Title: Esther D. Luckhardt Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1963-1984

Creator:

• Luckhardt, Esther Doughty

Call Number: Oshkosh Mss BZ

Quantity: 0.6 c.f. (2 archives boxes)

Repository:

Housed at the Archives & Area Research Center, Polk Library, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

UW-Oshkosh Polk Library / Oshkosh Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Papers of a Republican legislator (1964-1985) from Horicon, Wisconsin, who was for many years was the only woman in the Wisconsin legislature. The collection consists of biographical clippings, campaign literature, speeches, newsletters, and a few subject files concerning her efforts to limit and regulate state indebtedness and her work to improve the management of the Canadian geese flock at Horicon. Several files and a number of speeches touch on her conservative position on women's issues including abortion and extension of the ERA.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-osh00bz

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Former Republican state legislator Esther D. Luckhardt was born Esther Hulda Louise Schwertfeger in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of a Lutheran minister and was educated at St. Stephens Lutheran School and graduated from Horicon High School. She began to work outside the home when she was eighteen and was one of the first women in the state to earn a real estate license. She married Lyle Doughty and with him for over 20 years owned and operated the Doughty Insurance Co in Horicon. In addition to working in the business and raising three children, Esther Doughty was active in a number of civic organizations, and she was a loyal worker for the Republican Party.

In 1960 Doughty died, and Esther continued to operate the family business. In 1962, although she had never before run for public office, she decided to seek the 59th District seat in the Assembly. She was successful and was seated as the only woman in the 1963 Legislature. During her fourth legislative term she married Howard Luckhardt.

Mrs. Luckhardt's committee assignments are listed in biennial editions of the Blue Book; among the most prominent are memberships on Agriculture and Education and vice-chairmanships of the Insurance and Banking and the State Affairs committees. She was also a member of the State Building Commission, the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, and the Advisory Committee to the Natural Resource Committee on the Perpetuation of the Canada Goose Flock.

A fiscal conservative, Mrs. Luckhardt was a proponent of lower taxation and limited government. Although Mrs. Luckhardt was for many years the only woman in the Legislature and she favored full equality for women, her position on what was referred to as “women's issues” was generally conservative in that she opposed abortion, the ERA, and affirmative action. In 1984 after 22 years in the Legislature Mrs. Luckhardt decided not to see reelection.

The papers are a small collection of legislative papers. The documentation is fragmentary and incomplete, and most of Mrs. Luckhardt's papers appear to have been discarded prior to contact by the Historical Society. Included are biographical clippings, press releases, campaign literature, newsletters, speeches, and a small group of alphabetical subject files. Although none of the files can be regarded as providing full coverage, they are best on her efforts to limit and regulate state indebtedness and her work to improve the management of the Canadian geese flock at Horicon. Several files and a number of speeches touch on her position on women's issues including abortion and extension of the ERA.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Esther D. Luckhardt, Horicon, Wisconsin, December 7, 1984. Accession Number: M84-458

Processing Information

Processed by Carolyn J. Mattern, 1986.

Box   1 Folder   1	Biographical clippings, 1963-1983
Box   1 Folder   2	Press releases, 1971-1984
Box   1 Folder   3	Newsletters and campaign material, 1974-1984
Box   1 Folder   4	Miscellaneous correspondence
	Subject files
Box   1 Folder   5	Allenton ambulance, 1980
Box   1 Folder   6	Bonding and indebtedness, 1983-1984
Box   1 Folder   7	Budget, 1984
Box   1 Folder   8	Child care, 1983
Box   1 Folder   9	Drainage district - Dodge county, 1983
Box   1 Folder   10	Horicon Marsh geese problems and legislation, 1975-1978
Box   1 Folder   11	Insurance Laws Revision Committee, 1977-1978
Box   1 Folder   12	Millbrew (Alcohol tax), 1977-1981
Box   1 Folder   13	Operating notes for short term indebtedness, 1983
Box   1 Folder   14	Prasad visa, 1984
Box   1 Folder   15	Prison visitation, 1977
Box   2 Folder   1	Rock River, 1970-1978
Box   2 Folder   2	Shepherd's Home, 1980-1981
Box   2 Folder   3	Single contract bidding, 1983
Box   2 Folder   4	Speeches, 1974-1976
Box   2 Folder   5	Tax sharing and tax relief, 1971-1972
Box   2 Folder   6	Women's rights and the ERA, 1978