Summary Information
Madison Tenant Union Records
1970-1976
Mss 526
0.8 c.f. (2 archives boxes)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records of a Madison, Wisconsin, organization representing renters in negotiations with landlords. Included are building inspection forms and some photographs from the downtown student neighborhood from the mid-1970's; research material on various landlords; printed matter relating to several rent strikes authorized by the union; and minutes, drafts, and notes pertaining to a fair housing ordinance proposed by the Madison Building and Housing Code Study Committee.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00526 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
During the 1960's a rising enrollment at the University of Wisconsin created increasing demands upon the limited stock of rental property in downtown Madison. This resulted in a general deterioration in the quality of housing and a rising number of incidents of tenant exploitation. During the summer of 1969 a group of students and other renters began discussions which led to the formation of the Madison Tenant Union in September. Although there was some early disagreement over goals and organizing targets there was a common understanding that tenants needed assistance with their individual problems (a service not being offered by any city agency) and organizational strength to bargain with land-lords and put pressure on governmental agencies. Committees established in that fall indicated MTU's commitment to research, organizing, and grievance negotiations.
Locals of the union have been formed around individual landlords after 50 percent of the tenants indicated a willingness to permit MTU to become their bargaining representative in negotiations. MTU organized its first local in November 1969. In December the first group of union members withheld rent in an escrow account to force repairs, and in February 1970 MTU members participated in their first major rent strike. A more detailed account of the union's past activities is included in the historical material in folder 1 of the collection.
Scope and Content Note
The records are organized as an alphabetical subject file which provides a fairly comprehensive overview of MTU activities. There are, however, no records of the union's formation, no financial or membership records, and little documentation pertaining to actual bargaining activities. The collection consists largely of printed matter and alphabetically arranged building inspection forms for the downtown area of Madison that were prepared both by the city Building Inspection Department and by the Inner City Action Project, in which MTU participated. Of special interest are the research materials and related photographs concerning the properties of landlord Hilde Ortmeier; minutes, drafts, and notes pertaining to the creation of a fair housing ordinance by the Building and Housing Code Study Committee of which MTU leader Phil Althouse was a member; and printed material relating to the rent strike of the Packer and Northport Tenants' Organization in 1974.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by David Heller, Madison, Wisconsin, 1971-1979. Accession Number: M71-96; M72-175, M72-212; M74-236, M74-310; M79-436
Processed by Carolyn J. Mattern, March 1980.
Contents List
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Historical and organizational material, 1970-1972
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Grievance materials, contracts, and sample leases, undated
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Box
1
Folder
3
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ICAP investigation of Hilde Ortmeier, 1975
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Box
1
Folder
4
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ICAP log books, 1974
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Landlords, undated
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Madison Building and Housing Study Commission, 1975-1976
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Madison building inspection forms, 1975-1976
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Box
1
Folder
7-18
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Streets A-M
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Box
2
Folder
1-5
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Street P-W
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Miscellany, 1970-1972
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Strikes
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Engen Strike, 1970
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Heins Strike, 1969-1970
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Box
2
Folder
9
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PANTO Strike, 1973-1974
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Truax Park Strike, 1970-1971
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