Summary Information
Wisconsin Roadside Council Records
1938-1978
- Wisconsin Roadside Council
Mss 713; M98-008; M2002-118
1.2 c.f. (3 archives boxes); plus additions of 1.0 c.f.
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records of the Wisconsin Roadside Council (WRC), a Wisconsin organization formed in 1940 as the Wisconsin Roadside Development Council in order to beautify and increase the safety of Wisconsin highways and roadsides. The organization disbanded in 1977. The records concern the administration and activities of the council, particularly its efforts in behalf of roadside improvement legislation and its educational institutes and short courses. Included are constitutions and by-laws, minutes, officers' correspondence, financial reports, membership lists, and material relating to various projects and programs.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00713 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Wisconsin Roadside Council was organized in January 1940, as the Wisconsin Roadside Development Council by the following charter organizations: the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation, the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Wisconsin Friends of Our Native Landscape, the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs, and the Wisconsin Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. These organizations all shared an interest in conservation, although the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation and its president Mrs. Charles Schuelte had taken a lead in organizing the council early in 1939. Given this diverse background it is not surprising that throughout its history the council tapped a broad range of interests and concerns: landscape architecture, rural planning, conservation, tourism promotion, and outdoor advertising. Purposes of the organization included coordination of the efforts of all groups interested in the conservation, preservation, and improvement of the beauty and safety of Wisconsin roadsides and highways. In 1950 the word development was eliminated from the name of the organization.
The major efforts of the council were directed toward public education and the passage and enforcement of billboard control legislation and toward the passage of roadside improvement legislation. The activities of the organization included co-sponsorship with the University of Wisconsin Department of Horticulture and the College of Agriculture of several institutes and short courses, public education programs such as photography contests, activity in support of billboard regulation on the interstate highways in Wisconsin in 1959, the promotion of natural snow barriers, and increasing appropriations for state roadside part acquisition and maintenance. The WRC was especially active in the passage of the National Highway Beautification Act of 1965. In 1977 after a period of near dormancy the council used its remaining funds for a landscaping and planting project and then disbanded.
Arrangement of the Materials
This collection was received in multiple parts from the donor(s) and is organized into 3 major parts. These materials have not been physically interfiled and researchers might need to consult more than one part to locate similar materials.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Original Collection presented by the Council via Mrs. John Warner, Milwaukee, and Arno Kurth, Madison, Wisconsin, June 21, 1978. Additions presented by the Arno Kurth Estate via Warren A. Schmitz and separated from the John S. Donald addition (M2002-072). Accession Number: M78-285, M98-008, M2002-118
Original Collection processed by Lorelei Bloom (archives intern) and Carolyn Mattern, 1987.
Contents List
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Mss 713
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Part 1 (Mss 713): Original Collection, 1939-19771.2 c.f. (3 archives boxes) The records provide documentation on the internal administration and many activities of the council. The documentation consists of a constitution and by-laws, administrative records, project files, and miscellany and is most complete during the early 1960s when the council's activities were at their height. There are few records from the 1970s, as their efforts waned during that period. The Constitution and By-Laws folder includes copies of the various drafts of their statement of organizational purpose and structure. Administrative Material consists of proceedings of meetings, lists of officers, notices, and agenda. The correspondence, which includes letters written by various officers, appears relatively complete except for the period of dormancy from 1969 to 1977. It concerns the general projects and legislative activities of the council. Most prominent among the correspondents is Roy Farrand, who served as president for many years. (A copy of a printed speech given by Farrand in support of the council is catalogued by the Society Library.) Other administrative records include membership lists, annual financial statements, and a few copies of the organization's newsletter. The Project Files include programs, copies of speeches, and other materials relating to the various short courses and institutes in roadside planning and development. Other files concern the council's involvement in the passage of the national 1965 Highway Beautification Act and the planning for their 25th anniversary celebration.
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Constitution and By-laws, 1940-1968
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Administrative Material
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Box
1
Folder
2-11
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Minutes, 1939-1977
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Correspondence
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Box
2
Folder
1-9
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1940-1965
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Box
3
Folder
1-2
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1966-1977
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Financial reports, 1946-1969
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Membership lists, 1943-1968
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Box
3
Folder
5
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Newsletters, 1950-1965
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Project Files
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Box
3
Folder
6-8
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Projects and programs, 1940-1977
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Legislative projects, 1965-1966
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Miscellany
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M98-008
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Part 2 (M98-008): Additions, 1939-1978
0.4 c.f. (1 archives box)
: Additions, 1939-1978 (mainly 1960s), including correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, memoranda, clippings, conference materials, and a few miscellaneous items.
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Box
1
Folder
1
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WRC memorabilia, 1967
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Litter, 1955, 1968
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Meetings, news briefs, 1962-1969
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Roadside Development Council, 1939-1961
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Traffic Safety Conference, 1956
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Wisconsin Highway Commission reports, 1958-1961
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Publications/newspaper clippings, 1967-1968
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Documents/reports, 1962-1977
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Meetings, 1965-1977
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Correspondence/memos, 1964-1978
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Miscellaneous, 1967-1978
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M2002-118
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Part 3 (M2002-118): Additions, 1938-1967
0.6 c.f. (2 archives boxes)
: Additions, 1938-1967, including constitution and by-laws; meeting minutes and agenda (1940-1967); correspondence with members, other roadside councils, and state officials (1952-1967); membership lists; radio broadcast transcripts (1938, 1952-1953); clippings (1950-1965); reports (1951-1956); and project files concerning a photo contest (1952), anti-billboard campaign (1957-1958), short course programs (1943-1950) and legislation (1952-1953).
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Constitution and by-laws, 1953
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Minutes and agendas, 1940-1953, 1960, 1966-1967
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Correspondence
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Box
1
Folder
3
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1952-1956
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Box
1
Folder
4
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1958-1967
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Membership, 1949, 1951-1954
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Radio transcripts, 1938, 1952-1953
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Clippings, 1950-1965
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Reports - miscellaneous, 1951-1956
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Projects
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Photo contests, 1952
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Anti-billboard, 1957-1958
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Short course programs, 1943-1950
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Legislation, 1952-1953
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