Summary Information
Leon E. Isaksen Papers
1929-1972
- Isaksen, Leon E., 1903-1979
Mss 650
3.2 c.f. (8 archives boxes)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Leon E. Isaksen, a prominent Madison, Wisconsin civic leader and attorney, consisting of correspondence, memoranda, final and draft reports, notes, minutes, testimony, and other legal papers. The correspondence concerns family matters, involvement in the establishment of the Christ Presbyterian Church, the routine operation of his law practice, and the service of friends and associates in World War II. Files pertaining to his membership on the Madison Equal Opportunity Commission during the 1960's include minutes (1964-1970), agenda, legislation, and correspondence, transcripts of testimony, and other information concerning the 1968 Breese Stevens racial disturbance in Madison. Involvement with the Goals for Madison committee on which he served during the 1970's and which developed the concept of a downtown pedestrian mall is documented by minutes, notes, correspondence, and report drafts.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00650 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Madison, Wisconsin attorney Leon Erwin Isaksen was born Leon Erwin Isaacson in Pierce County, Wisconsin on December 13, 1903. Many years later he went to court to legally revert to the original spelling of the family name. Isaksen spent his youth in Spring Valley, Wisconsin and after 1921 resided in Madison. He attended the University of Wisconsin Law School and was a member of Phi Alpha Delta fraternity. Upon his graduation in 1930 he commenced a career in Madison which ultimately spanned 50 years. Isaksen began his legal career with the firm of Stevens, Slettland and Sutherland. He left that firm in 1934 to join John S. Cavanaugh in forming Isaacson & Cavanaugh. From 1935 to 1937 he was an assistant attorney general. In 1942 he became a partner in Thomas, Orr & Isaksen. At the time of his death Isaksen was a senior partner of Isaksen, Lathrop, Esch, Hart & Clark and was widely recognized for his specialization in real estate, estate planning, and antitrust cases.
Always active in civic affairs, in 1964 Isaksen was appointed to the Madison Equal Opportunities Commission. During the 1970's he served on the Goals for Madison Commission as chairman of the design committee. Isaksen was a president of the Blackhawk Country Club, an active member of Christ Presbyterian Church, head of the local Phi Alpha Delta alumni chapter, and president of Gyro International.
Isaksen died at his home on February 11, 1979. He was survived by his wife, Edith K. Isaksen, and three children.
Scope and Content Note
The Isaksen Papers are a small collection consisting mainly of papers documenting his public career. These papers highlight particularly his role in various civic activities, most notably the Madison Equal Opportunities Commission and Goals for Madison. The collection is divided into personal and professional papers (both subdivided alphabetically by subject), with additional separate series concerning the Equal Opportunities Commission, Goals for Madison, and the annexation of the 21st ward. Types of documentation in the collection include correspondence, notes, minutes, reports and drafts, legal papers, testimony, and financial records.
Isaksen's PERSONAL PAPERS give some insight into the man, his family, and his personal life. Included is correspondence between family members concerning the health of their father and other family events. The personal papers also contain numerous letters to and from friends and relatives who served in World War II. Material from the Phi Alpha Delta fraternity concerns fund raising and other material during the 1930's when money was scarce and fraternity chapters on many campuses were closing. Information on the founding of Christ Presbyterian Church can be found here; included is correspondence with the main governing body of the church in Chicago concerning choice of a location and the development of a congregation. Isaksen's role in the search for a minister is also documented.
The PROFESSIONAL PAPERS deal with the daily activities in his various law practices. The papers primarily consist of office correspondence, his opinions as assistant attorney general, and material concerning the Dane County Bar Association.
Within the EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION records are agenda, minutes, and reports of the commission. The commission's response to the Breese Stevens racial disturbance of 1968 is particularly well documented. The Breese Stevens incident was a series of fights and vandalism which occurred after a teen dance in this area in which racism was a motivating factor. Included are the testimonies from fact finding hearings conducted by the commission. Other reports of discrimination in housing and employment in Madison are found within this section.
The GOALS FOR MADISON papers document the study for long range planning for the future of Madison. Isaksen served as chairman of the design subcommittee, which advocated more public lakefront lands and the conversion of State Street into a pedestrian mall. Included are minutes, notes, correspondence, and report drafts.
The files on the ANNEXATION OF THE 21st WARD contain the petitions advocating annexation and documentation of the validation of signatures. Also included are affidavits and subpoenas that were filed when the matter was brought to court in 1957 to determine the proper tax collection process. These files are arranged chronologically, except that they are preceded by Isaksen's summary affidavit which explains much of the controversy surrounding the annexation.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Edith Isaksen, Madison, Wisconsin, 1979. Accession Number: M79-183, M79-253
Processed by Ruth Wachter-Nelson and by Debra Randorf and Carolyn J. Mattern, 1987.
Contents List
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Series: Personal Papers
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Blackhawk Country Club
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Minutes, notes, circa 1945-1952; undated
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Correspondence, 1945-1952
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Reports, minutes, and financial, 1944-1952 and undated
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Christ Presbyterian Church
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Constitution and by-laws, 1952-1956
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Correspondence, 1935-1957
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Minutes and agenda, 1937-56 and undated
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Committee members, 1937-1956
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Reports, April 1944, circa 1950
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Research/Statistics, circa 1940, June 1952
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Financial records, 1936-1956
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Miscellany, 1957, undated
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General Correspondence
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Box
1
Folder
12
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1929-1936
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Box
1
Folder
13
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1937-1942
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Box
2
Folder
1
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1943-1944
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Box
2
Folder
2
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1945
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Gyro International, 1930-1971
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Joint Resolution 25A, 1945-1949
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Certificates of appointment, 1935-1976
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Name change papers, 1940, 1961
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Norway-Common Market draft and speech, November, 1973
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Norwegian-American Museum, 1973-1974
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Box
2
Folder
9-10
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Republican Club (Dane County), 1952, undated
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Series: Professional Papers
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Box
2
Folder
11-12
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Assistant Attorney General opinions, 1935-1937
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Box
2
Folder
13
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Booth, Harold: Correspondence and Legal papers, 1926-1942
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Correspondence, Legal
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Box
3
Folder
1
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1929-1936
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Box
3
Folder
2
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1937-1942
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Box
3
Folder
3
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1943-1945
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Dane County and American Bar Association
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Correspondence, 1941-1945
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Box
3
Folder
5
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Working Papers, 1942
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Box
3
Folder
6
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Committee re: Dane County Superior Court, 1941-1942
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Box
3
Folder
7
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Justice of the Peace, 1940-1942
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Box
3
Folder
8
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Miscellany, 1931-1978
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Series: Equal Opportunity Commission
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Administrative/Organizational Papers
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Organizational material, 1967-1972
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Procedures and rules, 1966-1969
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Box
3
Folder
11
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Program plans, 1969-1971
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Box
3
Folder
12
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Member list, circa 1968-1969
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Breese Stevens incident
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Box
4
Folder
10
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List of hearings, August-October, 1968
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Box
4
Folder
11
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Hearings questions, September-October, 1968
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Box
4
Folder
12
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Statements, August 1968
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Box
4
Folder
13
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Report drafts, 1968-1969
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Box
4
Folder
14
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Study report, April, 1969
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Testimony
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Box
4
Folder
15-17
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1968
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Box
5
Folder
1-6
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1968-1969
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Executive Commission
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Box
3
Folder
13
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Minutes, 1964-1970
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Box
3
Folder
14
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Agenda, 1969-1972
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Box
3
Folder
15
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Reports, 1965-1972
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Hearing, April 1964
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Equal Opportunity Ordinance
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Box
4
Folder
2
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Background, 1967-1971
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Box
4
Folder
3
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Drafts, 1971-1972
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Box
4
Folder
4
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Ordinances, 1963-1972
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Committees
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Box
4
Folder
5
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Minutes, 1966-1971
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Box
4
Folder
6
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Reports, 1965-1970
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Box
4
Folder
7
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Recommendations, 1970-1972
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Box
4
Folder
8
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Research/Statistics, 1966
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Box
4
Folder
9
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Research/Statistics, 1968-1971
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Box
5
Folder
7
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Mifflin Street disorder report, 1969
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Correspondence
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Box
6
Folder
1
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General, 1964-1971
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Box
6
Folder
2
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Interdepartmental communications, 1965-1970
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Personal Papers
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Box
6
Folder
3
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Notes, 1967-1972
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Box
6
Folder
4
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Speeches, October, 1967-1972
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Legal Papers
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Officers' Reports
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Box
6
Folder
5
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Breese Stevens Incident, August-September, 1968
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Box
6
Folder
6
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Other, 1967-1970
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Box
6
Folder
7
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Court cases, 1968-1971
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Box
6
Folder
8
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Antoinette Scott vs. Madison testimony, October, 1968
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Box
6
Folder
9
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Complaints of discrimination, 1964-1972
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Box
6
Folder
10
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Miscellany, 1967-1970
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Series: Goals for Madison
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Executive Committee
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Box
6
Folder
11
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Statement of purpose and proposed timetable, circa 1971
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Box
6
Folder
12
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Minutes and members, 1971-1972
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Design Team
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Organizational/Administrative papers
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Box
6
Folder
13
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Statement of purpose and goals, circa 1972
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Box
6
Folder
14
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Minutes and agenda, 1971-1972
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Box
6
Folder
15
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Planning and selecting membership, 1971
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Box
6
Folder
16
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Notes, circa 1971
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Box
6
Folder
17
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Design Committee members, October, 1971
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Box
7
Folder
1
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Correspondence, 1971-1972
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Research
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Box
7
Folder
2
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Madison and Dane County background materials, 1971
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Box
7
Folder
3
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Lake frontage open spaces statistics, November. 1971
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Box
7
Folder
4
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State Street planning, Sept., 1971
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Box
7
Folder
5
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San Francisco, 1971-1972
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Box
7
Folder
6
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Miscellany, 1971
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Report to the Executive Committee
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Box
7
Folder
7
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Centers' concept draft, circa 1971-1972
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Box
7
Folder
8
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Historic buildings draft, 1971
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Box
7
Folder
9
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“Image” draft, Jan., 1972
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Box
7
Folder
10
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Final drafts, Jan., 1972
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Box
7
Folder
11
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Design Committee report, 1972
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Speeches and remarks
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Box
7
Folder
12
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Re: City planning, 1971
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Box
7
Folder
13
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Clippings, 1971
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Box
7
Folder
14
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Maps, 1836-1840, 1971
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Other Study and report teams
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Box
7
Folder
15
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Minutes, 1971-1972
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Box
7
Folder
16
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Reports, 1971-1972
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Box
7
Folder
17
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Member list, circa 1971
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Series: Annexation of the 21st Ward
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Box
8
Folder
1
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Isaksen affidavit, circa 1955
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Box
8
Folder
2
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Petition re: signature removal, 1954
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Box
8
Folder
3
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Laws and ordinances, 1954
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Box
8
Folder
4
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Petition for annexation, 1954
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Box
8
Folder
5
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Electoral survey report, 1955
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Box
8
Folder
6
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Petition, 1956
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Box
8
Folder
7
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Affidavits of posting, 1956-1957
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Box
8
Folder
8
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Demand for admission of facts, 1957
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Box
8
Folder
9
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Testimonies, 1957
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Box
8
Folder
10
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Official stipulation, October, 17, 1957
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Box
8
Folder
11
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Subpoenas, October, 10, 1957
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Taxation
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Box
8
Folder
12
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Report of committee and assessments, 1957
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Box
8
Folder
13
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Affidavits
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Box
8
Folder
14
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Laws, 1958
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Box
8
Folder
15
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Argument re: Statute Section 74.59, circa 1958
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