Title: David Clarenbach papers
Inclusive Dates: 1971-2018
Bulk Dates: 1970s-1990s

Creator:

• Clarenbach, David E., 1953-

Unique Identifier: uac86

Quantity:

• 13.27 Linear Feet
• 1 record storage carton; 14 letter document boxes; 1 half-size letter document box; 1 legal half-size letter document box; 1 flat metal-edge box; 1 11" film reel box; 1 reel box; 1 small document box; 1 oversize folder.

Quantity: MOV; MP4; XLXS; JPG; VOB

• 21.2 Gigabytes
• 71 folders containing 7,466 video and photo files

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Madison. University Archives and Records Management

Abstract:

The David Clarenbach papers are primarily composed of campaign materials, newspaper clippings, artifacts, and ephemera which cover the political career of Wisconsin Assemblyman David Clarenbach.

Language: English .

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-ua-uac86

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This collection includes no known access restrictions.

Gift of David Clarenbach, 2019/12/13

Box 1 contains t-shirts.

Boxes 2-13, 15-16 contain materials that were originally in 3-ring binders. The documents have been removed from the binders and are now stored in folders, but the original order has been maintained. If the binder was labeled, the same information is written on the folder, along with a brief note about what the materials are. For example, a binder labeled "1981-1982" became four folders labeled "1981-1982 Scrapbook and Clippings Documents number [1-4]." These materials are mostly newspaper clippings, with additional materials like flyers, invitations, and holiday cards. There is also a folder containing all the hate mail Clarenbach received throughout his career. Box 2 contains a folder labeled "press book index" which lists the contents of the collection.

Box 14 contains oversize materials: campaign materials like bumper stickers, and official certificates.

Box 17 contains two gavels and one block.

Box 18 contains smaller campaign materials.

Box 19 contains three pens used by governors to sign bills.

More of David Clarenbach's papers can be found at the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives under Mss 1029 and Audio 1441A.

The David Clarenbach papers are primarily composed of campaign materials, newspaper clippings, artifacts, and ephemera which cover the political career of Wisconsin Assemblyman David Clarenbach.

During Clarenbach's nine terms in the Wisconsin State Legislature he was active on numerous social, environmental and public health concerns. The collection contains materials related to Clarenbachs work on the Sexual Privacy Bill, represented in various iterations including Assembly Bills 235, 323, and 514, from 1977-1981. Collection materials also address Clarenbachs work on Gay Rights legislation, represented by Assembly Bill 209 which prohibited discrimination in housing, Senate Bill 498 which removed sexual preference as a barrier to licensure and public employment, and Assembly Bill 70 which prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation, the first such bill adopted by any state in the United States.

In addition, the collection contains materials related to Clarenbach's advocacy for public school students, opposition to nuclear power plant expansion, cannabis decriminalization, university student representation on the Board of Regents, collective bargaining rights for graduate students and university staff, and public health efforts to care for people living with AIDS and prevent further spread.

The Collection also includes artifacts and ephemera including Clarenbach's campaign materials, t-shirts, buttons, stickers, pamphlets, invitations for fundraisers, and mailings sent to supporters and constituents as well as endorsements from labor organizations and assorted personal materials.

Collection materials may be subject to laws governing rights. Researchers are solely responsible for determining the rights status of the materials they use. Permission may be required for some uses such as publication or reproduction.

David E. Clarenbach (1953-) was an elected public official in Wisconsin 1972-1993: Dane County Board of Supervisors (elected 1972 and 1974); Madison City Council (1974); Wisconsin State Assembly (elected nine terms beginning 1974) and served as Speaker Pro Tem of the State Assembly 1983-1993. He was a Democratic candidate for US Congress (defeated 1992).

Clarenbach was born in St. Louis, MO. He was raised in Madison, WI in a politically active family – mother Kathryn F. Clarenbach (1920-1994) was a professor at the University of Wisconsin, nationally prominent feminist leader and founding chair of the National Organization of Women; father Henry G. Clarenbach (1914-1987) was a civil rights and anti-war activist and a Eugene McCarthy delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. David's political activism began while attending Madison West High School in the student rights, civil rights and anti-Vietnam War peace movements. Living with civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer over spring break in 1970, registering Black voters in rural Mississippi, helped shape his commitment to political and electoral change.

Upon election to the Dane County Board of Supervisors in April 1972, Clarenbach became the first 18-year old in state history to serve in elected public office. In the State Assembly, he is credited with authoring groundbreaking LGBTQ+ civil rights legislation including the nation's first statewide gay rights law (enacted 1982) prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations. He also sponsored the consenting adults bill (enacted 1983) repealing the sodomy statutes and legalizing all sexual activity between consenting adults; the hate crimes bill (enacted 1988) creating criminal penalties for violence motivated by bigotry; a bill of rights for people with AIDS and HIV infection (enacted 1990) banning discrimination in the healthcare and insurance industries. He also authored the plant closing bill (enacted 1977), nuclear power plant moratorium bill (enacted 1983), Yahara Watershed regulatory and Madison lakes clean-up bill (enacted 1990), and legislation to expand healthcare to thousands of uninsured families (enacted 1991). As Speaker Pro Tem of the State Assembly, serving as presiding officer during legislative sessions, Clarenbach gained bipartisan respect for fostering civility and decorum during debate and fairness in rulings on parliamentary procedure and points of order.

Clarenbach was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1980 (Wisconsin chair of California Governor Jerry Brown's presidential campaign), in 1984 (pledged to former Vice-President and eventual nominee Walter Mondale), and in 1988 (statewide co-chair of Reverend Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign).

Following his tenure in elected office, Clarenbach was Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund (1995-96), a national political action committee in Washington, DC supporting openly LGBT candidates for public office. He mentored openly LGBTQ+ candidates of both political parties including Tammy Baldwin, his successor in the State Assembly who was eventually elected as the nation's first openly lesbian member of the US House of Representatives and who currently serves as the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the US Senate.

Clarenbach is now retired and living in Madison. He continues to be politically involved. He also volunteers to tutor foreign students learning English as a second language, and for local LGBTQ+ community organizations.

Gay rights -- WisconsinWisconsin -- Politics and government -- 1951-Progressive politics -- United StatesMadison (Wis.) -- Politics and governmentPolitical activists -- Wisconsin -- MadisonPublic health -- Wisconsin -- Madison.AIDS (Disease) -- PreventionClarenbach, David E., 1953- ; LGBTQ Archive

Box [89125654939]   1	"Clarenbach for Assembly" T-Shirts Abstract: Two T-shirts bearing the slogan "Clarenbach for Assembly". Textile.
Box [89125654806]   2   folder 1	Press book index
Box [89125654806]   2   folder 2	1971-1979 Scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1971 - 1979
Box [89125654806]   2   folder 3	1971-1979 Scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1971 - 1979
Box [89125654806]   2   folder 4	1979-1980 Scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1979 - 1980
Box [89125654806]   2   folder 5	1979 Scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1979
Box [89125654806]   2   folder 6	1979-1980 Scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1979 - 1989
Box [89125654806]   2   folder 7	1980-1981 Scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1980 - 1981
Box [89125654806]   2   folder 8	1980-1981 Scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1980 - 1981
Box [89125654814]   3   folder 1	1972-1973 County Board scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1972 - 1973
Box [89125654814]   3   folder 2	1972-1973 County Board scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1972 - 1973
Box [89125654814]   3   folder 3	1973-1974 County Board scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1973 - 1973
Box [89125654814]   3   folder 4	1973-1974 County Board scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1973 - 1973
Box [89125654814]   3   folder 5	1974 Assembly race - City Council/County Board scrapbook and clippings documents, 1974
Box [89125654822]   4   folder 1	1975-1976 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1975 - 1976
Box [89125654822]   4   folder 2	1975-1976 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1975 - 1976
Box [89125654822]   4   folder 3	1975-1976 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1975 - 1976
Box [89125654822]   4   folder 4	1976-1977 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1976 - 1977
Box [89125654822]   4   folder 5	1976-1977 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1976 - 1977
Box [89125654822]   4   folder 6	1976-1977 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1976 - 1977
Box [89125654830]   5   folder 1	1977-1978 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1977 - 1978
Box [89125654830]   5   folder 2	1977-1978 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1977 - 1978
Box [89125654830]   5   folder 3	1978 scarpbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1978
Box [89125654830]   5   folder 4	1978 scarpbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1978
Box [89125654830]   5   folder 5	1981-1982 scapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1981 - 1982
Box [89125654830]   5   folder 6	1981-1982 scapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1981 - 1982
Box [89125654848]   6   folder 1	1981-1982 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1981 - 1982
Box [89125654848]   6   folder 2	1981-1982 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 4, 1981 - 1982
Box [89125654848]   6   folder 3	1982-1983 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1982 - 1983
Box [89125654848]   6   folder 4	1982-1983 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1982 - 1983
Box [89125654848]   6   folder 5	1983-1984 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1983 - 1984
Box [89125654848]   6   folder 6	1983-1984 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1983 - 1984
Box [89125654855]   7   folder 1	1983-1984 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1983 - 1984
Box [89125654855]   7   folder 2	1984 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1984
Box [89125654855]   7   folder 3	1984 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1984
Box [89125654855]   7   folder 4	1985 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1985
Box [89125654855]   7   folder 5	1985 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1985
Box [89125654855]   7   folder 6	1985 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1985
Box [89125654863]   8   folder 1	1986 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1986
Box [89125654863]   8   folder 2	1986 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1986
Box [89125654863]   8   folder 3	1986 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1986
Box [89125654863]   8   folder 4	1987 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1987
Box [89125654863]   8   folder 5	1987 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1987
Box [89125654863]   8   folder 6	1987 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1987
Box [89125654871]   9   folder 1	1988 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1988
Box [89125654871]   9   folder 2	1988 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1988
Box [89125654871]   9   folder 3	1988 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1988
Box [89125654871]   9   folder 4	1988 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 4, 1988
Box [89125654871]   9   folder 5	1988 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1989
Box [89125654871]   9   folder 6	1989 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1989
Box [89125654871]   9   folder 7	1989 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1989
Box [89125654889]   10   folder 1	1990 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1990
Box [89125654889]   10   folder 2	1990 scraobook and clippings documents - number 2, 1990
Box [89125654889]   10   folder 3	1990 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1990
Box [89125654889]   10   folder 4	1990 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 4, 1990
Box [89125654889]   10   folder 5	1991 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1991
Box [89125654889]   10   folder 6	1991 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1991
Box [89125654889]   10   folder 7	1991 scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1991
Box [89125654897]   11   folder 1	1992 (January - August) scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1992
Box [89125654897]   11   folder 2	1992 (January - August) scrapbook and clippings documents - number 2, 1992
Box [89125654897]   11   folder 3	1992 (January - August) scrapbook and clippings documents - number 3, 1992
Box [89125654897]   11   folder 4	1992 (January - August) scrapbook and clippings documents - number 4, 1992
Box [89125654897]   11   folder 5	1992 (September - December) scrapbook and clippings documents - number 1, 1992
Box [89125654905]   12   folder 1	Collateral - [1970s] - number 1, 1970 - 1979
Box [89125654905]   12   folder 2	Collateral - [1970s] - number 2, 1970 - 1979
Box [89125654905]   12   folder 3	Collateral - [1980 - 1982], 1980 - 1982
Box [89125654905]   12   folder 4	Collateral - [1982 - 1983], 1982 - 1983
Box [89125654905]   12   folder 5	Collateral - [1983 - 84?], 1983 - 1984
Box [89125654905]   12   folder 6	Collateral - [1984 - 88?], 1984 - 1988
Box [89125654905]   12   folder 7	Collateral - [1986 - 88?], 1986 - 1988
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 1	AIDS Bill of Rights (act cover)
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 2	Brown, Jerry - number 1
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 3	Brown, Jerry - number 2
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 4	Christmas Cards
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 5	Collateral - 1990 - [1992] - number 1
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 6	Collateral - 1990 - [1992] - number 2
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 7	Collateral - 1990 - [1992] - number 3
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 8	Consenting Adults (act cover)
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 9	Gay Pride
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 10	Gaylord for Judge
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 11	Hate Mail
Box [89125654913]   13   folder 12	Kennedy Award Nomination
Box [89125654921]   14   folder 1	Campaign literature
Box [89125654921]   14   folder 2	Election Board certificate
Box [89125678490]   15	Gaylord Nelson Human Services Award, 1987-02 Physical Description: : 25x27 cm.   Physical Description: Award plaque shapped like the state of Wisconsin. Wood.
Box [89125678490]   15	American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees appreciation award. 23 January 1986 Physical Description: : 24x26 cm.   Physical Description: Award plaque bearing text: "David Clarenbach - In recognition of his efforts to promote and maintain the urban quality of life and the delivery of public services - From your appreciative brothers and sisters at AFSCME Councils 24, 40, and 48". Wood.
Box [89125678490]   15	Speaker pro Tempore plaque, 1983-1984 Physical Description: : 24x23cm.   Physical Description: Plaque bearing the text: "David E Clarenbach - Speaker pro Tempore - Wisconsin Assembly". Wood.
Box [89125654954]   16	1993 Madison Community United Ally of the Year plaque , 5 June 1993 Physical Description: : 21x25cm.   Physical Description: Plaque bearing the text: "In recognition of dedicated service to teh lesbian, gay and bisexual community - David Clarenbach is hereby named 1993 Ally of the Year by The Madison Community United, Inc.". Wood.
Box [89125654954]   16	Wisconsin Student Association Legislator of the Year plaque , 1985-1986 Physical Description: : 16x23cm.   Physical Description: Plaque bearing the text: "Wisconsin Student Association awards Rep. David Clarenbach The Legislator of the Year". Wood.
Box [89125654996]   17	David Clarenbach gavels Physical Description: : Gavels 6x27cm. Block 11cm diameter.   Physical Description: Two gavels and one block. Wood.
Box [89125654988]   18   folder 1	Stickers-David Clarenbach for Congress, 1992
Box [89125654988]   18   folder 2	Response cards/Business cards
Box [89125654988]   18   folder 3	Campaign Button, 1978
Box [89125654988]   18   folder 4	Campaign Button, 1978
Box [89125654988]   18   folder 5	Campaign Button, 1978
Box [89125654988]   18   folder 6	Campaign Button, 1980 - 1990
Box [89125654988]   18   folder 7	Campaign Button, 1980 - 1990
Box [89125654988]   18   folder 8	Campaign Button, 1992
Box [89125654988]   18   folder 9	Campaign Button, 1992
Box [89125654988]   18   folder 10	Campaign Button, 1992
Box [89125654970]   19	Lee Sherman Dreyfus signature pen Physical Description: : 10cm   Physical Description: Pen depicting the signature of former Governor of Wisconsin Lee Sherman Dreyfus.
Box [89125654970]   19	Tommy G. Thompson signature pen Physical Description: Pen depicting the signiture of former Governor of Wisconsin Tommy G. Thompson.  Physical Description: : 10cm
Box [89125654970]   19	Anthony S. Earl signature pen Physical Description: Pen depicting the signiture of former Governor of Wisconsin Anthony S. Earl.  Physical Description: : 10cm
Box [89125678409]   20 Video [89138306730]   uam009827	News Clips IV, 1992
Box [89125678409]   20 Video [89138306721]   uam009828	News Clips VII, 1992 - 1995
Box [89125678409]   20 Video [89138307673]   uam009829	Rawhide Boys Ranch
Box [89125678409]   20 Video [89138307664]   uam009830	Stupid Politician Trick
Box [89125678409]   20 Video [89138307655]   uam009831	WKOW Capital City Sunday, 1985-06-18
Box [89125678409]   20 Video [89138307640]   uam009832	WKOW-TV Capital City Sunday, 1992-08-23
Box [89125678409]   20 Video [89138307631]   uam009833	David Clarenbach 20 years of public service
Box [89125678409]   20 Audio [89138307622]   uam009834	Phoenix Speech, 1983-06-25
Box [89125678409]   20 Audio [89138307613]   uam009835	Assemblyman (Wis) David Clarenbach Stonewall Dinner, 1984-04-27
Box [89125678409]   20 Audio [89138307604]   uam009836	Capitol Review, 1977
Box [89125678813]   21 Video [89138307337]   uam012107	WKOW (DC + KC), 1989
Box [89125678813]   21 Video [89138307328]   uam012108	News Clips V (Dub)
Box [89125678813]   21 Video [89138307319]   uam012109	TV News Clips II
Box [89125678813]   21 Video [89138307284]   uam012110	News Clips IV
Box [89125678813]   21 Video [89138307300]   uam012111	TV News Clips III
Box [89125678813]   21 Video [89138307293]   uam012112	TV News Clips First
Box [89125678813]   21 Video [89138307275]   uam012113	TV News Clips III
folder [89125678441]   1	Yard sign: "David Clarenbach for Congress"
folder [89125678441]   1	Yard sign: "David Clarenbach"