Frederick P. Kessler Papers, 1958-1992


Summary Information
Title: Frederick P. Kessler Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1958-1992

Creator:
  • Kessler, Frederick P., 1940-
Call Number: Milwaukee Mss 211

Quantity: 11.6 c.f. (30 archives boxes)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:
Papers of Frederick P. Kessler, Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (District 10, 1960-62, 1964-72; District 12, 2004-present), and circuit and reserve circuit judge in Milwaukee County, Wis. (1973-2003). Documented subjects include Kessler's involvement with Wisconsin's legislative reapportionment in the 1970s and 1990s, Milwaukee County's court-system reorganization in the late-1970s, his involvement with the American Bar Association, Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the Wisconsin Civil Liberties Union (WCLU). Also documented are Kessler's legislative and judicial campaigns, and his interactions with staff, colleagues, and constituents around numerous topics and issues with which he was involved throughout his career, including judicial reform, the environment, civil rights, and the Wisconsin state constitution. Significant correspondents include William Proxmire, Edmund S. Muskie, Gaylord Nelson, George Berdes, William J. Johnson, Paul McCormack, Henry S. Reuss, and August C. Backus. The documents consist primarily of correspondence and subject files, some published materials, scattered newsprint, bill drafts, reports, and a few speeches.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00211
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Biography/History

Frederick Kessler was a member of the Wisconsin Assembly in the 1960s and early 1970s and a circuit and reserve circuit judge in Milwaukee County in the 1970s and early 1980s. He participated in legislative reapportionment in Wisconsin in the 1970s and 1990s, and served on the committee that merged Wisconsin's Circuit and County courts into a single-level trial court system in the 1970s. Born January 11, 1940, he attended public and private schools in Wauwatosa, Wis., and Milwaukee Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis.

In 1955 he was appointed a page in the United States House of Representatives by Representative Clement J. Zablocki. He graduated from Washington, D.C.'s Capitol Page School in 1957. While serving his first two Assembly terms, 1960-62 and 1964-66, Kessler completed a BS in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin (UW), and an LLB from UW's Law School.

Kessler was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly for District 10 in 1960, 1964, 1966, 1968, and 1970. During these years in the Assembly, he was Chairman of the Elections Committee, and a member of the Judiciary, Rules, and Education Committees. He also served on the Governor's Committee to Review Reapportionment Proposals in 1972, which ultimately made recommendations to the state legislature for the reapportionment of Wisconsin's Senate and Assembly districts following the 1970 Census.

While in the Assembly, Kessler authored legislation to abolish surety bonds for criminal defendants, to establish a public defender system in Milwaukee County, and to establish a rotation system in Traffic and Misdemeanor branches of the Milwaukee County Court system. He authored the State Fair Housing Law of 1967. In the 1971 Legislative session he authored an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution which created additional County and Circuit Courts in Milwaukee County.

From 1972 to 1981 Kessler was a Milwaukee County Circuit Judge. In 1978 the Legislative Council appointed him to a committee which prepared legislation merging Wisconsin's Circuit and County courts into a single-level trial court system. From 1983 to 1986 he was both an arbitrator of grievances in the public and private sectors and a Reserve Circuit Judge. From 1986 to 1988 he served again as a Circuit Judge. In 1988 he became a Reserve Circuit Judge, and an arbitrator of grievances for WERC (Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission), the FMCS (Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society), AAA (American Automobile Association), the Oregon PERB (Public Employment Relations Board), and the Virgin Islands PERB. In November 2004 he was elected to the state Assembly again, this time representing District 12.

Throughout his professional career, Kessler belonged to numerous professional and non-governmental organizations. These include numerous American Bar Association (ABA) committees, including the Committee on Terrorism & Mass Disorders, the Executive Committee, the Legislative Committee, and the Judicial Administration Division's Criminal Justice Committee. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for Milwaukee's American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) chapter, and was also an active member of the Wisconsin Bar Association (WBA), the Wisconsin Civil Liberties Union (WCLU), Amnesty International, and the Migrant Labor Lawyers Committee.

Throughout his life, Kessler was involved in numerous civic and religious organizations, including the Wisconsin Correctional Service (member, Board of Directors), Neighborhood House of Milwaukee (member, Board of Directors), the Lutheran Human Relations Association of Wisconsin (member, State Chairman, 1968), the Midtown Neighborhood Association (member), the State Street Advancement Association (member), and the Wisconsin Citizens for One-Man, One-Vote organization (Co-Chairman).

In his papers, Frederick P. Kessler is sometimes referred to as Fredrick, Fred, or by his initials, FPK.

Scope and Content Note

The Kessler papers document Kessler's professional career as a member of the Wisconsin Assembly and as a Circuit and Reserve Circuit Judge. The papers date from approximately 1958 to 1992, with the bulk of documents created in the mid-1960s and 1970s. The collection consists of correspondence, subject files, and working files created during the reapportionment process of the 1970s, and 1990s. The papers are divided into two series: Legislative Records and Judicial Records. The LEGISLATIVE RECORDS series includes four sub-series: Legislative Subject Files, Legislative Correspondence, Reapportionment Files and Legislative Campaign Materials. The JUDICIAL RECORDS series includes two sub-series: Judicial Subject Files and Reapportionment Files. Two photographs of Frederick P. Kessler have been separated to the Visual Materials Archive Name File.

The Legislative Subject Files include four separate sets of records arranged according to legislative session (1960-61, 1965-67, 1968-70, and 1971-72). These files document the varied issues Kessler was concerned with as a state legislator. The collection contains few records from Kessler's first term as an Assemblyman, and so the earliest years are somewhat weakly documented. The two large subject files covering 1960-61 include correspondence, pamphlets, and memoranda from Kessler's first term in office. The materials have no internal arrangement, and are housed in two folders. The remaining subject files, 1965-67, 1968-70, and 1971-72 are arranged alphabetically. The 1968-70 subject files are somewhat fragmentary. Major subjects covered include legislation proposed, supported, or opposed by Kessler, the Democratic Party's platform, Civil Rights subjects, Milwaukee's environment, pollution, energy systems, the oleomargarine ban, abortion, birth control, and reapportionment. This sub-series contains some correspondence. If Kessler received correspondence relating to a subject documented in the subject files, that letter is filed in the subject file, rather than in the correspondence series that follows. Newspaper clippings are scattered throughout the subject files.

The Legislative Correspondence includes three separate sets of correspondence, 1965-66, 1967-68, and 1969-70. These document Kessler's interactions with his colleagues in the Assembly and Senate, with other members of Wisconsin's state government, and his responses to constituent concerns about specific legislation and more general topics he worked with over the course of his career. The 1965-66 correspondence is arranged alphabetically by subject, the 1967-68 and 1969-70 correspondence are arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Newspaper clippings are scattered throughout the correspondence. Significant correspondents include William Proxmire, Edmund S. Muskie, Gaylord Nelson, George Berdes, William J. Johnson, Paul McCormack, Henry S. Reuss, and August C. Backus.

The Reapportionment Files, 1970-72 are working files produced during Kessler's time serving on the Governor's Commission on Reapportionment, created in 1972 to make recommendations to the state legislature about reapportioning Wisconsin's voting districts. The records are organized alphabetically by file name, and are primarily composed of statistical information. They also include information on existing voting districts, new districts, voting patterns by county and district, compromises, and voter party identification.

The Campaign Materials document Kessler's late legislative and early judicial campaigns, primarily his 1970 campaign for state Assembly, and his 1971 campaign for Milwaukee County circuit court judge. The series is a small one, but information about absentee voters, press releases, and campaign fliers belonging to Kessler and his opponents is included. The files are labeled by subject, and filed alphabetically.

The Judicial Subject Files document Kessler's first period as Milwaukee County circuit judge, from 1972 to 1981. They include correspondence, legal decisions, reports, and decision drafts on subjects including Kessler's involvement in Milwaukee County's court-system reorganization in the late-1970s membership on several American Bar Association (ABA) Committees, his involvement with Amnesty International, bail disputes, and judicial campaigns. The files are labeled by subject and filed alphabetically.

The Reapportionment Files, 1989-92 document Kessler's involvement as an advisor in the reapportionment of Wisconsin's voting districts that followed the 1990 census. He was also a Reserve Circuit Judge in Milwaukee County during these years, but that activity is not documented. These records are very similar to those from 1970-72, despite the fact they were created while Kessler was a judge and not a legislator. Information on election wards, gerrymandering, partisan voting by county and district, party identification, press reaction to the committee's work, and input by the Wisconsin Legislative Council are included. The files are labeled by subject and filed alphabetically.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by Frederick P. Kessler, Milwaukee, Wis., 2004.


Processing Information

Processed by Ellen Jarosz (Practicum student), May 2005.


Contents List
Series: Legislative Records
Subject Files
Box   1
Folder   1-2
1960-61
1966-67
Box   2
Folder   1
1967 Poll
Box   2
Folder   2
Amish Legislation
Box   2
Folder   3
Assembly Bill 1015
Box   2
Folder   4
Bankruptcy Act
Box   2
Folder   5
Bill 332-S
Box   2
Folder   6
Birthday Cards
Box   2
Folder   7
Budget
Box   2
Folder   8
Democratic Party Platform
Box   2
Folder   9
Election Study Committee
Box   2
Folder   10
Free Speech on University Campus
Box   2
Folder   11
Honor Scholarships
Box   2
Folder   12
Interim Judiciary Committee
Box   2
Folder   13
Juvenile Delinquency
Box   2
Folder   14
Milwaukee County Improvement
Box   2
Folder   15
Milwaukee Pollution
Box   2
Folder   16
Newsletters
Box   2
Folder   17
Newspaper Clippings
Box   2
Folder   18
Nuclear Facilities
Box   2
Folder   19
Oleomargarine
Box   2
Folder   20
Pamphlets on Advisory Committee: Governmental Legislation
Box   2
Folder   21
Public Demonstrations, Case Law
Box   2
Folder   22
Repossession of Autos
Box   2
Folder   23
Shoplifting Bill
Box   2
Folder   24
Shorthand Court Reporters
Box   3
Folder   1
State Competitive Bidding Procedures
Box   3
Folder   2
Statement of Lawrence Speiser
Box   3
Folder   3
Tavern List - Kessler
Box   3
Folder   4
Transportation
Box   3
Folder   5
Wisconsin Legislative Council: Judiciary Committee
1968-70
Box   3
Folder   6
Abortion
Box   3
Folder   7
Backus, August C.
Box   3
Folder   8
Birth Control
Box   3
Folder   9
Budget & Taxes
Box   3
Folder   10
Check File
Box   3
Folder   11
Commission on Government of the Greater Milwaukee Federation of Lutheran Churches
Box   3
Folder   12
Computer Redistricting
Box   3
Folder   13-14
Constitutional Convention - Documents
Box   3
Folder   15
Democratic Party Memos
Box   3
Folder   16-17
Dirkson Amendment
Box   4
Folder   1-2
Dirkson Amendment, continued
Box   4
Folder   3
Drug Leaflets & Information
Box   4
Folder   4
Firefighting & Departments
Box   4
Folder   5
Form Letters
Box   4
Folder   6
“Hate Letters”
Box   4
Folder   7
Highland Park Renovation
Box   4
Folder   8
Insurance
Box   4
Folder   9
Insurance Problems
Box   4
Folder   10
Judicial Manpower
Box   4
Folder   11
Kessler, Mr. Frederick P.
Box   4
Folder   12
Kessler Poll 7-1969
Box   5
Folder   1
Licensing Bill for Psychologists, 20-A
Box   5
Folder   2-3
Miscellaneous
Box   5
Folder   4
Names for Reference
Box   5
Folder   5
Newsletters
Box   5
Folder   6
Personal File
Box   5
Folder   7
School Decentralization
Box   5
Folder   8
Schools, Public
Box   5
Folder   9
Task Force Memos
Box   5
Folder   10
Wisconsin Legislative Council: Judiciary Committee
Box   5
Folder   11
Workshop for the Blind
1971-72
Box   5
Folder   12
A
Box   5
Folder   13
A.A. Applicants
Box   5
Folder   14
Abortion
Box   5
Folder   15
Aid to Police
Box   5
Folder   16
Apportionment Court Cases
Box   6
Folder   1-2
B
Box   6
Folder   3
Board of Directors - Neighborhood House of Milwaukee
Box   6
Folder   4
Berry, George
Box   6
Folder   5
Bill Drafts
Box   6
Folder   6
Bonnie
Box   6
Folder   7
Burlingame, Francis
Box   6
Folder   8
C
Box   6
Folder   9
Committee Notices
Box   6
Folder   10-11
Constituents
Box   6
Folder   12
Constitution Convention
Box   7
Folder   1
D
Box   7
Folder   2
E
Box   7
Folder   3
F
Box   7
Folder   4
File
Box   7
Folder   5
Form Letters
Box   7
Folder   6
Franwick, Milton
Box   7
Folder   7
G
Box   7
Folder   8
H
Box   7
Folder   9
I
Box   7
Folder   10
J
Box   7
Folder   11
K
Box   8
Folder   1-2
Kessler, Frederick P.
Box   8
Folder   3
Kessler, Joan
Box   8
Folder   4
L
Box   8
Folder   5
Lingnor, Lawrence H.
Box   8
Folder   6
Mc
Box   8
Folder   7
McBride, Ray
Box   8
Folder   8
M
Box   8
Folder   9
Majerus, Ricky
Box   8
Folder   10
Marsh, Wendell H.
Box   8
Folder   11
Migrants - Minimum Wage for Agriculture
Box   9
Folder   1
Migrants - Minimum Wage for Agriculture
Box   9
Folder   2
Milwaukee Junior Bar
Box   9
Folder   3
Milwaukee School District
Box   9
Folder   4
Muskie, Senator Edmund
Box   9
Folder   5
N
Box   9
Folder   6
News Release & News Letters
Box   9
Folder   7
Newsletters
Box   9
Folder   8
Newspapers, Periodicals, & Brochures
Box   9
Folder   9
Non-Sectarian Community Schools
Box   9
Folder   10
O
Box   9
Folder   11
P
Box   9
Folder   12
Picketing
Box   9
Folder   13
Poverty
Box   9
Folder   14
Probate Code
Box   9
Folder   15
Public Defender
Box   9
Folder   16
Q
Box   9
Folder   17
R
Box   10
Folder   1-2
Reapportionment
Box   10
Folder   3-4
S
Box   10
Folder   5
Sajeck, George
Box   10
Folder   6
Slum Receivership
Box   10
Folder   7
Saint Michael's Church Poverty Insurance
Box   10
Folder   8
State Aid Distribution Formula
Box   10
Folder   9
State Aids to Local Police Department
Box   10
Folder   10
Sterilization
Box   10
Folder   11
T
Box   10
Folder   12
Tropman, Peter J.
Box   10
Folder   13
U
Box   10
Folder   14
V
Box   11
Folder   1
W
Box   11
Folder   2
XYZ
Correspondence
1965-66
Box   11
Folder   3-4
A-B
Box   11
Folder   5
Berdes, George
Box   11
Folder   6
Bill 314-S
Box   11
Folder   7
Bill 655
Box   11
Folder   8
Bill 863-A
Box   11
Folder   9
Bill 911-A
Box   11
Folder   10
Bill 1016-A
Box   11
Folder   11
Branch Banking
Box   11
Folder   12
C
Box   11
Folder   13
Certification - Court Reporters, Bill 298-A
Box   11
Folder   14
Chiropractors, Bill 277-A
Box   11
Folder   15
Citations
Box   11
Folder   16
Committee on Police Support
Box   11
Folder   17
Community Colleges
Box   11
Folder   18
Consumer Protection
Box   11
Folder   19
Cottage Leases - Devil's Lake, Bill 144-S
Box   11
Folder   20
D
Box   11
Folder   21
Democratic Platform
Box   11
Folder   22
E
Box   11
Folder   23
Election
Box   11
Folder   24
F
Box   11
Folder   25
Flannigan, James H.
Box   11
Folder   26
“Forum for Progress”
Box   11
Folder   27
Funeral Directors, Bill 140-A
Box   11
Folder   28
Funeral Itemization, Bill 704-A
Box   11
Folder   29-30
G-H
Box   11
Folder   31
Higher Education
Box   12
Folder   1
Invitations
Box   12
Folder   2
Interstate Compact on Mental Health
Box   12
Folder   3
J
Box   12
Folder   4
Johnson, William J.
Box   12
Folder   5
K
Box   12
Folder   6
Kilbourne 3
Box   12
Folder   7-8
L-Mc
Box   12
Folder   9
McCormack, Paul
Box   12
Folder   10
M
Box   12
Folder   11
Menominee Indian Study Committee
Box   12
Folder   12
Miscellaneous
Box   12
Folder   13
Mulvaney, Ron
Box   12
Folder   14
N
Box   12
Folder   15
Nelson, Senator
Box   12
Folder   16
O
Box   12
Folder   17
Obscene Literature
Box   12
Folder   18
P
Box   12
Folder   19
Parimutuel Betting
Box   12
Folder   20
Personal
Box   12
Folder   21
Plumber's License Law Committee
Box   12
Folder   22
Proxmire, Senator William
Box   12
Folder   23
R
Box   12
Folder   24
Registration of Engineers, Bill 407
Box   12
Folder   25
Requests for Maps
Box   12
Folder   26
Reuss, Henry
Box   12
Folder   27
S
Box   12
Folder   28
Safeguards for Mental Commitments
Box   12
Folder   29
Savings & Loan Branches
Box   12
Folder   30
Schmidkunz, Mrs. Charles
Box   12
Folder   31
Scholarships
Box   12
Folder   32
Shoplifting
Box   12
Folder   33
Silverstein, Robert
Box   12
Folder   34
State Street Advancement Association
Box   12
Folder   35
State Tax on Beer
Box   12
Folder   36
T
Box   12
Folder   37
Tax Exemptions for Retired Civil Service Employees
Box   12
Folder   38
Taxes
Box   12
Folder   39
Thomas, Robert W.
Box   12
Folder   40
Trading Stamps
Box   12
Folder   41
Truck Length, Bill 4260-A
Box   12
Folder   42
Tuition Grant Program
Box   13
Folder   1
Uniform Beer Age
Box   13
Folder   2
V
Box   13
Folder   3
Veteran's Affairs
Box   13
Folder   4
W
Box   13
Folder   5
Wisconsin Civil Liberties Union (WCLU)
Box   13
Folder   6
Workshop for the Blind
Box   13
Folder   7-9
X-Z
1967-68
Box   13
Folder   10-15
A-Mc
Box   14
Folder   1-7
M-Z
1969-70
Box   14
Folder   8
A
Box   15
Folder   1-7
B-Mc
Box   16
Folder   1-8
M-Z
Reapportionment, 1970-71
Box   17
Folder   1
Discarded Districts
Box   17
Folder   2
Gubernatorial Race Party Identification
Box   17
Folder   3
Kessler's Sub 558
Box   17
Folder   4
Last Compromise
Box   17
Folder   5
New Assembly Districts
Box   17
Folder   6
New Districts
Box   17
Folder   7
New Districts - Milwaukee County
Box   17
Folder   8
New Districts - Voting , 1964-68
Box   17
Folder   9
New Districts - Voting , 1968-70
Box   17
Folder   10
New Districts - Proposed
Box   18
Folder   1
New Senate Districts
Box   18
Folder   2
Original Districts
Box   18
Folder   3
Party Identification
Box   18
Folder   4
Party Identification by County
Box   18
Folder   5
Population
Box   18
Folder   6
Proposed Northern Figures & 2/0 Originals
Box   18
Folder   7
Proposed Northern Section
Box   18
Folder   8
Proposed Plan
Box   18
Folder   9
Senate / Assembly Districts
Box   18
Folder   10
Senate Discard
Box   18
Folder   11
Steiger Plan
Box   18
Folder   12-13
Voting Patterns
Box   18
Folder   14-15
Worksheets
Campaign Materials, 1970-71
Box   19
Folder   1
Absentee Ballots - Applications
Box   19
Folder   2
Assembly Campaign, 1970
Box   19
Folder   3
Fliers
Box   19
Folder   4
Judicial Campaign, 1970
Box   19
Folder   5
Mailing Lists
Box   19
Folder   6
George McGovern
Box   19
Folder   7
Press Releases
Series: Judicial Records
Subject Files, 1972-81
Box   20
Folder   1-2
A
Box   20
Folder   3
American Bar Association Committee on Terrorism & Mass Disorders
Box   20
Folder   4
American Bar Association Correspondence
Box   20
Folder   5
American Bar Association Executive Committee
Box   20
Folder   6
American Bar Association Legislative Committee
Box   20
Folder   7
American Bar Association Judicial Administration Division - Criminal Justice Committee
Box   20
Folder   8
American Bar Association Travel Vouchers
Box   20
Folder   9
Accident January 7, 1977 with Milwaukee Journal Truck
Box   20
Folder   10-11
Alcoholism
Box   21
Folder   1-2
Amnesty International
Box   21
Folder   3-5
B
Box   21
Folder   6
Bail
Box   22
Folder   1-2
Bail
Box   22
Folder   3
Bail Dispute
Box   22
Folder   4
Biography
Box   22
Folder   5-7
C
Box   22
Folder   8
Campaign - , 1973
Box   22
Folder   9
Campaign - , 1979
Box   22
Folder   10-11
Chief Judge
Box   23
Folder   1
Chief Judge
Box   23
Folder   2
Children's Hospital, Milwaukee
Box   23
Folder   3
Correspondence, 1976
Box   23
Folder   4-5
Correspondence, 1977
Box   23
Folder   6
Council on Alcohol, Milwaukee
Box   23
Folder   7-8
County Court - Branch 4
Box   24
Folder   1
Court Administrator
Box   24
Folder   2
Court of Appeals
Box   24
Folder   3
Court Commissioner: M. Sullivan
Box   24
Folder   4
D
Box   24
Folder   5
Dean, Doctor Alice R.
Box   24
Folder   6
Decisions
Box   24
Folder   7
E
Box   25
Folder   1-2
F
Box   25
Folder   3
Frederick P. Kessler Advisory Committee
Box   25
Folder   4-5
G
Box   25
Folder   6
Guadeloupe Car Rental Dispute
Box   25
Folder   7
Mc
Box   25
Folder   8
Milwaukee Forum
Box   25
Folder   9-10
N-O
Box   26
Folder   1
Offender Evaluation & Rehabilitation Project
Box   26
Folder   2-3
P
Box   26
Folder   4
Parys, Senator
Box   26
Folder   5
Posse Commitatus
Box   26
Folder   6
Pre-trial Diversion
Box   26
Folder   7
Press Releases
Box   26
Folder   8
Preventive Detention
Box   26
Folder   9-11
Q-R
Box   27
Folder   1-3
S
Box   27
Folder   4
Supervisor Harout O. Sanasarian Letter
Box   27
Folder   5
Shoplifting
Box   27
Folder   6
Spanish Language Interpreter
Box   27
Folder   7
T
Box   27
Folder   8
Telephone Bills
Box   27
Folder   9
Travel Vouchers
Box   27
Folder   10
U
Reapportionment, 1989-92
Box   28
Folder   1
Census Information
Box   28
Folder   2
Common Council of Milwaukee
Box   28
Folder   3
Congressional Redistricting
Box   28
Folder   4-5
Current Districts
Box   28
Folder   6
Department of Commerce
Box   28
Folder   7
District - Populations
Box   28
Folder   8
Election Wards
Box   28
Folder   9
Gerrymandering
Box   29
Folder   1
Maps
Box   29
Folder   2
Memoranda
Box   29
Folder   3
National Conference of State Legislatures
Box   29
Folder   4
Newsletters
Box   29
Folder   5-8
Partisan Voting by County
Box   30
Folder   1
Partisan Voting by District
Box   30
Folder   2
Party Identification, 1990 Primary
Box   30
Folder   3
Preliminary Estimates
Box   30
Folder   4
Press Articles
Box   30
Folder   5
Propositions
Box   30
Folder   6
Redistricting Committee
Box   30
Folder   7
Wisconsin Legislative Council