Summary Information
Carl W. Thompson Papers
1972-1984
- Thompson, Carl W. (Carl William), 1914-2002
Mss 1056
5.4 c.f. (14 archives boxes)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Carl W. Thompson, Democratic state senator of Wisconsin (District 16; 1959-1984), composed primarily of articles, correspondence, and reports dating from 1972 to 1984. The majority of the collection consists of subject files covering such areas as: aging and retirement, health and medical care, displaced homemakers, workers' and unemployment compensation, criminal sentencing, the conditions of Wisconsin state prisons, the rights of inmates and their families, public and private school education, and activities taking place on the University of Wisconsin campus. Also included is an original manuscript for his 1978 primer on state government in Wisconsin.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss01056 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Carl William Thompson, Democratic state senator of Wisconsin, was born on March 15, 1914, in Washington, D.C., and died on September 19, 2002 at the age of 88. Thompson's father died while he was a youth, leading his mother to return to her roots in Stoughton, Wisconsin, where she took a job teaching at Stoughton High School. Watching his mother struggle to get by on an hourly wage that fell significantly below that of male teachers has been cited as one of Thompson's major inspirations for entering politics.
Following his graduation from Stoughton High School in 1932, Thompson attended Luther College in Iowa for a year before transferring to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in economics in 1936, soon followed by his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree in 1939. In 1966, he obtained a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Over the course of his collegiate studies, he worked under Governor Phil La Follette, which may have been a motivating factor for his participation at the founding convention of the Progressive Party in 1934 as the youngest delegate.
During his early career as an attorney in the early 1940s, Thompson met his wife, then Marian L. Foster, daughter of the Reverend Lloyd E. Foster and Agnes A. (Hyatt) Foster, while she was studying under Max Otto and Carl Boholt at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Born on November 23, 1917, in Palatine, Illinois, Marian grew up in Syracuse, New York, and had a B.A. (1939) and an M.A. (1940) in philosophy from Mount Holyoke College before continuing her studies in Wisconsin. Thompson and Marian were married on October 3, 1942 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Marian would come to acquire a reputation as a liberal and feminist activist who worked diligently in service to women's issues and political and social concerns. She died March 8, 2005, following a battle with Alzheimer's disease. The Thompsons had four daughters: Jane, Anne, Margaret, and Elizabeth.
From 1942 to 1946, Thompson served in the U.S. Army, working in military intelligence. Upon his homecoming, Thompson established a law practice in Stoughton and shortly thereafter began his government career as an alderman on the Stoughton City Council.
In 1948 Thompson extended his political aspirations from the local to the state level. He acted as a presidential elector, as well as a candidate for governor. He repeated his bid for candidacy in 1950. The platform of the Democratic Organizing Committee formed by Thompson, Gaylord Nelson, and others expressed fierce determination to forge the moribund Democratic Party into a fighting force against Joseph McCarthy and other Republican reactionaries. Although unsuccessful in securing the governorship, Thompson's campaigns have been recognized as one of the forces that rejuvenated the Wisconsin Democratic Party, identifying it for the first time as a proudly progressive organization.
Thompson continued his political career with service as a Democratic national committeeman extended from 1949 to 1956. He was first elected to the Wisconsin assembly in 1952, serving in the 1953 and 1957 sessions. Subsequently, he was elected to the Wisconsin senate in a 1959 special election to fill the unexpired term of newly elected Govenor Gaylord Nelson. Thompson retained his seat in the Wisconsin senate, representing the 16th district, up to 1984, when he decided not to run again. He served as a commissioner on the Labor and Industry Review Commission for another 6 years until 1991, at which point he retired from state service.
Timeline
| 1914 |
Born on March 15th in Washington, D.C.
|
| 1932 |
Graduates from Stoughton High School in Wisconsin
|
| 1934 |
Youngest delegate at the founding convention of the Progressive Party
|
| 1936 |
Receives B.S. degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
|
| 1939 |
Receives LL.B degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
|
| 1942 |
Marries Marian L. Foster on October 3rd
|
| 1942-1946 |
Serves with the U.S. Army during World War II in military intelligence
|
| circa 1946 |
Establishes a law practice in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Begins his government career as an alderman on the Stoughton City Council
|
| 1948 |
Runs as a Democratic candidate for governor for the first time. Acts as presidential elector
|
| 1949-1956 |
Serves as a Democratic national committeeman
|
| 1950 |
Runs as a Democratic candidate for governor for the second time
|
| 1952 |
First elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
|
| 1953-1959 |
Serves in the Wisconsin State Assembly
|
| 1959-1984 |
Elected to the Wisconsin State senate in Special Election to fill the unexpired term of newly elected Govenor Gaylord Nelson; remains in office until his retirement in 1984
|
| 1966 |
Receives a J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
|
| 2002 |
Dies on September 19th in Stoughton, Wisconsin
|
Scope and Content Note
The Carl W. Thompson Papers span approximately the last twelve years (1972-1984) of Thompson's career as a Wisconsin state senator and contain personal papers and political files as well as other records dealing with issues or matters of statewide interest during this period. Because the original order of the collection has largely been lost, files have been arranged into three separate series in order to make the content more accessible. These series, defined by their purpose within Thompson's office, are: PERSONAL/POLITICAL FILES, CONSTITUENT COMMUNICATION, and the LEGISLATIVE SUBJECT FILES. The separate files within each series have been arranged first alphabetically and then chronologically as necessary. Since these files were created and maintained in conjunction with one another, some overlap in content may be expected.
The PERSONAL/POLITICAL FILES is the smallest of the three series and provides some documentation of Thompson's campaigning, his association with the Democratic Party and his involvement in the Oregon Rotary. This series also contains a copy of Thompson's original primer entitled Programs, Problems, Taxes, Choices: Plain Talk about State Government in Wisconsin and associated commentary. Essentially these files indicate personal interests and activities outside of the specific parameters of Thompson's role as a state senator and tend to relate more closely to his relationship with the Democratic Party.
The CONSTITUENT COMMUNICATION series provides insight into how Thompson kept in tune with the attitudes and needs of the people that he represented. Files include newsletters updating constituents on recent accomplishments and the pressing topics of the time, questionnaires seeking to gauge sentiments on certain topics with the results frequently tallied by township and totaled, and, finally, an assortment of constituent requests received in 1979 with accompanying responses. These materials offer a glimpse of some of the political issues considered most relevant to the people residing in the 16th senatorial district of Wisconsin during the period and is evidence of Thompson's practices regarding data-gathering, polling, and responding to constituent concerns. The constituent request file particularly complements and reflects much of the correspondence arranged in the LEGISLATIVE SUBJECT FILES.
The LEGISLATIVE SUBJECT FILES, comprising the bulk of the collection, relate to Thompson's committee work and interactions with both his constituents and other governmental offices. Materials contained within these files consist primarily of memos and correspondence, informational journal articles, book chapters, newspaper clippings, reports, and personal notes. Much of this content appears to have been gathered in an effort to: (a) become better acquainted with a subject that has been brought to his attention by constituents or through committee work; (b) gauge public opinion on various issues; (c) document hearings; and/or (d) document committee interests. The broad themes that appear repeatedly within the files include: aging and retirement, agriculture, budget and taxes, crime and punishment, education, energy and utilities, employment, transportation, health and medical care, marriage and separation. Files of significant enough interest and breadth of content to warrant arrangement under headings include: Assembly Bills, Education, Highways, Prisons, Senate Bills, and the University of Wisconsin. Some files contain documents that may have little unique informational value, but do indicate that the Senator's office dealt not only with issues of great importance, but also simpler mundane concerns or questions. Although many of these files pertain to senate bills, few are labeled as such. Additionally, despite Thompson's involvement in several committees and sub-committees over the course of the decade or so covered by these materials, there are few distinctly defined committee and subcommittee files.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Carl W. Thompson, January 1985. Accession Number: M85-039
Processed by Nichole Chisholm (Practicum student), May 2009.
Contents List
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Mss 1056
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Series: Personal/Political Files
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|
|
Box
1
Folder
1
|
Campaign of Janice Redford, 1980
|
|
|
Box
13
Folder
1
|
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, 1982
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
2
|
Democratic Party of Wisconsin, 1975-1982
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|
|
Box
13
Folder
2
|
Oregon Rotary, 1980
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
3
|
Primer - Programs, Problems, Taxes, Choices: Plain Talk about State Government in Wisconsin, 1978
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|
|
Box
1
Folder
4
|
Re-election, 1976
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|
|
Series: Constituent Communication
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|
|
Box
1
Folder
5-10
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Constituent requests, 1979-1980
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|
|
Box
2
Folder
1-3
|
Constituent requests, 1979-1980 (continued)
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
4
|
Questionnaires and newsletters, circa 1974
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|
|
Box
2
Folder
5-6
|
Questionnaire letters, 1975
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|
|
Questionnaire results
|
|
|
Box
13
Folder
3
|
1973-1975
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|
|
Box
13
Folder
4
|
1973-1978
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
7
|
Questionnaire results, circa 1977
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|
|
Series: Legislative Subject Files
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|
|
Box
2
Folder
8-9
|
1983-1985 Biennial budget
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|
|
Box
2
Folder
10
|
Accudyne Corporation - Janesville, 1979
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|
|
Box
2
Folder
11
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Affirmative action, 1979-1980
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|
|
Box
2
Folder
12-13
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Agriculture - general, 1979-1982
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|
|
Box
3
Folder
1-2
|
Agriculture - taxation and use of land, 1975-1983
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|
|
Box
3
Folder
3
|
Alternative energy, 1978-1979
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|
|
Box
3
Folder
4
|
Amtrak, 1975-1977
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|
|
Assembly Bills
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|
|
Box
3
Folder
5
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1976 AB 29 / Determinate sentencing
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|
|
Box
3
Folder
6
|
1978 AB 159 / Psychology freedom of choice bill
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|
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1983
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|
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Box
3
Folder
7-10
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AB 887 / Definition of a private school
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|
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Box
13
Folder
5
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AB 887 / Testimonies from March 13, 1984 hearing
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
1
|
Budget information - papers and letters, 1983
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|
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Box
4
Folder
2
|
Child labor rules, 1980
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
3
|
Citizens Utility Board (CUB), 1980-1984
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
4-5
|
Collective bargaining, 1976-1977
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
6
|
Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA), 1980
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
7
|
Congress of the United States House of Representatives, 1984
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|
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Box
4
Folder
8
|
Dane County - Public Affairs Council, 1978
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
9
|
Daylight savings time, 1976
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
10
|
Department of Health and Social Services, 1981
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
11
|
Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations (DILHR), 1973-1983
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
12
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Department of Natural Resources, 1979-1983
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
13
|
Department of Public Instruction, 1983
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
14
|
Developmental disabilities - audit, 1976
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|
|
Box
4
Folder
15-16
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Displaced homemakers, 1977-1979
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|
|
Box
5
Folder
1
|
Displaced homemakers, 1977-1979 (continued)
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|
|
Box
5
Folder
2-3
|
Divorce reform, 1975-1978
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|
|
Education
|
|
|
Box
5
Folder
4
|
Change of school days, 1977-1978
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|
|
Box
5
Folder
5
|
Competency testing, 1977-1983
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|
|
Box
5
Folder
6
|
Gifted and talented, 1982
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|
|
Box
5
Folder
7
|
School budget and aid, 1974-1979
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|
|
Box
5
Folder
8
|
School cost controls, 1977-1979
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|
|
Box
5
Folder
9
|
School district standards questionnaire, 1977
|
|
|
Box
5
Folder
10
|
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), 1976
|
|
|
Box
6
Folder
1
|
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), 1976 (continued)
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|
|
Box
6
Folder
2
|
Employee trust funds, 1982
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|
|
Box
6
Folder
3-4
|
Family planning, 1978-1979
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|
|
Box
6
Folder
5
|
Fire dues, 1983
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|
|
Box
6
Folder
6-9
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Formaldehyde, 1980-1981
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|
|
Box
6
Folder
10
|
Four-wheel drive, 1980-1981
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|
|
Highways
|
|
|
Box
6
Folder
11
|
Construction and repairs, 1977-1978
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|
|
Dodgeville-Mount Horeb Road
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|
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Box
6
Folder
12
|
Design study report, 1972
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|
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Box
13
Folder
6
|
Time schedule, circa 1972
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|
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Box
13
Folder
7
|
Highway 18-151, 1976-1979
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|
|
Box
7
Folder
1
|
Rock County Highway A, 1977
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|
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Box
13
Folder
8
|
South Beltline, 1979-1983
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|
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Box
7
Folder
2
|
Home health care, 1978-1979
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|
|
Box
7
Folder
3
|
Hospice care, 1977-1980
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|
|
Box
7
Folder
4
|
Housing industry, 1980
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|
|
Box
7
Folder
5
|
Insurance, 1979-1982
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
6
|
Judicial system and court reform, 1973-1978
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|
|
Box
13
Folder
9-10
|
Juvenile possession of marijuana, 1975-1980
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|
|
Box
7
Folder
7
|
Laboratory certification program, 1978
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
8
|
Legislative Audit Bureau, circa 1976
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|
|
Box
7
Folder
9
|
Marital tax reform, 1981
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|
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Box
7
Folder
10
|
Medicaid, 1975-1982
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|
|
Box
7
Folder
11-12
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Medicare and Medicaid, 1975-1981
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|
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Box
7
Folder
13
|
Municipal utilities, 1976-1977
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|
|
Box
7
Folder
14
|
National Rifle Association, 1979
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|
|
Box
7
Folder
15
|
Nuclear power, 1979
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
16
|
Nursing homes, 1979-1981
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|
|
Box
8
Folder
1-3
|
Nursing homes - memos and reports, 1977-1979
|
|
|
Box
8
Folder
4
|
Oregon, Wisconsin, 1977
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|
|
Box
8
Folder
5
|
Patients compensation fund, 1981
|
|
|
Prisons
|
|
|
Box
8
Folder
6
|
Family visitation, 1978-1982
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|
|
General
|
|
|
Box
8
Folder
7-9
|
1976-1983
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|
|
Box
8
Folder
10-12
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1978-1980
|
|
|
Box
9
Folder
1-2
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1979-1980
|
|
|
Box
9
Folder
3-6
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1981-1983
|
|
|
Box
14
Folder
1-2
|
Inmate letters, 1980-1981
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|
|
Box
9
Folder
7-8
|
Judge letters, 1980-1982
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|
|
Box
9
Folder
9
|
Property tax proposals, 1978-1979
|
|
|
Box
9
Folder
10
|
Public Service and Youth Employment Manpower Conference, 1977
|
|
|
Box
9
Folder
11
|
Reapportionment materials, 1983
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|
|
Box
10
Folder
1
|
Retired Senior Volunteer (RSVP) and Senior Companion Programs (SCP), 1977-1982
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|
|
Retirement
|
|
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Box
10
Folder
2
|
Judges, 1977
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|
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Box
10
Folder
3
|
State employees, 1977-1978
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|
|
Box
10
Folder
4
|
Retirement research, 1978
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|
|
Box
10
Folder
5
|
Reverse mortgage study, 1979-1980
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|
|
Box
10
Folder
6
|
Rural Drug Outreach Program, 1976
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|
|
Box
10
Folder
7
|
Septic systems, 1979
|
|
|
Senate Bills
|
|
|
1977
|
|
|
Box
10
Folder
8-9
|
SB 108 / Mandatory inclusion of chiropractic benefits in insurance policies
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|
|
Box
10
Folder
10
|
SB 195 / Smoking ban
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|
|
Box
10
Folder
11
|
SB 370 / Standards of licensure for psychologists
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|
|
Box
10
Folder
12
|
1978 SB 609 / Definition of death
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|
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1984
|
|
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Box
10
Folder
13-16
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SB 651 / Licensure and regulation of midwives
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|
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Box
11
Folder
1
|
SB 663
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|
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Box
11
Folder
2-5
|
Senate Human Service Committee, 1978-1979
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|
|
Box
11
Folder
6
|
Senior citizen groups, undated
|
|
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Box
11
Folder
7
|
Social Services Title XX, 1975-1981
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|
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Box
11
Folder
8
|
Solar energy, 1981-1982
|
|
|
Box
11
Folder
9
|
South Central Wisconsin Housing Corporation, 1982
|
|
|
Box
11
Folder
10
|
Special Education Needs Program, 1975-1979
|
|
|
Box
11
Folder
11-12
|
Subcommittee on Juvenile Alcohol and Drug Abuse, 1978
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
1
|
Subcommittee on Retirement Research, 1978-1979
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
2
|
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), 1976-1979
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
3
|
Syttende Mai, 1976
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
4
|
Unemployment compensation, 1976-1982
|
|
|
University of Wisconsin
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
5-6
|
Faculty, 1974-1980
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
7
|
Minorities, 1979
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
8
|
System, 1979-1982
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
9
|
Teaching assistant strike, 1980
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
10
|
Veterinary medicine, 1975-1981
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
11
|
Veterinary school, 1981
|
|
|
Box
14
Folder
3-4
|
Vocational rehabilitation, 1977-1979
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
12
|
Water pollution, 1972-1975
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
13
|
Wisconsin Equal Rights Amendment (WERA), 1983
|
|
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Box
12
Folder
14
|
Wisconsin nurses, 1979-1981
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
15
|
Wisconsin retirement system, 1982-1983
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
16
|
Workers' compensation, 1975-1981
|
|
|
Box
12
Folder
17
|
Youth corrections - exceptional educational needs, 1979-1980
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|
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