Summary Information
Cyrus L. Philipp Papers
1921-1954
- Philipp, Cyrus, 1898-1981
Milwaukee Micro 53; Micro 1087
9 reels of microfilm (35mm)
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers, mainly 1928-1952, of a Wisconsin industrialist, Republican Party leader, and son of Governor Emanuel L. Philipp. The files consist almost entirely of correspondence concerning Philipp's activities as chairman of the Republican State Central Committee (1934-1938), national committeeman (1944-1952), and leader in the Milwaukee County Republican Committee. The files deal with policy, fundraising and finances, and rivalries between various Republican Party leaders. Also included are materials on Philipp's support of the gubernatorial campaign of Walter Kohler, Sr., in 1930 and ongoing work in behalf of the presidential aspirations of Robert A. Taft. The political correspondence includes numerous exchanges with state leaders such as A. M. Brayton, William J. Campbell, John B. Chapell, Thomas Coleman, George L. Gilkey, F. L. Gullickson, Julius Heil, C. L. Kolb, Alvin O'Konski, Henry Ringling, Edward A. Samp, F. J. Sensenbrenner, George Vits, and J. Pierpoint Wood. A small number of files concern Philipp's extensive philanthropic involvements in behalf of the Citizens Bureau of Milwaukee, the Family Welfare Association of Milwaukee, and other Milwaukee organizations. Only a few letters pertain to his business activities; these relate to his work in association with his father during the early 1920's.
English
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Biography/History
Wisconsin industrialist and Republican Party leader Cyrus L. Philipp was born in Milwaukee on March 28, 1898. In 1914 when he was only sixteen his father Emanuel L. Philipp was elected governor, and as a result the younger Philipp spent the next six years living close to the seat of political power in Wisconsin. Thereafter, although he never sought elective office for himself (his name rumored in this connection, however, several times), it is clear that politics was much more than an avocation for Cyrus Philipp.
While his father was governor Cyrus completed his studies at the University of Wisconsin and during World War I he enlisted for service in the Navy and attended an officer training program in Chicago. During the 1920's he was connected with his father in the cigar manufacturing business. In 1920 they also founded together the Union Refrigerator Transit Company. After the elder Philipp's death in 1924 Cyrus was named vice-president and in 1936 president of the company. He later also became vice-president of the firm's parent company in Chicago, the General American Transportation Corporation. By 1931 Milwaukee historian John Gregory spoke of Philipp as one of the most successful young businessmen in the city. His other business related activities during this period included service on the board of First Wisconsin National Bank, First Wisconsin Trust Company, Perfex Corporation, and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Civic and charitable involvements and memberships were also numerous, including work for the Family Welfare Association, Citizens Bureau of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Downer College, Milwaukee Hospital, Milwaukee Country Club, Milwaukee Club, Wisconsin Club, University Club, Milwaukee Athletic Club, and the Alumni Association of the University of Wisconsin.
Philipp married Mary Edwards on October 3, 1925. They were the parents of three children: Emanuel L. II, Mary Baur, and Patricia.
Philipp became active in politics in Milwaukee during the 1920's. In 1928 he was a delegate to the National Republican Convention and a leader in the successful gubernatorial campaign of Walter Kohler, Sr. During the 1930's he emerged as a leader within the state Republican Party organization. From 1934 to 1938 he was chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. He was also a leader in the Milwaukee County Republican Committee. From 1944 to 1952 he was national committeeman and a member of the National Executive Committee. In 1952 he was a delegate pledged to Robert Taft at the National Convention.
Philipp died on September 20, 1981 after a lengthy illness.
Scope and Content Note
The Philipp Papers consist almost entirely of correspondence documenting his activities within the Republican Party organization in Wisconsin during the period 1928-1952. A few files document his various philanthropic activities and a very small quantity of material relates to business activities in association with Emanuel Philipp. There are no strictly personal papers in the collection. Beyond documenting Philipp's own career the value of the papers lies in the large number of party activists with whom he corresponded. Among the prominent correspondents are A. M. Brayton, William J. Campbell, John B. Chapell, Thomas Coleman, George L. Gilkey, F. L. Gullickson, Julius Heil, C. L. Kolb, Alvin O'Konski, Henry Ringling, Edward A. Samp, F. J. Sensenbrenner, George Vits, and J. Pierpoint Wood.
Because of their deteriorated physical condition, the collection was microfilmed in 1987, and the originals are no longer available. A large portion of the papers were received from the donor in an unfoldered condition. As a result, prior to filming the collection was arranged to complete in so far as was possible the original order of the files. In many cases pencilled notations on the letters indicated the category in which a particular item belonged. However, these pencil notations also suggest that some of the material which was received in folders may have been misfiled in Philipp's office. Because of these inconsistencies and errors and because many of the subject titles used in Philipp's office were so similar, the researcher is advised to read widely within the collection.
The collection is arranged as personal and political files and then subdivided into alphabetical subject files. Most extensive among the personal papers are files on the Citizens Bureau of Milwaukee and the Family Welfare Association of Milwaukee.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Cyrus Philipp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 12, 1972. Accession Number: M72-191
Prepared for microfilming by Carolyn J. Mattern, 1987.
Reel List
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Series: Personal Files
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Reel
1
Frame
1
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General correspondence, 1921-1938
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Reel
1
Frame
218
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Citizens Bureau of Milwaukee, 1930-1938
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Reel
1
Frame
232
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Congratulatory letters, 1936-1940
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Reel
1
Frame
258
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Family Welfare Association of Milwaukee, 1927-1931
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Reel
1
Frame
388
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Junior League Blood Center, 1947-1948
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Reel
1
Frame
440
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Milwaukee County Community Fund, 1926-1931
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Reel
1
Frame
647
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Milwaukee Country Club, 1940
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Philipp, Emanuel
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Reel
1
Frame
652
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Handwritten correspondence, circa 1924
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Reel
1
Frame
692
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Portrait donation to University, 11954
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Reel
1
Frame
719
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St. Luke's Hospital, 1929-1930
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Reel
1
Frame
749
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Wisconsin Alumni Association, 1940
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Reel
1
Frame
766
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Washington County farm sale, 1946-1948
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Series: Political Files
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General correspondence
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Reel
1
Frame
790
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1926-1930
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Reel
2
Frame
1
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1931
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Reel
2
Frame
75
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1932
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Reel
2
Frame
159
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1933
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Reel
2
Frame
314
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1935
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Reel
2
Frame
387
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1936
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Reel
2
Frame
493
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1937
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Reel
2
Frame
519
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1938
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Reel
2
Frame
624
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1939
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Reel
2
Frame
757
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1940
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Reel
2
Frame
947
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1941
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Reel
3
Frame
1
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1942
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Reel
3
Frame
160
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1943
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Reel
3
Frame
315
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1944
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Reel
3
Frame
622
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1945
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Reel
3
Frame
1036
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1946
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Reel
4
Frame
1
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1947
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Reel
4
Frame
71
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1948
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Reel
4
Frame
183
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1949
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Reel
4
Frame
216
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1950-1953
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Reel
4
Frame
358
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Appointments, 1947-1951
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Reel
4
Frame
457
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Campaign correspondence, 1936
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Dinners
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Reel
4
Frame
588
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Bricker, John, 1944
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Reel
4
Frame
601
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Founders' Day, 1947
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Reel
4
Frame
847
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Lincoln Day, 1949-1950
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Reel
4
Frame
884
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Taft, 1952
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Reel
4
Frame
902
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Eisenhower, Wisconsin Citizens For, 1952
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Reel
4
Frame
997
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Eisenhower campaign literature, 1952
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Reel
5
Frame
1
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Finance Committee, Wisconsin State Voluntary Committee, 1941-1945
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Reel
5
Frame
409
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Kohler, Walter, Sr., Gubernatorial campaign, 1930
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Reel
5
Frame
715
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Bulletins, 1930
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Reel
5
Frame
749
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Meetings, 1932-1938
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Milwaukee County, Republican Party of
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Reel
5
Frame
826
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1938-1946
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Reel
6
Frame
1
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1947-1953
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National Republican Committee
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Reel
6
Frame
148
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1943
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Reel
6
Frame
260
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1944
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Reel
6
Frame
530
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1945
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Reel
6
Frame
694
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1946
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Reel
6
Frame
923
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1947
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Reel
7
Frame
1
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1948
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Reel
7
Frame
108
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1949
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Reel
7
Frame
253
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1950
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Reel
7
Frame
406
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1951
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Reel
7
Frame
574
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1952
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National Republican conventions
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Reel
7
Frame
696
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1935-1936
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Reel
7
Frame
810
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1948
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Reel
7
Frame
936
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1952-1953
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Reel
8
Frame
1
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Open Forums, 1946-1948
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Reel
8
Frame
70
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Organizations (Local political groups), 1947-1951
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Reel
8
Frame
166
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Ripon Republican shrine, 1949-1950
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Reel
8
Frame
270
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Speeches, 1935-1947
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Reel
8
Frame
307
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State Central Committee, 1934-1938
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Reel
8
Frame
710
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State convention, 1951
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Reel
9
Frame
1
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Taft, Robert A., 1939-1952
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Reel
9
Frame
620
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Wiley, Alexander, 1952
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Reel
9
Frame
626
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Young Republicans, 1935-1951
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