Title: Milwaukee Fire Department Records
Inclusive Dates: 1888-1988

Creator:

• Milwaukee (Wis.). Fire Department.

Call Number: City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 18

Quantity:

• 1.2 cubic ft. (3 boxes)
• 1 oversize folder

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Records of the Milwaukee Fire Department. Collection contains reports, publications, and floor plans.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-cmac0018

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Established in the original City Charter of 1846, the Fire Department fought fires, but also enforced preventative fire regulations. The Chief Engineer (or Chief), who is appointed by the Fire and Police Commission, manages the Department. Initially, firefighters were volunteers, with their only compensation being exemption from other civic responsibilities, such as highway work, jury and military duty, while Fire Wardens inspected buildings. More recently, the Civil Service Commission fills fire-fighting positions. The Department is currently comprised of 30 fire stations as well as their personnel, fireboats, paramedics, and emergency response personnel, including a hazardous materials team and several specialty rescue teams.

1846-1848	Gideon P. Hewitt
1848-1849	Allen W. Hatch
1849-1850	A. J. Langworthy
1850-1851	Anson Eldred
1851-1855	John S. Fillmore
1855-1859	S. S. Daggert
1856-1857	John C. Goodrich
1857-1859	Daniel Schultz
1859-1860	Thomas H. Eviston
1860-1867	Jobs H. Burning
1867-1871	Patrick McLaughlin
1871-1878	Henry Lippert
1878-1880	Henry Claymier
1880-1883	Henry Lippert
1883-1903	James Foley
1903-1905	Herman Meminger
1905-1925	Thomas A. Clancy
1925-1947	Peter Steinkeller
1945-1959	Edward E. Wischer
1959-1961	Edward B. McCabe
1961-1970	James R. Moher
1970-1986	William Stamm
1986-1992	Richard Seelen
1993-1995	August G. Erdmann
1996-2003	Lawrence Gardner
2003-2007	William Wentlandt
2007-2009	Douglas Holton
2010-	Mark Rohlfing

The collection contains annual reports, which include a record of the operation of the fire department, giving in detail an account of the expenditures, alarms, losses by fire, insurance thereon, valuation of property exposed, statistical tables and general information. Annual reports for 1909-1919 also include a roster of each company in the department. This collection also contains other miscellaneous publications and a single fire department floor plan (undated) for Engine House No. 8, located at the intersection of West North Avenue and North Seventh Streets. The floor plan includes detailed drawings of the foundation plan, first floor plan, and second floor plan and is assigned the project number 40 – F2-349.

The collection is arranged alphabetically. The annual reports for the years 1909-1919 have been bound into one volume.

Milwaukee Fire Department Records, 1888-1988, Collection 18. City of Milwaukee Archival Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Archival Collections

• City Comptroller Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 22.

• Fire and Police Commission Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 20.

• Milwaukee Police Department Records. City of Milwaukee Archival Collection 73.

Publications and Other Items

Constitution and By-Laws of the Milwaukee Fire Department : As Amended and Adopted by the Board of Trustees

Milwaukee Fire Department, MFD

Over a Century of Fire Service

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view City of Milwaukee Archival Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Milwaukee Public Library receives official materials from city departments via the Milwaukee City Records Center, pursuant to state statutes and city ordinances governing the permanent retention of city records.

Processing Information

Processed by Janet K. Geronime, 1996. Revised by Gayle M. Ecklund, 2001. Materials added by Bob Jaeger, 2017. In 2018, Bob Jaeger combined the previous Fire Department collection with CMAC 18.

Box   1	Annual Reports, 1909-1919 Physical Description: 1 volume
Box   1	Annual Reports, 1937-1964
Box   2	Annual Reports, 1965-1988
Box   2 Folder   1	Arson Seminar, 1958
Box   2 Folder   2	Color Me, fire safety coloring book, 1988
Box   2 Folder   3	Drill School Evolutions, undated
Oversize Folder   1	Engine House No. 8, floor plan, undated
Box   2 Folder   4	Fire Defense Evaluation, 1973
Box   3 Folder   1	Fire Inspections, proper organizational placement, 1973
Box   3 Folder   2	Fire Investigative Unit Task Force, final report, 1979
Box   3 Folder   3	Fire Protection for the City of Milwaukee, 1955
Box   3 Folder   4	Firemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund, actuarial investigation, 1946
Box   3 Folder   5	I’m a Fireman?, 1963
Box   3 Folder   6	Pension and Union, publications, 1891-1936
Box   3 Folder   7	Proposal for Fire Defenses, 1963-1964
Box   3 Folder   8	Rules and Regulations, 1893, 1954, 1970
Box   3 Folder   9	Safeguard Your Home Against Fire, undated
Box   3 Folder   10	Schedule of Regular Leaves of Absence, 1888
Box   3 Folder   11	Scorecard, Benefit Baseball: Chicago Fire Department vs. Milwaukee Fire Department, 1953
Box   3 Folder   12	Station Dedication Programs and Miscellaneous Pamphlets, 1962-1964, undated
Box   3 Folder   13	Study of Fire Defenses, 1963
Box   3 Folder   14	Your Fireman’s Day, 1962