Summary Information
Charles R. Seaborne Papers
1936-1950
Green Bay Mss 127; PH 3972 (3)
0.4 c.f. (1 archives box) and 22 photographs
UW-Green Bay Cofrin Library / Green Bay Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of an executive of Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, entirely concerning his interest in improving the condition of the Fox and Wolf rivers. Included are correspondence with members of organizations formed for this purpose such as the Fox River Water Power Users Association, the Fox and Wolf River Control Association, and the Wolf River Reservoir Company; transcripts of public hearings; minutes; clippings; technical reports about the river conditions; photographs; and charts and maps.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-gb0127 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Charles R. Seaborne, a nationally known authority on pulp and paper manufacturing, joined the staff of the Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company in 1918 as assistant engineer. In this capacity he was largely responsible for the redesign and rebuilding of No. 2 mill on the pulp mill site, an operation which more than doubled pulp and paper production. In l920 he designed and built the paper converting plant in Niagara Falls that was jointly owned by Thilmany and Kimberly Clark. He remained there until 1924 when Thilmany disposed of its interest in the plant.
Seaborne was then promoted to the position of chief engineer, after which he began the investigation and preliminary plans for the pulp and paper mill at Longview, Washington in which Thilmany was financially interested. After completion of the Longview plant, Seaborne returned to participate in the consolidation of company operation in Kaukauna. In 1940 he was named vice president, treasurer, and a member of the board of directors. In l950 he became executive vice president with full responsibility for all manufacturing operations.
During the mid 1930's Seaborne became interested in the control and development of the Fox and Wolf rivers, the subject ultimately becoming a virtual hobby for him. In 1937 Seaborne participated in the formation of the Fox River Water Power Users Association which contemplated construction of a reservoir on the river in order to maintain water levels. Seaborne recognized that a reservoir would not only prevent floods but that it would also control industrial wastes in the river. However, a survey concluded the cost of such a project was prohibitive, and the project was abandoned. In l939 Thilmany experienced a water shortage which forced the closing of their mills. This time Seaborne and the Fox River Water Power Users Association turned to the Wisconsin Legislature for assistance in constructing a reservoir at Lily. Although legislation which established the Wolf River Reservoir Company and authorized construction of a reservoir was signed by Governor Heil, costs again prevented further action.
Not until 1944 was Seaborne, by then vice president in charge of manufacture, able to revive interest in construction of a reservoir. The result this time was the formation of the Fox and Wolf River Control Association in 1945. The purpose of this organization included the elimination of flooding; the stabilization of river levels for municipal, domestic, and industrial use; and the elimination of water pollution. This organization proposed impounding the water of the upper Wolf River to prevent flooding and the release of water when needed during low water periods. It was also believed such a release of water would help flush toxic pollution out of the water.
Scope and Content Note
The papers, which consist entirely of documentation about Seaborne's interest in improving conditions on the Fox and Wolf rivers, are of somewhat uncertain provenance having been received from the Wolf River Basin Planning Commission and the Northeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. Included are correspondence, reports, minutes, transcripts of public hearings, technical reports, charts and maps, clippings, and photographs.
The Correspondence is arranged chronologically, beginning with Seaborne's effort to organize the Water Power Users Association in 1937 and concluding in 1950 when he was still attempting to construct a reservoir system. Also documented here is the interest of the Water Power Users Association in Senate Bill 509 in 1939. Once this bill was passed the correspondence began to include contacts with attorneys and consulting engineers concerning planning for construction. During the early 1940's there is a lull in the correspondence and not until 1944 did Seaborne resume activity. From this point through 1950 the files reflect his personal activity in forming the Fox and Wolf River Control Association and attempts to gain financial, legislative, and public support.
The technical Reports, which are also arranged chronologically, date from 1936 through 1944. Most contain charts, graphs, maps, and illustrations concerning the proposed reservoir projects. Original photographs separated from the 1938 report documenting the site proposed for a reservoir at Lily are housed in the Visual and Sound Archives. Two related documents, The Control and Development of the Fox and Wolf Rivers, Wisconsin (1946) and The Lower Fox: A River of Paper (1957), have been separated to the SHSW Library.
The Miscellany includes several loose maps and charts and a file of newspaper clippings.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Transferred from the State Archives. Accession Number: M75-188
Processed by Robert Langdon (FGH student, 1975) and by Carolyn J. Mattern, 1991.
Contents List
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Green Bay Mss 127
Box
1
Folder
1-3
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Correspondence, 1937-1950
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Reports
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Orbison and Orbison report, 1936
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Thiele report, 1937
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Charlesworth report, 1938
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PH 3972 (3)
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Original photographs from report
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Green Bay Mss 127
Box
1
Folder
7
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Stewart report, 1941
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Holland, Ackerman, & Holland report, 1944
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Box
1
Folder
9
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History of War Department studies, circa 1945
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Miscellany
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Clippings
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Miscellaneous maps and charts
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