Summary Information
Burton R. Fisher Papers
1930-1967
Micro 821; Green Bay Micro 26; M2010-007
14 reels of microfilm (35 mm); plus additions of 2.0 cubic feet
UW-Green Bay Cofrin Library / Green Bay Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers created and collected by Burton R. Fisher, a University of Wisconsin sociology professor, who was a member of the Menominee Indian Study Committee (MISC). The collection includes a variety of material created by Fisher and used for reference purposes. Major sections of the papers are a file of legislation and related papers, consisting of federal and Wisconsin bills, drafts, reports of hearings, and other items; an extensive run of minutes and announcements of meetings of the Menominee Advisory and General Councils; and a large reference file of reports and papers regarding the economic, political, and social history and conditions of the Menominee Indians. Other papers include correspondence; scattered records of the Committee, Menominee Enterprises, Menominee Mills, and the Menominee Indian Agency; copies of the Menominee Indian Tribal Roll; and news clippings. Many of the papers have been annotated by Fisher.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-micr0821 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Menominee Indian Study Committee was created by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1955 to study and advise on the problems arising from termination of federal supervision over the Menominee Tribe. Specifically, the Committee was to aid the Menominee “in formulating a plan for the future control of tribal property and service functions now under the federal government.” The University of Wisconsin was requested to cooperate in providing facilities and personnel for the study. The University responded by appointing a special coordinating committee headed by sociology professor Burton R. Fisher. Professor David W. Ames of the Department of Anthropology did extensive research for the study. Other members of the Committee included the attorney general, individuals representing various state agencies, legislators, representatives of the Oconto and Shawano County Boards, and members of the Menominee Indian governing councils. After termination of reservation status in 1959, the Committee continued in existence, to study the possibility of public access to the forests and waters in the newly created Menominee County.
Arrangement of the Materials
This collection was received in multiple parts from the donor(s) and is organized into 2 major parts. These materials have not been physically interfiled and researchers might need to consult more than one part to locate similar materials.
Related Material
Other records regarding the Menominee Indians and termination are found in the following state archives series: Governor's Commission on Human Rights Records (Series 996), Native American Affairs in the Wisconsin Conservation Department Subject Files (Series 271), and Wisconsin Legislature, Legislative Council, Menominee Indian Study Committee Records (Series 2035).
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Burton R. Fisher, Madison, Wisconsin, and by David W. Ames, San Francisco, California, 1968, 1969. Accession Number: M68-324, M69-15, M2010-007
Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, May 1980.
Contents List
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Micro 821/Green Bay Micro 26
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Part 1 (Micro 821, Green Bay Micro 26): Original Collection, 1930-196714 reels of microfilm (35 mm) The collection contains a variety of materials created and gathered by Fisher for reference, illustrating his own research and the work of the Menominee Indian Study Committee. In particular, the papers include both general correspondence and a file of letters written by Constance Deer, self-proclaimed protector of Menominee interests. Most of the correspondence is found in printed form or as copies of the originals. A large file of legislation and related papers consists of federal and Wisconsin bills, drafts of legislation, reports of hearings, government publications, and other material pertaining to legislation and its progress through the Congress and Wisconsin legislature. Much of this file directly concerns the Menominee Indian termination, but earlier records deal with the termination of reservation status of the Klamath Indians in Oregon. Fisher's papers include extensive files of minutes and announcements of regular and special meetings of the Menominee Advisory and General Councils. In addition, there are scattered minutes, copies of correspondence, memos, and other communications, reports, and a lengthy bibliography from the Menominee Indian Study Committee itself. There are also small files of reports and general papers, usually concerning the current operating status of Menominee Enterprises, Menominee Mills, and the Menominee Indian Agency. Copies of the Menominee Indian Tribal Rolls, compiled in 1939 and again in 1955 for the purposes of determining degree of Indian blood, membership in the tribe, and qualifications for receiving payments from the sale of Menominee-owned forest products, are also present in the collection. A major portion of the papers consists of reports and other material apparently collected only for reference purposes. The general file of reports dates from the 1940s, and contains a wealth of information on the economic, political, and social history and conditions of the Menominee Indians, proposals for future control of and changes in their assets (primarily the Menominee forest), and some items regarding the Klamath Indian termination experience. Specific reports and data concern Menominee births and deaths; selected census figures; annual reports of reservation churches, schools, and health and hospital services; and a summary of costs attributable to termination. In 1954, several tribal officials were in Washington, D.C. for government hearings on termination; the collection includes a series of weekly newsletters summarizing their activities and impressions for those who remained in Wisconsin. A small file of material concerning other organizations, but related to the Menominee Indians and conservation of their resources, is also present. The progress of determination and self-government for the Menominee is illustrated in the collection's file of news clippings. Most of these clippings were taken from the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Milwaukee Journal, Madison Capital Times, and Wisconsin State Journal. Many of the papers in the collection contain Fisher's underlining and handwritten annotations. His participation in the creation of reports and statements of the Menominee Indian Study Committee is clear in some places, but must be inferred in others. Copies of the drafts and articles by the Committee may be found in the files of reports and reference material.
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Correspondence
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Reel
1
Frame
1-285
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General, 1950-1967
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Reel
1
Frame
286-400A
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Constance Deer, 1956-1959
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Legislation and related papers
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Federal
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Reel
1
Frame
401-1166
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1930-1932
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Reel
2
Frame
1-1112
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1944-1954 June
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Reel
3
Frame
1-1250
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1954 June-1957 February
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Reel
4
Frame
1-1212
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1957 March-1958 July
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Reel
5
Frame
1-948
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1958 December-1961, 1965
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Wisconsin
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Reel
5
Frame
950-1203
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1955-1959 April
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Reel
6
Frame
1-363
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1959 April-1963
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Reel
6
Frame
364-393
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Mailing lists, 1955, undated
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Menominee Advisory Council minutes
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Reel
6
Frame
394-1166
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1954 November-1955 June
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Reel
7
Frame
1-1126
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1955 July-1957 January
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Reel
8
Frame
1-1165
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1957 March-1958 December
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Reel
9
Frame
1-152
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1959 January-1960 August
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Reel
9
Frame
153-304
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Menominee Enterprises and Menominee Mills papers, 1942-1963
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Menominee General Council minutes
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Reel
9
Frame
305-1200
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1954 January-1957 March
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Reel
10
Frame
1-950
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1957 May-1961 January
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Menominee Indian Agency reports and papers
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Reel
10
Frame
951-1174
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1951-1957 October
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Reel
11
Frame
1-119
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1958 January-1960
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Menominee Indian Study Committee (MISC)
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Reel
11
Frame
120-249
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Bibliography
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Reel
11
Frame
250-593
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Minutes, reports, 1955-1964, undated
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Reel
11
Frame
594-1125
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Menominee Indian Tribal Roll and stumpage payments, circa 1939, 1955
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Reel
12
Frame
1-52
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Miscellaneous
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Reel
12
Frame
53-82
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Records and forms for the proposed Menominee County
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Reports and reference material
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General
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Reel
12
Frame
83-1239
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1942, 1949-1956 February
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Reel
13
Frame
1-1183
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1957-1966 August
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Reel
14
Frame
1-133
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1967, undated
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Reel
14
Frame
134-198
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Births and deaths, 1943-1954
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Reel
14
Frame
199-239
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Census data and forms, 1930, 1950, 1955-1956
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Reel
14
Frame
240-252
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Churches, 1954-1955
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Reel
14
Frame
253-281
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Health Service annual reports, 1953-1956
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Reel
14
Frame
282-403
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Public Instruction, State Department of, 1947-1954, 1959
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Reel
14
Frame
404-469
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Summary of costs attributable to termination
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Reel
14
Frame
470-540
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Washington Delegates newsletters, 1954 January-May
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Reel
14
Frame
541-596
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Other organizations
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Reel
14
Frame
597-999
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News clippings, 1933-1941, 1955-1963
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M2010-007
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Part 2 (M2010-007): Additions, 1956-1959
2.0 cubic feet (2 records center cartons)
: Additions, 1956-1959, consisting of reference materials created and compiled by Fisher including field notes, correspondence concerning the Menominee Indian Study Committee (MISC) legislation and related materials such as federal and state bills, drafts, and reports of hearings, papers regarding the economic, political, and social history of the Menominee Indians, records of the MISC and affiliated groups, and news clippings.
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Binders
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Box
1
Folder
1-18
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1955-1958
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Box
2
Folder
1-3
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1957-1960
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Miscellaneous dates
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Box
2
Folder
5-6
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Subject binders
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Menominee credit inventory, 1956
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Box
2
Folder
8-9
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Correspondence and research
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Notes, 1959
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Education research
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Box
2
Folder
12
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B.R. Fisher to do
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Box
2
Folder
13
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Loose materials
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Box
2
Folder
14
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Legislative Reference Library 331, rough drafts and correspondence
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Box
2
Folder
15
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Research essays, 1950-1957
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