Abstract: Papers of Dismas P. Becker, a community organizer and former Catholic priest, who became a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. With Father James Groppi, Becker was an active participant in welfare rights activities in Milwaukee, and in demonstrations in Madison to protest the threatened cutback in funding of welfare. The collection includes fragmentary records of his work with various Milwaukee welfare groups, in particular with the Council on Urban Life (of the Milwaukee archdiocese) and the Milwaukee County Welfare Rights Organization. The papers consist of by-laws and constitutions of the organizations, membership lists, financial records, and minutes of meetings. A few personal papers are also present, including a campaign pamphlet, newspaper clippings illustrating Becker's personal involvement in the demonstrations, a small amount of correspondence, and several written reports and papers.