Belden H. Paulson Papers, 1951-2015
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Summary Information
Title: Belden H. Paulson Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1951-2015

Creator:
  • Paulson, Belden H., 1927-
Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 230

Quantity:
  • 2.4 cubic ft. (6 boxes)
  • 1 videocassette
  • 2 digital video files (1.83 GB)

Repository:
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:
This collection contains the papers of Belden H. Paulson, a leader in citizen action, economic improvement, and sustainable living in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. Records include teaching materials, topical and work files, and documentation of a self-sufficient living institute. These papers document his career outside of the UW-Milwaukee Center for Urban Community Development.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0230
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Biography/History

Belden Paulson was born on June 29, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois. He received a B.A. from Oberlin College (1950) and a M.A. (1955) from the University of Chicago. Paulson worked as a relief worker in Italy and from 1959 to 1961 served as Special Consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees in Rome. He graduated from the University of Chicago in 1962 with a Ph.D. in political science. His dissertation on Italian Communist community politics was entitled Revolution in the Villages of Southern Italy. In 1962 Paulson became an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He helped start the Center for Urban Community Development at the University of Wisconsin-Extension in 1967. In the early 1970s he moved from the Department of Political Science to the Center for Urban Community Development and served as its chair. In the early 1980s Paulson co-founded Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000, a citizen organization whose objective was to improve the quality of life for citizens of Greater Milwaukee through community planning. After the end of the 1995-1996 school year, Paulson retired from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Significant biographical information provided by Paulson is located in series 1 and in the case file in the Archives.

Scope and Content Note

Scope and content notes of each series are included in the contents list.

Arrangement of the Materials

The collection is arranged into the following series:

  1. Awards and Biographical Material, 1974-2015
  2. Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000, 1979-1988
  3. High Wind Association/Plymouth Institute, 1980-2015
  4. Milwaukee Public Schools, 1966-1998
  5. Teaching Materials, 1964-1999
  6. Topical Files, 1951-2014
  7. Writings, 1951-2015

The files are organized alphabetically by subject within each series.

Preferred Citation

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

Related Material

Belden Paulson also deposited personal papers with Oberlin College Archives. For more information, see the Belden and Lisa Paulson Papers at http://www.oberlinlibstaff.com/archon/?p=collections/controlcard&id=217.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Access Restrictions

Electronic files in the collection must be viewed on computers in the Archives. Contact an archivist for more information. There are no other access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.


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

Belden H. Paulson made an initial donation of personal papers in January 1995 (accession 1995-005). He made additional donations in 2011 and 2012 (accessions 2011-003 and 2012-030), as well as in January 2016 (accession 2015-028).


Processing Information

Andrea Buchner and Ellen Engseth initially processed the collection at the Archives in September-December 2005. A large addition was integrated in spring 2013 by Lindsay Frey (supervised by Engseth). Also at that time the Archives decided to separate the administrative records of the UW-Milwaukee Center for Urban Community Development. See UWM AC 223 for those records. Christel Maass added accession 2015-028 to the collection in January 2016. Brad Houston added information about the digital files in 2015-028 in October 2016.


Contents List
Series: 1. Awards and Biographical Materials, 1974-2015
Scope and Content Note: This series consists of awards that Belden Paulson received throughout his career, as well as autobiographical career summaries and a brief history about the Center for Urban Community Development. A list of academic activities is also included.
Box   1
Folder   1
Awards and Biographical Materials, 1974-2015
Series: 2. Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000, 1979-1988
Scope and Content Note: This series documents Paulson's involvement with Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000. Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000 began in 1978 when Paulson and other Milwaukee-area leaders implemented a volunteer, community-based citizens' association interested in improving the quality of life in Greater Milwaukee. The group evolved in 1983 into Action for Goals 2000. Paulson's papers reflect activity in planning and implementation, and include records of the Board, the Interim Steering Committee, and the Outreach/Education Committee. The series includes a great variety of inter-filed documents such as correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, memoranda, planning files, reports, and vision statements. Most documents are printed though they include annotated or handwritten notes.
⇧
Box   1
Folder   2
Board and Task Force Planning, circa 1980
Box   1
Folder   3
Interim Steering Committee, 1980
Box   1
Folder   4
Kentucky Tomorrow Conference, 1984
Box   1
Folder   5-6
Outreach/Education Committee, 1980-1988
Box   1
Folder   7
Planning Group, 1979-1980
Box   1
Folder   8
Reports, Publications, and Questionnaire, 1981-1984
Series: 3. High Wind Association and Plymouth Institute, 1980-2015
Scope and Content Note: This series documents Paulson's involvement with the High Wind Association and Plymouth Institute. The Plymouth Institute evolved from the High Wind Association, an eco-friendly community, rural education, and demonstration center after High Wind surpassed its original intention to produce energy rather than consume it. This series includes informational articles, a certificate for environmental achievement, a videocassette, a newsletter entitled "WindWatch", and numerous brochures on programs hosted by the Institute.
⇧
Box   2
Folder   1
Articles About, 1980-2015, undated
Box   2
Folder   2
Center for Urban Community Development, Consultation Nominations, circa 1988
Box   2
Folder   3
Certificate of Environmental Achievement, undated
Box   2
Folder   4
Informative Documents, 1980-2000, undated
Video   1
Plymouth Institute at High Wind: Creating Models for Sustainability, undated
Physical Description: Videocassette (VHS) 
Box   2
Folder   5
Program Brochures, 1980-1996, undated
Box   2
Folder   6
A Project Summary, undated
Box   2
Folder   7
Publications, 1987, 1995
Box   2
Folder   8
Rethinking Public Policy, undated
Box   2
Folder   9
Springledge Eco-Village, 1995-1996
Box   2
Folder   10
Wilbur, Ken 1996-1997
Box   2
Folder   11-12
Windwatch Newsletter, 1981-1983
Series: 4. Milwaukee Public Schools, 1966-1998
Scope and Content Note: This series documents Paulson's involvement in the Milwaukee Public School (MPS) system. Paulson worked towards improvement for the future, and this series consists of several reports on the ongoings of the MPS, formative documents for a Global Learning Center, and school centered projects.
⇧
Box   3
Folder   1
Central City Teacher-Community at Fulton Junior High School, 1966
Box   3
Folder   2
Educational Specifications Document for Additions and Alterations at Riverside High School, undated
Box   3
Folder   3
Global Learning Center Formative Documents, 1987, 1995-1998, undated
Box   3
Folder   4
Multiple Intelligence, 1992
Box   3
Folder   5
Reports, 1992, undated
Box   3
Folder   6
The Riverside Education Improvement Project, 1973-1974
Box   3
Folder   7
Urban Waldorf School, 1991-1999
Series: 5. Teaching Materials, 1964-1999
Scope and Content Note: This series documents Paulson's classes and seminars. Material includes course proposals, syllabi, documents on specific seminars, and course content.
⇧
Box   3
Folder   8
Alternative Futures, Shifting Paradigms, and New Education Seminar, 1986-1987, undated
Box   3
Folder   9
Assorted Documents, 1980-1997, undated
Box   3
Folder   10
Course Proposals and Ideas, 1965-1991, undated
Box   3
Folder   1
Creating Interdependent Sustainable Futures, Seminar, Course Reader, 1990
Box   4
Folder   2
The Danforth Foundation, Appointment Documents, 1975
Box   4
Folder   3
Faculty Advisor, United Nations Model Assembly, 1964-1965
Box   4
Folder   4
Future of Work Tele-Conference, 1984
Box   4
Folder   5
Global Peace, Alternative Futures, and New Education, 1985-1986
Box   3
Folder   6
A Living/Learning Adventure in China, 1989
Box   3
Folder   7
A Meta-Curriculum for the Future, 1982
Box   4
Folder   8
New Politics Tele-Conference, 1985
Box   4
Folder   9
New Wind Alliance/Transformative Politics, 1979-1986
Box   4
Folder   10
Off Campus Program Proposals, 1987-1994
Box   4
Folder   11
Political Science Syllabi, 1969-1981
Box   4
Folder   12
Politics of Underdeveloped Areas, 1964-1971
Box   4
Folder   13
Politics of Urban Conflict Seminar, 1970-1979, undated
Box   4
Folder   14
Seminar Pamphlets, 1964-1992
Box   4
Folder   15
Sustainable Futures Learning, 1997-1998
Box   4
Folder   16
Sustainable Futures Seminar, 1999
Box   4
Folder   17
University of the Future, Course and Conference, 1979-1981
Series: 6. Topical Files, 1951-2014
Scope and Content Note: This series documents the many and various projects with which Paulson associated himself throughout the years. The earliest project in this series is called the Homeless European Land Program, or HELP, which Paulson started in the early 1950s. HELP began when Paulson worked for 3 years in war-destroyed Naples, Italy; he and others organized a pilot community with Eastern European refugees in Italian post-World War II camps. The series also documents other projects that Paulson founded or participated in, such as the Peace Corps, and nominating his friend and colleague Reuben Harpole for an honorary degree.
⇧
Box   5
Folder   1
Alternative Think-Tank, 1986, 1988, undated
Electronic Folder  
Belden and Lisa Paulson Biographical Video, circa 2000
Physical Description: 1 digital video file (1 hour, 34 min., 20 sec.) 
Scope and Content Note: a brief biography and an interview with Jim Peck after Paulson's book, Odyssey of a Practical Visionary, was published in 2000. The video also includes footage from earlier interviews and appearances by Paulson, as interviewed by Donald Malcolm, Dante Sigismondi, and the crew of "Unsung Hero".
Box   5
Folder   2
Harpole, Reuben, Biographical Materials and Notes, compiled 1997
Box   5
Folder   3
Homeless European Land Program, 1951-1960, undated
Box   5
Folder   4
Peace Corps Training Group, Peru 5, Reunion, 1961-2000, undated
Box   5
Folder   5
President's Council on Sustainability Development, 1994-1996
Box   5
Folder   6
Soviet-American Summit, Moscow, 1990
Electronic Folder  
Unsung Hero Excerpt, 2014
Physical Description: 1 digital video file (13 min., 15 sec. ) 
Scope and Content Note: Excerpt from a documentary on the life of Paulson friend and actor Don Murray, who had persuaded Paulson to help resettle refugees in Italy after WWII. While this video focuses on Paulson's Italy work, it also includes a quick survey of his work at the University of Wisconsin, the story of the High Wind community, and his and his wife Lisa's philosophy of life.
Box   5
Folder   7
UW-Extension Letters of Appointment, 1962-1967
Box   5
Folder   8
UW-Extension Projects and Documents, 1968-1980, undated
Box   5
Folder   9
UW-Milwaukee Division of Outreach and Continuing Education, 1986-1987
Box   5
Folder   10
University of Wisconsin (Madison) Documents, 1969-1974
Box   5
Folder   11
UWM Peace Studies, 1983-1986, undated
Box   5
Folder   12
Waukesha County Needs and Services Study, 1973
Box   5
Folder   13
World Futures Society, Milwaukee Chapter, 2000, 2002
Series: 7. Writings, 1951-2015
Scope and Content Note: This series includes Paulson's topical writings, a small collection of personal correspondence, and a report from a trip to Brazil. In addition, "Statements by Paulson" are written articles and presented speeches.
⇧
Box   6
Folder   1-3
Articles, 1951-2006, undated
Box   6
Folder   4
Newspaper Clippings, 1958-1991
Box   6
Folder   5
Personal Correspondence, 1968-2015
Box   6
Folder   6
Publications, 1955-2001
Box   6
Folder   7
Report on Trip to Brazil, undated
Box   6
Folder   8
Statements by Paulson, 1970-1993, undated
Box   6
Folder   9
The Renascent Pharaoh, undated