Title: Reuben La Fave Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1966-1976

Creator:

• La Fave, Reuben, 1915-

Call Number: Green Bay Mss 94; Tape 1056A; PH Green Bay Mss 94

Quantity: 1.0 c.f. (1 record center carton), 1 tape recording, and 37 photographs

Repository:

Housed at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Archives and Area Research Center; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

UW-Green Bay Cofrin Library / Green Bay Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Legislative papers of a veteran Republican state legislator (Assembly, 1950-1955; Senate, 1956-1976) from Oconto. The files date largely from his latter years in office and include subject files of official correspondence, memoranda, summary minutes and a hearing tape, press releases and newsletters, photographs, and research material. The most substantial files concern his chairmanship of the Menominee Indian Study Committee, work on the Senate Transportation Committee to legalize double bottom trucks on Wisconsin highways, and efforts to reduce water levels in the Great Lakes.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-gb0094

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Republican Reuben La Fave, who served in the Wisconsin Legislature for 25 years (Assembly, 1950-1955; Senate, 1956-1976), was born in the town of Lena, Oconto County, on September 27, 1915. After graduating from the local high school he attended the Racine Technical School. During the 1930's he was a social worker in his home county. He later owned and operated the Neverman Oil Company. During World War II he served in the Coast Guard Reserve.

After the war, La Fave became active in county politics, serving nine years on the Oconto County Board. In 1950 he was the county's representative to the Assembly. In 1956 he began his long tenure as senator from the 30th District.

Before his election to the legislature La Fave was active in a number of conservation and recreation groups. He was chairman, 1949-1953, of the Sportsmen's Congress; president of the Northeastern Wisconsin Bayshore Trap League; and a member of the local yacht club. It is likely this background had much to do with strong advocacy of conservation issues after his election to public office. In 1953 he received the Milwaukee Sentinel award for outstanding achievement in the field. The numerous subsequent awards and citations which he received are enumerated in the folder of biographical information in the collection.

As one of the more powerful members of his party La Fave chaired the Senate Transportation Committee, the Retirement Research Committee, the Menominee Indian Study Committee, the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems, and the Joint Highway Advisory Committee. He was defeated in his bid for re-election in 1976.

The Reuben La Fave Papers originally consisted of three cubic feet of material received from his Capitol office after the 1976 election. Despite his long and important tenure in the legislature, his office had apparently regularly disposed of inactive files. The remainder date primarily from the 1970's, most particularly from the 1975-1976 session. Subsequent correspondence with the donor indicated that La Fave may have retained some personal, campaign, and Retirement Research Committee files. Research material of a non-archival nature (six feet) collected by La Fave in his capacity as chairman of the Menominee Indian Study Committee has been presented directly to the Native American Center at UW-Green Bay.

The papers chiefly consist of an alphabetical subject file relating to committee work and to relations with various state agencies. Included are correspondence, memoranda, research materials and clippings, minutes, press releases and statements, photographs, and personal information. Except for a few incidental items there is little constituent correspondence in the collection. The majority of the subject files pertain to service on the Transportation Committee, especially to the question of whether double-bottom trucks would be permitted on Wisconsin highways, and to the Menominee Indian Study Committee. There are also good files of correspondence, memoranda, summary minutes and a tape recording of a February 19, 1973 Highway Advisory Committee hearing, and research materials on his support of lowering the water level of the Great Lakes. This issue which derived from his membership on the Highway Advisory Committee coincided with the interests of many of his constituents.

Also notable in the collection is a relatively complete collection of press releases and his Legislative Report newsletters, 1970-1976.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Reuben La Fave, Oconto, Wisconsin, December 15, 1976. Accession Number: M76-549

Processing Information

Processed by D.L. Heinrich (FGH student-1977) and Carolyn J. Mattern (1984).

Green Bay Mss 94	Series: Personal Files
Box   1 Folder   1	Biographical information, 1976
Box   1 Folder   2	Legislative record of La Fave prepared by Republican Senate Committee, 1975-1976
Box   1 Folder   3	Press releases and Legislative Report newsletter, 1970-1976
Box   1 Folder   4	Complimentary correspondence, 1970-1972
	Series: Subject Files	⇧
Box   1 Folder   5	Agriculture, Social Services, Labor and Taxation, Senate Committee on, 1975-1976
Box   1 Folder   6	Commerce, Senate Committee on, 1975-1976
Box   1 Folder   7	Health and Social Services, Department of, 1974-1976
	Highway Advisory Committee
	Water level of Great Lakes
Box   1 Folder   8	Green Bay hearing, 1973
Tape 1056A No.   1	Hearing tape, February 19, 1973
Green Bay Mss 94 Box   1 Folder   9	International Joint Commission hearing, 1974
Box   1 Folder   10	La Fave press releases and statements, 1972-1973
Box   1 Folder   11	Correspondence, 1971-1974
Box   1 Folder   12	Miscellany
Box   1 Folder   13	Insurance Commission, 1975-1976
Box   1 Folder   14	Industry, Labor, and Human Relations, Department of, 1975-1976
Box   1 Folder   15	Marinette County Chamber of Commerce, 1975-1976
	Menominee Indian Study Committee
Box   1 Folder   16	Correspondence, Minutes, 1969-1976
Box   1 Folder   17	Miscellany
Box   1 Folder   18	Mourning dove, 1971
Box   1 Folder   19	Natural Resources, Department of, 1975-1976
Box   1 Folder   20	Organization, Senate Committee on, 1974-1976
Box   1 Folder   21	Public Instruction, Department of, 1976
Box   1 Folder   22	Public Service Commission, 1975-1976
Box   1 Folder   23	Regulation and Licensing, Department of, 1974-1975
Box   1 Folder   24	Revenue, Department of, 1975-1976
Box   1 Folder   25	Retirement Research Committee, 1973-1974
Box   1 Folder   26	Transportation, Department of., 1975-1976
	Transportation, Senate Committee on
	Double bottom trucks
Box   1 Folder   27	Correspondence, 1966-1971
Box   1 Folder   28	Research material
Box   1 Folder   29	Transcript of testimony for proposed amendments to Highway 19
PH Green Bay Mss 94	Photographs re examples of inappropriate and appropriate billboard structures on highways in Wisconsin, circa 1970
Green Bay Mss 94 Box   1 Folder   30	Photo license, 1969
Box   1 Folder   31	Reciprocity, 1970
Box   1 Folder   32	Miscellany