Summary Information
John McClelland Work Papers
1892-1960
- Work, John M. (John McClelland), 1869-1961
Local History Manuscript Collection 334
2.3 cubic ft. (7 boxes)
Milwaukee Public Library (Map)
John McClelland Work was an attorney, professor, author
and chief editorial writer for the Milwaukee, Wisconsin based Socialist newspaper,
the Milwaukee Leader. He was an active Socialist who
traveled across the country speaking on behalf of the Socialist Party, also serving
as the secretary of the Socialist Party. He wrote and produced pamphlets, articles
and books on various legal subjects and in support of socialism.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0334 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
John McClelland Work was born on January 3, 1869 in Washington, Iowa. In 1892, he
received his law degree from Columbia Law School in Washington, D.C., which was
subsequently incorporated into George Washington University. Work began practicing
law in Des Moines, Iowa, and was a founding member of the local branch of the Social
Democratic Party of America in 1900. He served as a delegate from Iowa at the
founding convention of the Socialist Party of America in 1900.
From 1904 through 1910, Work traveled across the country speaking on behalf of the
Socialist Party, and between 1911 and 1913 he served as the secretary of the
Socialist Party. He taught law at the La Salle Extension University in Chicago from
1913 to 1917 and while there produced pamphlets on various legal subjects and in
support of socialism. From 1917 to 1942, Work served as the chief editorial writer
for the Milwaukee Leader, focusing on writing
articles, pamphlets, and books after his tenure at the paper ended. Throughout the
period between 1900 and 1925, Work ran unsuccessfully for several political offices,
including United States senator from Iowa in 1908 and Wisconsin in 1925.
At the end of his life, John Work lived with his only daughter, Josephine, in
Shorewood, Wisconsin. He passed away January 5, 1961 from pneumonia at the age of
92.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains materials mostly correspondence ranging from his business,
socialist activities and personal but also other documents regarding Work’s business
dealings, his work as an author and poet. More detailed scope and content notes for
each series are provided in the contents list.
Arrangement of the Materials
The collection is arranged into the following series: - Business,
1916-1960
- Formal Writing,
1907-1959
- Literary,
1915-1960
- Personal,
1892-1960
The series are arranged alphabetically. Within each series, folders are arranged
alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.
Preferred Citation
Work, John McClelland, Papers, 1892-1960, Collection 334. Local History Manuscript
Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Related Material in the Milwaukee Public Library
Archival Collections
Publications and Other Items
Face the Future
Letters to a Lady
The Milwaukee Leader
Philip and Aurelia; a Novel
X-rays on Human Affairs
What's So and What Isn't
Why Things Happen to Happen
Administrative/Restriction Information
There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all
in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript
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.
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).
The collection was donated by Josephine Work, John Work’s daughter, February 25,
1961. Materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.
Described (based on existing collection register) by Alice Richards Fieldworker,
2014. Processed by Casey Lapworth, 2018.
Contents List
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Series: 1. Business, 1916-1960
: The Business series contains information regarding stocks, bonds and
transactions with the Straus Securities Corporation. This includes papers
about the family estate in Washington, Iowa.
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Correspondence, 1916-1934
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Correspondence, 1935-1940
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Correspondence, 1941-1952
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Correspondence, 1953-1960
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Work Estate, 1919-1939
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Work Estate, 1940-1952
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Series: 2. Formal Writing, 1907-1959
: The Formal Writings series contains copies of his published articles along
with poetry, short stories, parts of a novel and autobiographical writings.
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Box
2
Folder
1
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American Law and Procedure: Conflict of
Law, 1912
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Box
2
Folder
2
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American Law and Procedure: Landlord and
Tenant, 1915
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Box
2
Folder
3
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American Law and Procedure: Malicious
Prosecution and Miscellaneous Torts,
1915
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Box
2
Folder
4
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American Law and Procedure: Marriage and
Divorce, Husbands and Wives,
1915
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Box
2
Folder
5
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American Law and Procedure: Municipal
Corporations 1916, 1916
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Autobiographical Sketches, 1949,
undated
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Box
2
Folder
1-8
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Midland Memories,
1945
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Non-fiction, undated
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Novel Fragments, undated
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Personal Notes and Reminiscences
v. 1, 1907-1910
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Box
2
Folder
12
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Personal Notes and Reminiscences
v. 2, 1912-1919
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Box
2
Folder
13
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Personal Notes and Reminiscences
v. 3, 1920-1930
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Box
3
Folder
1
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Personal Notes and Reminiscences
v. 4, 1925-1930
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Box
3
Folder
2
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Personal Notes and Reminiscences
v. 5, 1933-1946
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Poetry, undated
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Short Stories, undated
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Box
3
Folder
5
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Thoughts, Ideas and Comments,
1917-1959
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Series: 3. Literary, 1915-1960
: The Literary series contains correspondence between Work and various
publishers and literary agents.
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Box
3
Folder
6
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Correspondence, A - D, 1926-1959
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Box
3
Folder
7
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Correspondence, E, 1948-1959
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Box
3
Folder
8
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Correspondence, F - T, 1915-1959
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Correspondence, U - V, 1924-1960
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Box
4
Folder
2
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Correspondence W - Z, 1924-1960
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Series: 4. Personal, 1892-1960
: Personal series comprises the bulk of the collection. It contains
correspondence with other socialists, such as Albert Einstein, Pablo Casals
and family members. Also included is ephemera and photographs, newspaper
clippings, and a red flag pin.
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Box
4
Folder
3
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Correspondence, A, 1937-1959
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Box
4
Folder
4
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Correspondence, B, 1923-1959
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Box
4
Folder
5
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Correspondence, C, 1917-1959
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Box
4
Folder
6
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Correspondence, D - G, 1917-1960
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Box
5
Folder
1
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Correspondence, H - J, 1926-1959
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Box
5
Folder
2
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Correspondence, K - L, 1915-1956
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Box
5
Folder
3
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Correspondence, M - McCrillis,
1911-1960
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Box
5
Folder
4
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Correspondence, McKaye - Mickelson,
1921-1956
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Box
5
Folder
5
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Correspondence, Midwest Observer -
Milwaukee Leader,
1922-1955
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Box
6
Folder
1
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Correspondence, Milwaukee Mayor - Muzik,
1924-1958
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Box
6
Folder
2
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Correspondence, N - O, 1927-1955
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Box
6
Folder
3
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Correspondence, P, 1926-1955
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Box
6
Folder
4
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Correspondence, R - Snow,
1933-1960
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Box
6
Folder
5
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Correspondence, Social Democratic Federation,
1940-1960
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Box
6
Folder
6-7
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Correspondence, Socialist Party, National,
1919-1958
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Box
6
Folder
8
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Correspondence, Socialist Party, State, Colorado-Wisconsin,
1936-1950
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Box
7
Folder
1
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Correspondence, Sonoma - V,
1918-1960
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Box
7
Folder
2
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Correspondence, W - Woodrum,
1924-1957
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Box
7
Folder
3-4
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Correspondence, Work Family,
1902-1947
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Box
7
Folder
5
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Correspondence, Workers - Z,
1933-1960
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Box
7
Folder
6
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Newspaper Clippings, Certificates, and Artifact,
1917-1960
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Box
7
Folder
7
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Photographs, 1892-1957
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Box
7
Folder
8
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Publications, undated
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