Title: James A. Adams Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1961-1974

Creator:

• Adams, James A.

Call Number: Oshkosh Micro 20; Micro 1022; PH Oshkosh Micro 20

Quantity: 2 reels of microfilm (35mm) and 9 photographs

Repository:

Housed at the Archives & Area Research Center, Polk Library, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; 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-Oshkosh Polk Library / Oshkosh Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Personal papers of Adams, a former Democratic mayor of Menasha, Wisconsin, consisting of files on his efforts to finance and implement an improved sewerage treatment facility; correspondence, speeches and financial reports on his unsuccessful 1972 campaign against Congressman William Steiger; extensive biographical clippings; and other subject files. Photographs include publicity-related images of Adams with consituents and at political rallies, fundraisers, and other events.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-micr1022

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James Allen Adams, Democratic mayor of Menasha from 1970 to 1974, was born in Menasha--the home of his parents and his grandparents. He graduated from the local high school in 1956 and from Colorado College in 1960. He then taught in public schools of all levels and continued his education at Colorado State College and at Southern Illinois University. In 1965 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served on the USS Oriskanay from 1966 through 1969, with a tour of duty in Vietnamese waters from June 1967 through February 1968.

After his release from active duty Adams returned to his home town and began teaching at an elementary school in Appleton. In 1970 he declared his candidacy for mayor of Menasha. As a newcomer to politics his strong victory over four opponents was a major upset, and the victory made him the youngest mayor in Menasha's history. Contemporary journalists characterized Adams as a strong, activist mayor. His tenure in office was particularly identified with the conversion to user fees to finance an extensive expansion of the municipal sewerage treatment plant on the Fox River and with downtown redevelopment.

Not until 1971 did Adams align himself with the Democratic Party, and although he was a leader of the Neenah-Menasha organization, many of his views, such as his strong fiscal conservatism, marked him as a party maverick. In 1972 Adams made an unsuccessful campaign for the congressional seat held by William A. Steiger. Adams was little known outside the Neenah-Menasha area, and he was unable to focus the campaign on his differences with his popular opponent. Although he had indicated that he would not seek reelection as mayor in 1974, Adams reversed his decision. He was defeated in that election by city council member Victor V. Wiecki in 1974.

The James Adams Papers pertain entirely to his four-year tenure (1970-1974) as mayor of Menasha. Included is an extensive biographical clipping scrapbook; correspondence, reports, and background material pertaining to his efforts to implement user fees to fund an enlargement of the municipal sewerage treatment plant; correspondence, speeches, financial reports, and publicity material pertaining to his unsuccessful 1972 congressional race; and correspondence on a fundraising effort for the city ambulance service. Although limited, the files on the Menasha Sewerage Commission are of considerable interest, for they document the myriad pressures brought to bear on a small community by the federal government, the state Department of Natural Resources, representatives of the local paper industry, property tax payers, and others as it attempted to deal with the problem of water pollution.

The biographical scrapbooks are extensive, and they document well Adams' reputation as an activist mayor. At the conclusion of the general chronological clipping file is a separate segment of clippings concerning the role played by Adams in uncovering municipal corruption, an investigation which led to a statewide probe of municipal corruption by the state attorney general's office in 1973.

Because of the large amount of poor quality paper, the entire collection has been microfilmed. With the exception of a few photographs and some political memorabilia, the originals were returned to the donor.

Acquisition Information

Originals presented by James A. Adams, Menasha, Wisconsin, December 23, 1982. Accession Number: M82-492

Processing Information

Prepared for microfilming by Carolyn J. Mattern, March, 1985.

Oshkosh Micro 20/Micro 1022 Reel   1 Frame   1	Ambulance fundraising campaign, 1961-1971
Reel   1 Frame   71	Congressional campaign, 1972-1973
Reel   1 Frame   162	Mayoral campaign memorabilia, 1970-1972
Reel   1 Frame   177	Miscellaneous mayoral correspondence, 1970-1973
	Sewerage improvement
Reel   1 Frame   198	Ordinance
Reel   1 Frame   231	Correspondence, 1969-1973
Reel   1 Frame   719	Undated and technical data
	Biographical clipping scrapbooks
Reel   2 Frame   1	1970
Reel   2 Frame   274	1971
Reel   2 Frame   578	1972
Reel   2 Frame   829	1973
Reel   2 Frame   949	John Doe probe, 1973
Reel   2 Frame   1043	Loose material, 1970-1974
	Photographs