Title: Gardner R. Withrow Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1949-1961

Creator:

• Withrow, Gardner R., 1892-1964

Call Number: Mss 76

Quantity: 2.4 c.f. (2 archives boxes and 4 flat boxes)

Repository:

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.

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Papers of the Congressman from La Crosse, Wisconsin, including bill drafts and correspondence, most of which concern veterans of the Mexican border incident; Withrow's voting record; reports to constituents; speeches; clippings; and a number of public relations photographs.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00076

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Gardner R. Withrow, the son of Captain Thomas Withrow and Helen, was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin on October 5, 1892. He received a high school degree and two years of legal training prior to going to work for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincey Railroad (1912-1931) as a fireman and later as a conductor. In 1917 he served in the Sanitation Corps in the Mexican Border War. From 1928 to 1931 he served as state representative of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.

In 1926 he was elected to the State Assembly where he served as a member of the Joint Finance Committee. In 1930 he was elected to the House of Representatives as a Republican, beginning his long career as a member of that body. He was re-elected in 1932, 1934, 1936 and 1938, the last two times as a Progressive. From 1940 to 1948 Withrow was out of office and during this time resumed his activities as the state representative of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen. He returned to the House in 1948, again as a Republican, and continued to hold office until 1960 when he did not seek re-election. He died in 1964; he is survived by his wife Anne, and by his brother, Arthur.

For early (1911-1918) Withrow family correspondence, the researcher is referred to the Frank Withrow collection (LaCMssAE). Frank Withrow, Gardner's brother, was a lawyer in La Crosse, Wisconsin from about 1909 to 1919.

The collection consists primarily of a legislative subject file amassed in the 1950's including bill drafts and correspondence. The file is arranged chronologically with bill drafts followed by any related correspondence. The bulk of the file relates to legislation and correspondence concerning the Mexican Border Veterans (10 folders). Most other legislation in the file concerns the state of Wisconsin--bills to provide for the conveyance of land within the state (H.R. 2889) and to the state (Public Law 85-431), and a bill to print a commemorative stamp in honor of Lyman C. Draper (H.R. Resolutions 251 and 283), among others. The file also includes Withrow's Washington reports to his constituents (1950-1958, 1960), and his individual voting record (1949-1958).

Secondarily, the collection contains miscellaneous printed speeches, autographed photographs of political associates and personal memorabilia. There are also four volumes of newspaper clippings (1949-1960) and a one volume guest book signed by his constituents (1949-1960).

A number of photographs have been separated to Iconography. They include primarily public relations photographs of Withrow, with some autographed photos of political associations and a series of photos of the atomic explosion at Yucca Flats, Arizona, in 1953.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Gardner Withrow, La Crosse, Wisconsin, May 14, 1964.

Processing Information

Processed by Eleanor Niermann, April 2, 1970.

	Mexican Border Veterans
Box   1 Folder   1	Bill drafts, 1953-1960
	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   2	1952, 1954-1955
Box   1 Folder   3	1956, Jan. - March
Box   1 Folder   4	1956, April - Dec.
Box   1 Folder   5	1957
Box   1 Folder   6	1958
Box   1 Folder   7	1959, Jan. - March
Box   1 Folder   8	1959, April - Dec.
Box   1 Folder   9	1960, 1961
Box   1 Folder   10	Miscellaneous, 1956-1960
Box   1 Folder   11	H. R. Resolution 251 and 283, Lyman Draper Stamp, 1953
Box   1 Folder   12	H. R. 2889, Conveyance of certain land in Necedah, Wisconsin, 1954-1956
Box   1 Folder   13	H. R. 2889, Correspondence, 1954-1956
Box   1 Folder   14	H. R. 3515, Amendment to Internal Revenue Code to aid small businesses, 1956-1957
Box   1 Folder   15	H. R. 7509, 7510, 7511, and 8452, Meier, Bierdermann, Cordes, Kosmitis adoption cases, 1957
Box   1 Folder   16	Public law 85-431, Conveyance of land to the state of Wisconsin, 1955-1958
Box   1 Folder   17	Public law 85-431, Correspondence 1954-1960
Box   1 Folder   18	H. R. 3986, Amendment to Public Health Service Act re milk and milk products, 1959
Box   2 Folder   1	Withrow Bills - 86th Congress, 1959-1960
	Reports to Constituents
Box   2 Folder   2	1950
Box   2 Folder   3	1951-1952
Box   2 Folder   4	1953-1955
Box   2 Folder   5	1956-1958, 1960
	Individual Voting Record
Box   2 Folder   6	1949-1951
Box   2 Folder   7	1951-1954
Box   2 Folder   8	1955-1958
Box   2 Folder   9	Miscellaneous speeches, 1949, 1955, 1960
Box   2 Folder   10	Photographs
Box   2 Folder   11	Memorabilia
	Clippings
Box   3 Volume   1	1949-1950
Box   4 Volume   2	1951-1952
Box   5 Volume   3	1953-1956
Box   6 Volume   4	1957-1960
Box   3 Volume   5	Guest book, 1949-1960