellaneous Financial Records, 1956-1957
Box   9
Folder   16
Miscellaneous Loose Notes, 1957-1973
Box   9
Folder   17
Naturalists Diaries/Books, 1837-1968
Box   9
Folder   18
Nature Expressions, 1935-1990
Box   9
Folder   19
Neuenschwander's Newspaper Articles, 1956-1985
Box   9
Folder   20
New Photos for Book Notes, 2000
Box   9
Folder   21
Notes on a Garden, 1979-1989
Box   9
Folder   22-23
On Society, 1963-2002
Box   9
Folder   24
On Weather, 1963-1989
Box   9
Folder   25
Our Family, undated
Personal
Box   9
Folder   26
Comments, 1998-1999
Box   10
Folder   1
Observations/Philosophy, 1950-1984
Box   10
Folder   2
Philosophy and Aspirations, 1965-1994
Box   10
Folder   3
Qualifications, 1934-1995
Box   10
Folder   4
Reflections, 1998-2001
Box   10
Folder   5
Poems, 1944-1953
Box   10
Folder   6
Psychology, Philosophy, Counseling, undated
Box   10
Folder   7-8
Reflections on Nature, 1986-1994
Box   10
Folder   9
Some Contributions of Herbert E. Neuenschwander, 1935-1998
Box   10
Folder   10-11
Special Correspondence, 1953-1995
Box   10
Folder   12
Special Personal Papers, 2001
Box   10
Folder   13
Speech Suggestions, 1992
Box   10
Folder   14
Woodcraft, undated
Box   10
Folder   15
Write Articles, 1955
Series: Hunting and Fishing
Box   10
Folder   16
Angling 1, 1927-1957
Box   10
Folder   17
Angling 2, undated
Box   10
Folder   18
Bounties, undated
Box   11
Folder   1
Buffalo Suckers-Spearing/Smoking, 1949-1974
Fishing
Box   11
Folder   2
Notes 1, 1974-2002
Box   11
Folder   3
Lore, 1758-1921
Box   11
Folder   4-8
Notes #1-#4, 1928-1977
Box   11
Folder   9
Tackle, 1983
Box   11
Folder   10
Notebook, 1854-1935
Fox
Box   11
Folder   11
Drives-Best Methods, 1962
Box   11
Folder   12
Drives, 1966
Box   11
Folder   13
Hunting, 2002
Box   12
Folder   1
Hunting/Trapping/Natural History #1, 1953-1961
Box   12
Folder   2
Hunting/Trapping #2, 1944-1974
Box   12
Folder   3
Hunting/Trapping #3, 1975
Box   12
Folder   4
Game Abundance, 1993
Box   12
Folder   5
History of Hustisford-Ice Fishing, 1928-1986
Box   12
Folder   6
Hunting Animals/Natural History #1, 1938-1970
Box   12
Folder   7
Hunting Animals/Natural History #2, 1938-1970
Box   12
Folder   8
Information About Nets, 1940
Box   12
Folder   9
Lake Sinissippi Carp Trap Records, 1946
Box   12
Folder   10
Lake Sinissippi Fur Farms, 1948
Nature Sporting Wildlife Journals
Box   12
Folder   11
1994-2006
Box   12
Folder   12
1995
Box   13
Folder   1
Netmaking Notes, 1937-1973
Box   13
Folder   2
No Tresspasing Notes, 1944
Box   13
Folder   3
Racoon Hunting, 1937-1962
Box   13
Folder   4
Size Limits on Walleyes, 1956
Special Notes
Box   13
Folder   5
Hunting/Fishing 2, 1983-1993
Box   13
Folder   6
Walleye, 1984-1992
Box   13
Folder   7
Sporting Diary, 1987-1990
Box   13
Folder   8
Sporting Guns, 1950-1953
Box   13
Folder   9
Sporting Wildlife, 1974-1976
Box   13
Folder   10-13
Sporting/Wildlife/Nature Journals, 1996-1999
Box   14
Folder   1-7
Sporting/Wildlife/Nature Journals, 2000-2004
Box   15
Folder   1-2
Sporting/Wildlife/Nature Journals, 2005-2006
Box   15
Folder   3-12
Sports/Wildlife Diaries, 1943-1956
Box   16
Folder   1-10
Sports/Wildlife Diaries, 1957-1966
Box   17
Folder   1-9
Sports/Wildlife Diaries, 1967-1975
Box   18
Folder   1-9
Sports/Wildlife Diaries, 1976-1984
Box   19
Folder   1-7
Sports/Wildlife Diaries, 1985-1991
Box   20
Folder   1-2
Sports/Wildlife Diaries, 1992-1993
Box   20
Folder   3
Streamer Fly Patterns, 1943-1944
Box   20
Folder   4
Trapping Notes/Natural History #1, 1927-1968
Box   20
Folder   5
Trapping Notes #2, 1951-1983
Box   20
Folder   6
Walleye Fishing-Personal, 1957
Box   20
Folder   7
Walleye Fishing-Rock River, 1959-1966
Box   20
Folder   8
Walleye Streamer patterns, undated
Series: Hustisford Town History
Box   21
Folder   1
Anthony/Hustis Houses, 1964
Box   21
Folder   2
Black Hawk Indian Mound, 1832-1855
Box   21
Folder   3
Bylaws, 1970
Box   21
Folder   4
Bylaws-Mayville Historical Society, 1970
Box   21
Folder   5
Condons Bridge, undated
Box   21
Folder   6
Davenport, Thomas-Genealogy, 1682-1839
Box   21
Folder   7
Flour Mill Book, 1851-1863
Box   21
Folder   8
Genealogy, 1834-1994
Box   21
Folder   9
Genealogy-Neuenschwander, 1982
General
Box   21
Folder   10
1987
Box   21
Folder   11
2004
Box   21
Folder   12
1844-1957
Box   21
Folder   13-16
General History #1-4, 1775-1976
Box   22
Folder   1-2
General History #5-6, 1855-1980
Box   22
Folder   3-5
General Notes, 1837-1992
Box   22
Folder   6
Harry Hustis Papers/Genealogy, 1968-1998
Box   22
Folder   7-10
History, 1810-2000
Box   23
Folder   1-8
History, 1834-2003
Box   23
Folder   9
History-Originals and Abstracts, 1937-1973
Box   23
Folder   10
History #1, 1-A, 1858-1979
Box   23
Folder   11
History of Dodge County, 1939
Box   24
Folder   1
History of Hustisford (General), 1828-1962
Box   24
Folder   2
Hubbard, 1910
Box   24
Folder   3
Hustis Family Letters Index, 1761-1929
Box   24
Folder   4
Hustis Family Tree, 1989
Box   24
Folder   5
Hustis, John-Papers #1, 1810-1998
Box   24
Folder   6
Hustis, John-Papers #2, 1774-1826
Box   24
Folder   7
Hustis, John and Anthony Papers, 1825-1962
Indian
Box   24
Folder   8
Mounds/Artifacts (1000 B.C.-1300 A.D.)
Box   24
Folder   9
Trails, Camps, Mounds, 1834-1837
Box   24
Folder   10
Villages, 2005
Box   24
Folder   11
Villages/Mounds, 1832-1966
Box   24
Folder   12
Interviews, Recollections, Letters #1, 1850-1991
Box   25
Folder   1
Journal of Otto Radloff, 1911-1940
Box   25
Folder   2-6
Local History, 1905-2000
Box   25
Folder   7
Log, 1911
Box   25
Folder   8
Maps, 1937-1953
Box   25
Folder   9
Mayville News Articles, 1916-1996
Box   25
Folder   10
Miscellaneous Genealogical Notes, 1776-1956
Box   25
Folder   11
Miscellaneous Notes, 1776-1956
Box   25
Folder   12
Neuenschwander Ancestral Record, 1840-1951
Box   25
Folder   13
Original History, 1650-1870
Box   25
Folder   14
Original Research History, 1837-1945
Box   25
Folder   15
Our Utility, 1970
Box   25
Folder   16
Pioneers of 1845
Box   25
Folder   17
Pioneers of Hustisford, 1850-1910
Box   25
Folder   18
Recollections #2, 1837-1951
Box   25
Folder   19
Rock County Chronicle, Volume 5, #2, 1959
Box   25
Folder   20
Sawmills, undated
Box   25
Folder   21
Synder, W.E.-Genealogical Notes, 1937-1973
Box   25
Folder   22
Special #1, Civil War, Schools, 1739-1925
Special
Box   26
Folder   1
Events, 2001
Box   26
Folder   2-6
Notes, 1829-1998
Box   26
Folder   7
Statutory Provisions, undated
Box   26
Folder   8
Supreme Court, 1904-1906
Box   26
Folder   9
Tour Guide, 1845-1979
Box   26
Folder   10
Town Map, 1836
Box   26
Folder   11
Town Records-Roads Surveyed, 1846-1900
Box   26
Folder   12
Very Important-Village, 1979-1997