Title: Robert L. Pierce Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1955-1968 (bulk 1960-1968)

Creator:

• Pierce, Robert L., 1901-1968

Call Number: Stout Mss 6

Quantity: 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box)

Repository:

Housed at the University Archives and Area Research Center, Library Learning Center, University of Wisconsin-Stout; 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-Stout Library Learning Ctr. / Stout Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Papers, mainly 1960-1968, of Robert L. Pierce, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin (1953-1955). Included are correspondence, reports, agendas, newspaper clippings, and biographical material primarily concerning his involvement in the 1960, 1964, and 1968 Republican national conventions.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-stou0006

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Robert Layne Pierce, businessman and former state chairman of the Republican Party, was born in Durand, Wisconsin on May 2, 1901. In 1911 he moved with his parents to Menomonie, Wisconsin where he completed his high school education. After a year of study at the University of Wisconsin he entered the School of Business at Northwestern University and graduated in 1922.

Pierce was engaged in business and agriculture in the Menomonie area for all of his adult life, most notably as president of the Wisconsin Milling Company. He was also president of Wisco Frozen Foods, Red Cedar Investments, and the Pierce Corporation. In addition, his civic involvements were numerous. He served as chairman of the board of the Bank of Menomonie and as president of the local board of education for 18 years. From 1939 until his death he was vitally concerned with the interests of the Stout Institute (eventually the University of Wisconsin-Stout), serving as a member of the board which guided the institution. After the institute became part of the university system he served as a member of the Board of Regents of the State Universities. In 1960 the school's library was named in his honor. In addition, Pierce was a member and president of the board of City-County Memorial Hospital, a member of the board for Circus World Museum at Baraboo, and a member of the Board of Curators for the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

Pierce's interest and participation in Republican politics dates to the 1922 national convention which he attended as a page. In 1933 he became chairman of the Dunn County Republican organization, in which position he continued through 1948. He was also chairman of the Ninth Congressional District Republican organization from 1940 to 1944 and chairman of the State Central Committee from 1942 until 1953. From 1941 until his death he served on the state party's executive committee. In 1953 Pierce was elected to a two-year term as state chairman. In this conjunction he also served on the Republican National Committee, and in 1956 he was elected national committeeman. Although he continued in that post for the rest of his life, he was purged from his position on the National Committee because of his moderate Republican views when the conservative Goldwaterites achieved power in 1964.

Pierce served on the Arrangements Committee for Republican national conventions in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968. For the 1960 convention he also served as a member of the Site Selection Committee and as chairman of the subcommittee on housing. In addition he was vice-chairman of the Arrangements Committee and convention manager for the 1964 San Francisco convention. He was appointed to organize the 1968 Miami convention, an unprecedented second term, but his sudden death did not permit him to fulfill his duties.

Robert Pierce died on February 23, 1968. He was survived by his wife Lucille and two daughters.

The Pierce Papers are a small alphabetical collection of correspondence, reports, agendas, newspaper clippings, and biographical material. Although Pierce was involved in a host of business, civic, and political activities, the documentation is fragmentary and disappointing. Even for the area which is best covered--his involvement with the 1960, 1964, and 1968 national Republican conventions--the coverage is far from complete.

Most notable among this political material is the report of the Committee of Convention Reforms (1967), which Pierce chaired; reports of the 1960 subcommittee on housing; and correspondence, an Arrangements Committee meeting transcript, and an extensive report on police-minority group relations at San Francisco in 1964 by Gordon E. Misner. Pertaining to Circus World Museum are copies of legal agreements and some correspondence concerning Pierce donations. There is no material on his involvement with the Wisconsin Republican Party except for a few clippings in the biographical file.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Mrs. Lucille Pierce via Dwight L. Agnew, Menomonie, Wisconsin, July 13, 1981. Accession Number: M81-416

Processing Information

Processed by Randal Sivertson and Carolyn J. Mattern, 1986.

Stout Mss 6 Box   1 Folder   1	Biographical material, 1955-1968
Box   1 Folder   2	Board of Regents of State Colleges (Agenda and proceedings), 1967
Box   1 Folder   3	Convention Reforms, Committee on, 1965
Box   1 Folder   4	Historic Circus Corporation, Inc., 1964-1968
Box   1 Folder   5	Memorial Hospital, 1966
	Republican conventions
Box   1 Folder   6	1960 Convention, Subcommittee on Housing
	, 1964 Convention
Box   1 Folder   7	Committee on Arrangements
Box   1 Folder   8	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   9	Police-Minority Group Relations report
Box   1 Folder   10	Ticket distributions
Box   1 Folder   11	1968 Convention, Committee on Arrangements