The William Henry Zuehlke Papers concern his interest in the Outagamie County Republican Party, Outagamie County post offices, and the Appleton camp of the United Spanish War Veterans. The papers consist of correspondence, clippings, minutes of Republican meetings, and records of the Appleton United Spanish War Veterans camp and the Appleton Grand Army of the Republic post. Also included are genealogical records and documents concerning 19th century Appleton whose connection with Zuehlke are unclear.
A major portion of the papers pertains to the Outagamie County Republican Party between 1928 and 1932. Comprised mainly of correspondence, the materials concern post office patronage positions, selection and support of candidates, party reorganization, and conventions and conferences. A separate folder contains clippings and campaign materials from a 1930 referendum on whether Appleton should adopt a city manager form of government. Another folder contains letters concerning Zuehlke's recruitment of members for the National Republican League.
In 1923, Zuehlke began compiling a postal history of Outagamie County. The collection includes a few letters concerning this project.
At the time of his death, Zuehlke was one of the last living members of United Spanish War Veteran, Charles O. Baer Camp No. 3, Appleton. In his possession were records of the camp consisting of semi-annual reports to the Department of Wisconsin, letters pertaining to erection of a memorial monument, and miscellaneous other documents including a membership book of the Grand Army of the Republic, George D. Eggleston Post No. 133, Appleton, which was presented to the Baer Camp when the Post became inactive. A personal scrapbook of clippings and photographs concerning the Baer Camp is also included.
The documents whose connection with Zuehlke is unclear are found in a “Miscellaneous” folder. All were written by George C. and Elizabeth Weller Jones in the late 19th century. Included are genealogies of the Jones family and the Farquharson family, a petition on educating the working youth of Appleton, and a history of the establishment of a library and reading room in Appleton.
