Summary Information
Taychopera Foundation Records
1943-1975
Mss 371; EA 063-EA 065
0.6 c.f. (2 archives boxes) and 3 reels of film (8 mm)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records of the Taychopera Foundation, a Madison, Wisconsin non-profit organization devoted to preservation of buildings of architectural and historical significance. It was successful in preserving the Gates of Heaven Synagogue and in creating the Madison City Landmarks Commission. Included are corporate records, membership lists, financial records, correspondence, and a subject file.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00371 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Taychopera Foundation was incorporated in 1968 as a non-profit organization to encourage and assist in the preservation of structures of architectural and historical significance in Madison and the surrounding area. (Taychopera means “region of the four lakes” in the Winnebago language.) Initially Taychopera sponsored the sale of a booklet on historic Madison houses and note paper with sketches of historic houses. Late in the fall of 1968 the Foundation began its first project to directly assist in preservation with an effort to save the (Abel) Dunning House (Mapleside), a pre-Civil War farmhouse on University Avenue. Attempts to move the house or to preserve it on its original site failed despite a public fund raising campaign, and Mapleside was razed to make way for a Burger King franchise.
Later Taychopera projects were more successful. It was instrumental in the passage of a Madison city ordinance creating a City Landmarks Commission (June, 1970) to designate and encourage the preservation of Madison's historic buildings. Taychopera financed the publication of a plan (1971) to create an historic district in the West Gilman-North Pinckney Street area. In 1971 it actively supported and helped to finance the public effort to save and move the Gates of Heaven Synagogue, one of the oldest synagogues in the nation. During its brief existence, Taychopera also sponsored a color film on Madison's historic buildings, and many tours and lectures on preservation. It was a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation from 1971 to 1974. The Foundation became less active after 1972, and voted to dissolve in December, 1975. Prior to its dissolution Taychopera transferred its records and a $2,200 trust fund to the Historical Society.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains Corporate Records, Membership Records, Financial Records, Correspondence, and a Subject File. The Corporate Records consist of the articles of incorporation, by-laws, lists of trustees and officers, and Board resolutions and minutes. Membership Records consist mainly of membership lists (1970-1973) with charter members noted, and several membership application forms. Financial Records include three ledgers (1968-1975), the treasurer's correspondence, financial statements (1968-1969), and the records of the Foundation's bank accounts.
The Correspondence is mainly form letters to the membership and letters to the Board of Trustees. In the general correspondence there is also a letter to the Wisconsin Land Resources Committee advocating a greater role for state government in historic preservation.
The Subject File contains materials related to Taychopera's various preservation projects and interests. It includes papers relating to the creation and functioning of the Madison Landmarks Commission along with news clippings on designated historic sites, clippings and a pamphlet on the Gates of Heaven Synagogue, a copy of the plan for a historic district in Madison, and a copy of the script for the film on historic buildings in Madison, which was sponsored by the Foundation. This series includes 3 reels of 8 mm film showing Madison in 1943, 1944, and 1947, which might have been used for their film.
The best documentation of Taychopera's activities is contained in the Board minutes and the fairly complete financial records. The correspondence is very sketchy, and the collection lacks documentation on the workings of its project committees and on the relationship of Taychopera to other community organizations and to the city government.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Richard A. Erney for the Taychopera Foundation, Madison, Wisconsin, October 31, 1975. Accession Number: M75-635
Processed by Richard Cameron (archives intern) and Joanne Hohler, February 19, 1975.
Contents List
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Mss 371
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Corporate records, 1968-1975
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Volume I
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Additions
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Membership records, 1968-1975
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Financial records
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Ledgers, 1968-1975
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Treasurer's records, 1968-1975
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Bank records
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Statements, 1968-1975
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Checks, deposits, savings book, 1968-1975
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Correspondence
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Box
2
Folder
1
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General, 1969-1975
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Trustees, Board of, 1970-1975
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Subject file
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Gates of Heaven Synagogue, 1970-1971
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Historic buildings in Madison, 1969-1974
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Landmarks Commission, 1969-1973
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Mapleside, 1969-1970
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Box
2
Folder
7
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National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1972-1974
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Planning project for a historic district in Madison, 1970-1971
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Public garden for Madison hill, 1972-1973
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Taychopera's other interests and activities, 1971, 1975
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Miscellaneous
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Films
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Home movies
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EA 063
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1944 and 1947
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EA 064
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1943-1944
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EA 065
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1944
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