1975 February 12

INTRODUCTION

CONTINUATION OF CHRONOLOGY
Scope and Content Note: Full time research appointment on Purnell grant, 1926-28; Social Science Research Council fellowship for a year's study at Cornell, 1928-1929; University of Wisconsin assistant professor until 1938, then appointment split between teaching faculty and extension.

DEVELOPS COURSE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Scope and Content Note: In response to student requests, Wileden developed applied sociology course, Community Organization (later renamed Community Development). Large number of students from urban or foreign backgrounds. Course enabled students to observe various rural communities at first-hand.

WILEDEN DECLINES OPPORTUNITY FOR APPOINTMENT IN ATHENS, GREECE
Scope and Content Note: “The complications of the period” such as an FBI investigation resulted in delay which prevented Wileden from getting Fulbright grant in Greece.

RURAL CIVILIAN DEFENSE DIRECTOR IN WISCONSIN DURING WORLD WAR II
Scope and Content Note: “A very frustrating experience.”

DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIZATION LEADERS' CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
Scope and Content Note: Begun as Rural Organization Leaders Conferences in 1930's to bring rural organizations together to discuss informally common problems. After World War II became Annual Workshop for Professional Community Leaders, which also included representatives of public agencies. “”One of the most significant things that I was involved in.”

WILEDEN'S APPOINTMENT SPLIT THREE WAYS IN
Scope and Content Note: As one of few remaining senior staff members, Wileden's appointment split three ways in 1962 into teaching, extension, and research. “A practical impossibility” to be completely dedicated to each function.

TOWN AND COUNTRY CHURCH LEADERS CONFERENCES
Scope and Content Note: “One of the most significant things in which I was involved in over the years.” Wisconsin the first state to hold annual church leaders conferences; Wileden involved almost from the start, first as student caretaker for the campgrounds, then as a teacher, and finally as director of the program.

RETIREMENT FROM UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FACULTY,

WILEDEN CONTINUES ACTIVITY TN RURAL SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT AFTER RETIREMENT
Scope and Content Note: After retirement kept an office in his former department.

LOCATION OF WILEDEN'S OFFICES OVER THE YEARS
Scope and Content Note: As an “orphan” (extension professor) of the rural sociology department, Wileden had offices in many different locations.

RECOLLECTIONS OF CHILDHOOD FARMS,
Scope and Content Note: Wileden's father wanted to climb “agricultural ladder”; left family farm in 1903 to become hired manager on 160-acre Brown farm, “probably one of the best farms in the whole area.” Moved to Connell farm to be hired manager from 1905-1907, then returned to Brown farm. Operated Brown farm on share-rent basis; corn a major crop, at first flint corn, later dent corn. Other crops included wheat, oats, barley and potatoes. Increasingly planted only seed certified for use by college of agriculture. Essentially a dairy farm with 12-15 milking cows in a mixed herd. One of Wileden's chores as a boy was to pump cold water around the eight gallon milk cans to keep them cool until picked up by neighbor who operated milk route.

INTRODUCTION

ANECDOTE ABOUT SELLING HOGS IN MILWAUKEE
Scope and Content Note: Wileden's father very proud of his Poland China hogs. “Real high event” of year was loading hogs in spring and hauling them sixteen miles to Cudahy packing company at Milwaukee. After dinner at Plankinton house Wiledens bought supplies in Steinmeyer's wholesale grocery.

ANECDOTE ABOUT PAY CLERK OVERPAYING WILEDEN'S FATHER
Scope and Content Note: Pay clerk more interested in watching hogs than his work once overpayed Wileden's father by $40.00. Money returned to Cudahy packing company, which sent a large ham in appreciation.

TRANSPORTATION
Scope and Content Note: Traveled to Milwaukee by team on the Lisbon Plank Road which, although bumpy, was better than other roads.

MORE ON BROWN FARM
Scope and Content Note: All kinds of chickens cared for by Wileden's mother. Large vegetable and flower garden, as well as apple trees.

ANECDOTE ABOUT NEIGHBORS HELPING FAMILY WHEN WILEDEN'S FATHER INJURED
Scope and Content Note: Team frightened by an automobile threw Wileden's father from wagon. While incapacitated, neighbors took turns helping with farm work.

ANNUAL THRESHING
Scope and Content Note: Custom thresher with steam engine and threshing machine. Neighbors worked together; women fed threshers. Host farmer built his own straw stack--the most disagreeable job.

ANECDOTE ABOUT NEIGHBOR WHO OWNED ONE OF FIRST FORD AUTOMOBILES
Scope and Content Note: Difficult to drive up sandy hill and usually took two or three attempts; once drove through end of garage yelling “Whoa.”

MOTOR POWER ON BROWN FARM
Scope and Content Note: Wileden's father never owned or drove a car. No motor power on Brown farm.

DESCRIPTION OF MAKING MAPLE SYRUP ON THE BROWN FARM

ANECDOTE ABOUT FIRST HOME COMFORT RANGE
Scope and Content Note: Farm house modernized and home comfort range replaced large fireplace.

HEAT AND ILLUMINATION
Scope and Content Note: Home comfort range and wood burning stove for heat; kerosene lamps for lighting.

FIRST HUNTING EXPERIENCES
Scope and Content Note: First used a 22-caliber Stevens rifle at about age 12. Later used a sixteen gauge, pinfire, double-barreled shotgun and twelve gauge rolling block, single-barreled shotgun. Ammunition difficult to obtain.

SEX ROLES IN DOING THE FARM CHORES
Scope and Content Note: Such chores as pumping and carrying water and filling woodbox started “as soon as you could walk,” Enjoyed gardening which was considered women's and children's work. Boys later responsible for milking four cows every morning and evening; sister expected to help in the house, cooking and gardening.

MACHINERY ON BROWN FARM
Scope and Content Note: None except thresher and stationary gasoline engine for sawing wood, both of which were borrowed. All field work done by horse power.

CONTINUATION OF DISCUSSION OF CHORES
Scope and Content Note: Summer work included pulling mustard and splitting thistles. Children not permitted to go fishing until all chores completed. Plow on which farmer could ride, rather than follow, “a great advance.”

FARMERS DO ROAD WORK TO PAY TAXES
Scope and Content Note: Taxes partially paid by road work, supervised by a pathmaster.

PLOW USED FOR CLEARING PATHS IN WINTER
Scope and Content Note: When snow was very deep, plow tied to side of sled to clear paths in the road.

RURAL SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Scope and Content Note: Social life centered around church. People of different religious affiliations attended each other's social activities. Fourth of July always a big occasion, as was the annual church picnic, when people went to the lake, School-related social affairs, such as spelling bees and arithmetic matches, also very important.

INTRODUCTION

DESCRIPTION OF ARITHMETIC BEES
Scope and Content Note: Arithmetic bees “a rather violent occasion.”

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
Scope and Content Note: Usually a picnic at Spring Grounds near Sussex. Neighborhood musicians provided band music. Lavish amount of food. Feature of the celebration was a baseball game in which both young and old men participated. Game couldn't start until speakers finished. Will Edwards, a Sussex state assemblyman, a perennial speaker.

ORGANIZATIONS WHICH WILEDEN'S PARENTS BELONGED TO
Scope and Content Note: Church members only. Few organizations or clubs in the area.

MARKETING PRODUCE
Scope and Content Note: Wiledens marketed own produce from highly self-sufficient farm. Potatoes purchased by traveling potato buyer; barley hauled to mill and probably went to Schlitz or Pabst brewing companies eventually; wheat taken to mill in Menomonee Falls and ground for flour.

CLOTHING
Scope and Content Note: Nearly all clothing purchased through Montgomery-Ward or Sears and Roebuck mail order houses. While attending high school at Menomonee Falls, Wileden got first store-bought suit.

NO TELEPHONE AT BROWN FARM

MEDICAL CARE INFLUENCED BY HOMEOPATH AND CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Scope and Content Note: Wileden's mother a homeopathic who used a hermetical book as guide for treatment. On very rare occasions, the family used Dr. Coates, a homeopathic physician in Menomonee Falls. Wileden family health care also influenced by paternal grandmother, a Christian Scientist.

REMEMBRANCES OF CLIMATE
Scope and Content Note: Terrific snowstorms, more extreme temperatures, and violent rain storms.

ANECDOTE ABOUT MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER TELLING SCARY STORIES

READING MATERIAL
Scope and Content Note: Always the Bible and family record book. Wiledens always subscribed to the Youth Companion. Arthur Wileden often received gift books, mostly classics.

INTRODUCTION

BARBERSHOP AN IMPORTANT MEETING PLACE AND SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR MEN
Scope and Content Note: Barbershop the “greatest source of information in our family.” On Saturday nights men frequently waited hours for their turn, discussed current events and farming with others.

FLINT CORN VERSUS DENT CORN
Scope and Content Note: Flint corn allegedly so hard it would break pig's teeth. Dent corn of better quality, and greater yield.

WILEDENS ORDER GARDEN SEEDS FROM BURPEES

FARMERS EXCEL IN DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES
Scope and Content Note: Rather than one “showplace” farm, each farmer excelled in a particular area, such as pure-bred cattle.

FARMERS INSTITUTES IMPORTANT SOCIAL AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL FUNCTION
Scope and Content Note: Farmers Institutes had as speakers such farmers as George McKerrow, who had done unusually well in a certain type of farming.

WILEDEN FARM BECOMES DEMONSTRATION POULTRY FARM
Scope and Content Note: Wileden at University of Wisconsin learned of various improvements which his parents adopted, such as a brooder house. Although neighbors scoffed at the “college kid's” ideas, soon other area farms had brooder houses. In this sense Wileden farm served as demonstration farm.

COMMENTS ON DEMONSTRATION FARMS
Scope and Content Note: In early days, farmers excelled in different areas and no farm served as a single, model demonstration farm. More general demonstration farm with “everything in one place” not popular until after World War I, then became rather important as research and experimental center, although far removed from reality of a typical farm.