Title: George W. Blanchard Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1924-1962

Creator:

• Blanchard, George W., 1884-1964

Call Number: Whitewater Mss BA; Whitewater Micro 15; Micro 976

Quantity: 1.6 c.f. (4 archives boxes, 1 reel of microfilm [35 mm])

Repository:

Housed at the University Archives & Area Research Center, Harold Andersen Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; 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-Whitewater Library / Whitewater Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Papers of a conservative Republican politician from Edgerton, Wisconsin, who served in the Wisconsin Legislature (1924-1932) and the House of Representatives (1932-1934). Included are constituent and personal correspondence, political files, speeches, and biographical clippings available on microfilm. Except for some 1934 clippings, the collection relates entirely to Blanchard's four terms in the legislature. Unfortunately this documentation consists primarily of constituent correspondence and it does not illuminate his important role in the factional struggles between Stalwart and Progressive Republicans. Of special note are minutes and other papers on the Interim Committee on Forestry and Public Lands for which Blanchard was the chairman. Political files comprised of correspondence, press releases, and speeches are best on his unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 1931. Prominent correspondents in this category include William J. Campbell.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-whit00ba

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Conservative Republican George W. Blanchard was born on January 26, 1884, in Colby, Wisconsin. After completing his high school education, he entered the University of Wisconsin, graduating with a B.A. in 1906. Blanchard taught briefly, then returned to school and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1910. Soon after graduation Blanchard settled in Edgerton, which was to remain his home throughout his legal and political career. From 1913 through 1931 he was Edgerton city attorney. In 1924 a long interest and activity in Republican politics led him to seek election to the Wisconsin Assembly. The people of his district promoted him to the State Senate in 1926; he was re-elected in 1930 without opposition. An excellent orator and a skillfull parliamentarian, Blanchard soon assumed floor leadership of the Stalwart Republicans. In 1925 his political influence was such that he was instrumental in the defeat of Governor John Blaine's tax package. By 1928 Blanchard was described as “the coming man” within his faction of the party, and he was widely urged by supporters to seek higher office.

Blanchard was a staunch conservationist and a director of the Izaak Walton League. This interest led to appointment as chairman in 1927 of the Interim Committee on Forestry and Public Land which carried out an important study of forestry in Wisconsin. Blanchard himself authored the important Forest Crop Law of 1927.

In 1931 he was an unsuccessful candidate against Thomas Amlie to fill the unexpired House of Representatives seat of Henry Allen Cooper. The following year he ousted Amlie in the regular election. However, after serving only one term Blanchard declined to run for re-election and returned to his law practice. In addition to his legal work, Blanchard was a director of the Tobacco Exchange Bank and was active in a host of local civic organizations. He died October 2, 1964 after a long illness. Blanchard was preceded in death by his four sons, one of whom (David Blanchard, [Whitewater Mss BB]) practiced law with him and also followed him to the Wisconsin Assembly.

The papers of conservative Republican George W. Blanchard include personal and constituent correspondence, campaign files, speeches, and microfilmed biographical clippings. Except for some of the clippings dating from 1934, the collection relates entirely to Blanchard's four terms in the Wisconsin Legislature, 1924-1932. Unfortunately this documentation consists primarily of constituent correspondence, and it does not illuminate the struggles between the Stalwart and Progressive Republicans of this era in which Blanchard was a central figure.

The constituent correspondence is arranged into several categories. Legislative files focus on particular pieces of legislation, while the subject files are arranged alphabetically and may contain correspondence on a number of different bills. Also included with the legislative files are a few annotated bills and drafts of amendments to bills. Of the subject-filed correspondence, those pertaining to forestry are the most valuable in the collection. These contain minutes and other papers pertaining to the work, 1928-1929, of the Interim Committee on Forestry and Public Lands not available elsewhere in the Archives. Unfortunately no papers touch on the passage of the Forest Crop Law.

Documentation in the political files primarily dates from Blanchard's unsuccessful campaign against Thomas Amlie in 1931. In addition to correspondence for this campaign, there are good files of press releases and speeches. In the convention files are correspondence from Republican Party leaders such as William J. Campbell concerning the 1925 and 1926 party conventions and the background for formation of the Voluntary Committee.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Carolyn J. Blanchard Allen, Edgerton, Wis., April 22, 1966. Accession Number: M66-109

Processing Information

Processed by W. Abdullah (1977 FGH intern) and Carolyn J. Mattern, 1984.

	Legislation
Box   1 Folder   1-6	Bills, 1925-1931
Box   1 Folder   7	Bills, Annotated, 1931 (S9)
Box   1 Folder   8	Amendment drafts
Box   1 Folder   9	Resolutions
Box   1 Folder   10	Statistical data
	Subject files
Box   2 Folder   1	Agriculture, 1928-1929
Box   2 Folder   2-3	Conservation, 1925-1930
Box   2 Folder   4-5	Education, 1925-1927
Box   2 Folder   6-8	Finance, 1924-1931
Box   3 Folder   1-4	Forestry and public lands, 1927-1929
Box   3 Folder   5	Highways and railroads, 1925-1931
Box   3 Folder   6	Judiciary, 1924-1931
Box   3 Folder   7	Old age pensions, 1925
Box   3 Folder   8	Public welfare, 1924-1929
	Political files
Box   4 Folder   1-2	Campaign correspondence, 1925-1926, 1931
Box   4 Folder   3	Press releases, 1931
Box   4 Folder   4	Miscellany, n.d.
Box   4 Folder   5	Convention correspondence, 1925-1931
Box   4 Folder   6	Speeches, 1928-1932, 1943, 1956
Box   4 Folder   7-8	Personal correspondence, 1928-1939, 1962
	Miscellany
Box   4 Folder   9	Stenographer's notebook, n.d.
Whitewater Micro 15/Micro 976 Reel   1	Clippings, 1924-1934