Summary Information
National Association of Social Workers. Wisconsin Chapter: Records
1925-1985
- National Association of Social Workers. Wisconsin Chapter
Mss 1008; Tape 1430A
8.4 c.f. (21 archives boxes) and 1 tape recording
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records (primarily dating 1960-1979) of the Wisconsin chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) as well as its predecessor organizations, the American Association of Social Workers (1925-1955) and the American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers (1949-1954). The records document the professionalization of social work and the organization's advocacy role in issues relating to social welfare and include records from the national offices of the NASW as well as records from the Southeastern, South Central, Southwestern, and North Central Wisconsin Branches. The records consist of Chapter correspondence, meeting minutes, financial reports, committee reports, annual reports, newsletters, news clippings, and social action records. A significant portion of the collection consists of the files of the various executive directors of the Wisconsin Chapter.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss01008 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) was created through the conglomeration of seven separate social work organizations: the American Association of Social Workers (AASW), the American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers (AAPSW), the American Association of Medical Social Workers, the National Association of School Social Workers, the American Association of Group Workers, the Association for the Study of Community Organization, and the Social Work Research Group. Out of the seven organizations, the AASW and the AAPSW were most active in Wisconsin. The AASW organized in 1921 as the first national social workers organization for the study of “social sciences in relation to social problems” and quickly expanded its goals to obtain higher professional status for social workers. In 1925 the local Wisconsin chapter was organized in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The AAPSW was founded in 1926. Wisconsin later became a chapter in 1949. Ann Miller, treasurer of both the AASW and the AAPSW was instrumental in the formation of the NASW Wisconsin Chapter.
According to the National Association of Social Workers' Bylaws, the NASW was formed to “promote activities appropriate to strengthening and unifying the social work profession as a whole” (Bylaws, Article II). Between 1950 and 1955, the Temporary Inter-Association Council was created to aid in the formation of the national organization of the NASW and its local chapters. Consisting of representatives from the seven associations, this council developed a structure for the NASW that centered on local members who elected officers and carried out the organization's activities. This purpose of developing a professional organization was to encourage active membership in local chapters. For this reason Wisconsin did not have an official state organization but was divided into seven local chapters with representatives from each chapter serving as members of the Wisconsin State Council. The Southeastern Chapter of the NASW was one of the largest Wisconsin chapters and their Milwaukee headquarters also served as the head office for the Wisconsin State Council. Together with the Temporary Intern-Association Council, the Southeastern Chapter was instrumental in the establishment of the NASW in Wisconsin. NASW came into official existence in 1955.
In 1973, the NASW Wisconsin State Council consolidated Wisconsin's local chapters into one statewide chapter in order to increase the effectiveness of the NASW in Wisconsin. The functions of the state chapter included professional development, professional standards, and professional action. The state chapter, officially titled the “Wisconsin Membership Division, NASW,” consisted of seven representational branches categorized geographically throughout the state. These seven branches provided more opportunities for members to directly participate in the organization. The seven branches are the Southeastern, South Central, Northeastern, West Central, South West, North Central, and Racine-Kenosha branches. The Wisconsin chapter functioned under the leadership of an executive director. Program committees were also created under the state chapter are the Legislative, Licensure, Educational Legislative Action Network Alert, Professional Standards, Membership Recruitment and Retention, Continuing Education, Health, and Employment Referral Service committees. Geraldine Wolter, Executive Director starting in 1976 was involved in many of these committees. Committees increased the participation of members within the NASW Wisconsin Chapter and their records reflect the organization's involvement in social welfare and lobbying activities.
Timeline
| 1921 |
The American Association of Social Workers national organization is created as the first national social workers association.
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| 1925 |
The American Association of Social Workers Wisconsin Chapter is created in Milwaukee.
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| 1926 |
The American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers national organization is created.
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| 1949 |
The American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers Wisconsin Chapter is created.
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| 1950-1955 |
The Temporary Inter-Association Council is formed with representatives from the seven social workers organizations.
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| 1955 |
The National Association of Social Workers is created with seven local Wisconsin chapters.
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| 1973 |
Reorganization into the National Association of Social Workers Wisconsin Chapter with seven local branches.
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Scope and Content Note
The National Association of Social Workers Wisconsin Chapter records reflect the professional activities of the Wisconsin Chapter. The entire collection spans the years 1925-1985, with the bulk of the documents dating from 1960-1979. Documents are administrative in nature and correspondence, meeting minutes, financial reports, committee reports, annual reports, newsletters, and social action records. These records reflect the interaction of the Wisconsin Chapter with the national organization as well as local branches. The collection is divided into three series, PREDECESSOR ASSOCIATIONS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, and WISCONSIN CHAPTER. The PREDECESSOR ASSOCIATIONS series contains two sub-series, American Association of Social Workers and American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers. The WISCONSIN CHAPTER series also consists of two sub-series, Chronological Files and Subject Files. Although the Chronological Files contain similar topics found in the Subject Files, these two sub-series represent two separate filing schemes. The Chronological Files reflect the original order in which the materials were kept within the organization from 1954-1979. In contrast, the Subject Files consist of materials spanning 1963-1985 and represent items consolidated from various miscellaneous files and boxes.
The PREDECESSOR ASSOCIATIONS series consist of two main sub-series corresponding to two of the seven predecessor organizations to the National Association of Social Workers active in Wisconsin: The American Association of Social Workers, 1925-1955 and the American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers, 1949-1954. These sub-series include correspondence, meeting minutes, pamphlets, newsletters, directories, committee reports, and financial statements. The information reflected in these documents pertains to the development of professional social work organizations in Wisconsin. A portion of the information reflects the activities of Anne Miller, Chief Social Worker who was involved in both the AASW and the AAPSW in Wisconsin. The series disproportionately contains more documents on the AASW due to its longer period of existence in Wisconsin. Organized chronologically within each sub-series, the documents provide insight into these organization's activities in Wisconsin from 1925-1954 such as providing housing to low income individuals, investigations into the mental hygiene problems of adolescents, and involvement in the Fair Employment Practice Committee to prevent discrimination in employment.
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION series contains information concerning the relationship of the Wisconsin Chapter with the NASW National Organization from 1965-1978. Included in this series are form letters, pamphlets, newsletters, membership statistics, bylaws, executive committee meeting minutes, directories, legislative material, committee reports, chapter action guides, code of ethics, list of chapter services, and chapter standards. Although little of the information relates specifically to the Wisconsin Chapter, the documents are important in order to understand the national context in which the state chapter functioned such as the Educational Legislation Action Network Alert (ELAN). The various functions, such as social work legislation, that the national organization was involved in are carried out on the state level. Other records of the national organization are found in the Wisconsin Chapter Subject Files sub-series under National Organization 1969-1972, 1984. This series is organized chronologically.
The WISCONSIN CHAPTER Chronological Files sub-series include correspondence, financial, minutes, newsletters and newspaper clippings from 1954-1979. Arranged chronologically, this sub-series portrays the routine activities of the organization at the state and local level. These activities involve meetings, election of chapter leaders, and development of various committees focused on specific subjects such as social work legislation and the development of professional standards. Included in the General File, 1970 is a four-track tape of a meeting held on February 21, 1970. The creation of the National Association of Social Workers and the conglomeration of local chapters to form a state chapter and local branches in 1973 are also documented. The documents relating to the initial years of the Wisconsin Chapter's existence are fragmentary until 1963. From 1963-1979 the growth of the state chapter is evident through the amount of records generated. Items after 1976 heavily reflect the activities of Geraldine Wolter, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Chapter, in relation to her involvement in social legislation. The records are also heavily focused on the activities of the Southeastern Branch and lack documentation of the other branches in Wisconsin due to the location of the state chapter office in the Southeastern Branches jurisdiction. Further information concerning the Southeastern Branch can be found in the National Association of Social Workers, Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter Records at the Wisconsin Historical Society. For more documents pertaining to the contents of the Wisconsin Chapter Clerical Files, consult the Wisconsin Chapter Subject Files.
The WISCONSIN CHAPTER Subject Files sub-series contains documents involving the activities of the chapter from 1963-1985. Many of the subjects in this sub-series contain similar information to the Chronological Files but are more detailed and inclusive. A large portion of the documents represent the Wisconsin Chapter's involvement in social legislation under the direction of Geraldine Wolter, executive director in the 1970's. She impacted the effectiveness of the NASW Wisconsin Chapter, especially in the area of social legislation in relation to mental health services specifically the support of an increase in insurance mandate under S. 632.89 for the treatment of alcoholism, drug abuse and mental and nervous disorders. Wolter's support of women's issues specifically the Women's Conference on Cancer and Social Work Practice in Sexist Society is also evident in the collection. In addition, documents produced at the national level such as member studies and policy statements specifically pertaining to the Wisconsin Chapter are included. Also in this series are financial records, meeting minutes and newsletters from the state chapter and various other branches. The South Central Branch along with the Southeastern Branch is represented more than the other local branches in these files. This series is arranged alphabetically.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Eileen Merchart, Executive Director, 1990.
Processed by Deanna Olson (Intern), May 2006.
Contents List
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Mss 1008
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Series: Predecessor Associations
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Subseries: American Association of Social Workers
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Box
1
Folder
1-23
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1925-1947
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Box
2
Folder
1-6
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1948-1953
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Subcommittee on Agency Problems and Needs, 1953-1954
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Box
2
Folder
8
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1954
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Box
3
Folder
1
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1955
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Subseries: American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers
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Box
3
Folder
2-5
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1949-1952
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Box
3
Folder
6
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1953-1954
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Series: National Association
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Box
3
Folder
7-10
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1965-1968
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Box
4
Folder
1-3
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1969-1970
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Box
4
Folder
4-5
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1971 January-April
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Box
5
Folder
1
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1971 May-December
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Box
5
Folder
2-6
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1972-1975
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Box
6
Folder
1-4
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1976-1978
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Series: Wisconsin Chapter
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Subseries: Chronological Files
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Box
6
Folder
5
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1954-1955, Transition Period
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Box
6
Folder
6-7
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1956-1957
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Box
7
Folder
1-5
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1958-1962
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1963
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Box
7
Folder
6
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General File
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Box
7
Folder
7
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Correspondence
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1964
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Box
7
Folder
8-9
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General File
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Box
7
Folder
10
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Correspondence
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1965
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Box
8
Folder
1
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General File
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Box
8
Folder
2
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Correspondence
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1966
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Box
8
Folder
3
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General File
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Box
8
Folder
4
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Correspondence
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Box
8
Folder
5
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Financial
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Box
8
Folder
6
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Great Lakes Regional Institute
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1967
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Box
8
Folder
7-8
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General File
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Box
8
Folder
9
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Correspondence
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Box
9
Folder
1
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Financial
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Box
9
Folder
2
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Legislative Committee
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1968
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Box
9
Folder
3
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General File
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Box
9
Folder
4
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Committees
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Box
9
Folder
5
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Correspondence
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Box
9
Folder
6
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Financial
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1969
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Box
9
Folder
7
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Financial
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Box
9
Folder
8
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Correspondence
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Box
9
Folder
9
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Committees
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Box
10
Folder
1
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Licensing Committee
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Box
10
Folder
2
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General File
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1970
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Box
10
Folder
3-4
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General File
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Tape 1430A
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Meeting, February 21, 1970
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Mss 1008
Box
10
Folder
5
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Correspondence
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1971
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Box
10
Folder
6
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General File
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Box
10
Folder
7
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Correspondence
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Box
11
Folder
1
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Committees
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1972
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Box
11
Folder
2-3
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General File
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Box
11
Folder
4
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Correspondence
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Box
11
Folder
5
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Committees
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1973
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Box
11
Folder
6
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General File
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Box
11
Folder
7
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Correspondence
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Box
11
Folder
8
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Committees
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1974
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Box
12
Folder
1
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General File
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Box
12
Folder
2
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Committees
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Box
12
Folder
3
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Correspondence
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1975
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Box
12
Folder
4
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Correspondence
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Box
12
Folder
5
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General File
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Box
12
Folder
6
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Committees
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1976
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Box
12
Folder
7
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General File
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Box
12
Folder
8
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Nominating and Leadership Identification Committee
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Box
13
Folder
1
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Committees
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Box
13
Folder
2
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Correspondence
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Box
13
Folder
3
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Newspaper Clippings
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1977
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Box
13
Folder
4-5
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General File
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Box
13
Folder
6-7
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Committees
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Box
14
Folder
1
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Legislative Committee
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Box
14
Folder
2
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Correspondence
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Box
14
Folder
3
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Newspaper Clippings
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1978
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Box
14
Folder
4
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General File
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Box
14
Folder
5
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Correspondence
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Box
14
Folder
6
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Committees
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1979
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Box
14
Folder
7
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General File
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Box
14
Folder
8
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Committees
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Box
14
Folder
9
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Correspondence
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Subseries: Subject Files
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Annual Reports
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Box
14
Folder
10
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1973-1976
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Box
15
Folder
1-2
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1977-1979
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Box
15
Folder
3-7
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1981-1988
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Committees
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Box
15
Folder
8
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Committee on Professional Standards and Interim Report, 1976
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Box
15
Folder
9
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General File, 1981
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Box
16
Folder
1
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Program Committee, 1976-1978
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Correspondence
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Box
16
Folder
2
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Government Officials Correspondence, 1973
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Box
16
Folder
3
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Executive Director Reports and Messages, 1975-1976
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Executive Director Files
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Educational Legislative Action Network Alert
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Box
16
Folder
4
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1970-1974
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Box
16
Folder
5
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1973
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Box
16
Folder
6
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1972-1973, 1976-1977
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Legislative Committee
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Box
16
Folder
7
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1973
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Box
16
Folder
8-9
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1976-1977
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Box
17
Folder
1
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1978-1979
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Box
17
Folder
2
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1981-1983
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Box
17
Folder
3
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Lobbying Activities, 1976-1977
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Box
17
Folder
4
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Long Term Care Guidelines, 1977-1979
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Box
17
Folder
5
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Midwest Coalition Steering Committee, 1977-1978
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Box
17
Folder
6
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Peace and Social Welfare Committee, 1975-1980
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Box
17
Folder
7
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Political Action for Candidate Election, 1976
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Box
17
Folder
8
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Social Policy and Action, 1975-1980
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Box
17
Folder
9
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Social Work Registration Bill, 1971-1973
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Box
18
Folder
1
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Wisconsin Association of Outpatient Mental Health Facilities 632,89 Legislation Advocacy, 1981-1982
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Box
18
Folder
2
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Wisconsin Association of Outpatient Mental Health Facilities Legislative Advocacy List, 1982
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Box
18
Folder
3
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Wisconsin Association of Outpatient Mental Health Facilities Mandated Benefits Committee, 1981-1982
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Box
18
Folder
4
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Women's Issues, 1977-1979
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Financial Records
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Wisconsin Chapter
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Audited Financial Statements
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Box
18
Folder
5
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1979
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Box
18
Folder
6
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1983-1984
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Box
18
Folder
7
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Financial Statements, 1978-1982
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Box
18
Folder
8
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Fiscal Committee, 1976-1978
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South Central Chapter
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Financial Statements
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Box
18
Folder
9
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1961-1966
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Box
18
Folder
10
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1964-1966
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Box
18
Folder
11
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1973
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Box
18
Folder
12
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Treasurers Correspondence, 1960-1962
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Box
18
Folder
13
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Treasurers Reports, 1966-1968
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General Files
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Box
18
Folder
14
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1964-1970
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Box
19
Folder
1-2
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1974-1976
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Box
19
Folder
3
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1976
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Box
19
Folder
4
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1980-1984
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Box
19
Folder
5
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1985
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Box
19
Folder
6
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Bylaws, 1974
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Box
19
Folder
7
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Official Directory, 1967-1968
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Box
19
Folder
8
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Status Reports, 1976, 1981
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Minutes
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Box
19
Folder
9
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Wisconsin Chapter Board of Directors Meetings and Notices, 1974-1976
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Box
20
Folder
1
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North Central Branch, 1969
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South Central Branch
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Box
20
Folder
2
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1963-1964
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Box
20
Folder
3
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1964-1965
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Box
20
Folder
4
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1966-1968
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Box
20
Folder
5-6
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South East Branch, 1959-1968
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National Organization
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Box
20
Folder
7
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South West Branch, 1970-1971
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Box
20
Folder
8
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Member Information, 1984
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Box
20
Folder
9
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Policy Statements, 1969-1972
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Newsletters
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Wisconsin Chapter
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Box
20
Folder
10
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1972-1975
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Box
21
Folder
1
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1976-1980
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Southeast Chapter
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Box
21
Folder
2
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1955-1965
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Box
21
Folder
3-4
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1966-1968
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Box
21
Folder
5-6
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1969-1971
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Box
21
Folder
7
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1972-1973
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