James N. Azim, Jr. Papers, 1964-1976


Summary Information
Title: James N. Azim, Jr. Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1964-1976

Creator:
  • Azim, James N., 1936-1976
Call Number: Platteville Mss AL

Quantity: 6.6 c.f. (5 record center cartons and 5 archives boxes)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
UW-Platteville Southwest Wisconsin Room / Platteville Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:
Papers for a former Republican assemblyman (1964-1976) from Muscoda, Wisconsin including correspondence with constituents, state agency employees, and other legislators; memoranda; reports; minutes; notes; subject files, and informational material distributed to influence legislation. Most extensive are folders on the Highway Safety Committee, the Governor's Council on Traffic Law Enforcement, the Governor's Committee on Conservation of Outdoor Resources. Because of Azim's service on various educational study committees, there are numerous files on educational concerns, as well as on his involvement with UW-Platteville. Local issue files include material on the Southwestern Regional Community Action Program, the Dubuque Bridge, and very extensive documentation on the Southwestern Regional Planning Commission. Bill files include documentation on the UW System merger, binding arbitration for public employees, and revision of the Wisconsin Children's Code.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-pltv00al
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Biography/History

Former Republican assemblyman and lawyer James N. Azim, Jr. was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin on January 17, 1936. He grew up in Muscoda, Wisconsin and graduated from St. John's High School. After attending St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minnesota, he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and graduated in 1957. He then returned to his home town where he was a history teacher from 1957 through 1963. During this period Azim enrolled in the University of Wisconsin Law School which he attended on a parttime basis, graduating in October, 1965.

Azim began his career in political office with election to the Muscoda village board in 1960. In a special election in 1964, one year before completing his law degree, he won a seat in the Assembly from the 49th District. Although a member of the majority Republican Party, prior to 1970 Azim was a frequent spokesman for the minority, as his views were often more moderate than those of the conservative party leadership. After the Democrats assumed control during the 1971 session, Azim was again a spokesman for the minority, often disagreeing with the more liberal Democratic members of the Assembly. Because of his chairmanship of the Labor Committee in 1971, Azim was well known as a critic of the Lucey administration. Other committee leadership assignments included chairmanship of the Highway Safety Committee and vice-chairmanship of the Assembly Committee on Municipalities. Azim was also a member of the State Building Commission, and because of his background as a teacher, he served on numerous special educational study committees. Azim was deeply interested in environmental and water quality issues, and he served as secretary of the Blue River Watershed Associations and was a member of Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Waters Commission. He was also secretary of the Committee to Preserve Rural Television and the local Chamber of Commerce. A complete listing of Azim's committee work and civic participation can be found in the Wisconsin Blue Books.

During the 1973 session Azim began to undergo dialysis for kidney disease. Although he required treatment three times per week he was able to keep up with his legislative duties and his law practice. In 1976 Azim underwent kidney transplant surgery and died on June 14, 1976 as a result of complications arising from the operation.

Scope and Content Note

The papers document Azim's twelve years in the Wisconsin Assembly. Included are correspondence with constituents, state agency employees, and other legislators; memoranda; reports; minutes; notes; and informational material distributed to influence legislation. The collection is organized as general files, subject files, and bill files. Documentation, including both the subject files and the bill files, is most extensive for the 1975-1976 session. There appear to be some gaps in the coverage, although the complicated and overlapping structure of the subject files makes it difficult to estimate the extent of the missing material. Furthermore, some important files were removed prior to donation by Mrs. Azim, either for Azim's successor or for her own use. Thus, there are no personal files and only scattered political items in the collection. In addition, except for a few miscellaneous items extracted from scattered folders, press releases, biographical clippings, and newsletters are also absent. The missing files are noted in the listing included in Box 1.

GENERAL FILES include the incomplete run of newsletters, press releases and clippings gathered from various locations in the collection, the 1975 office file listing, and some chronologically-arranged correspondence dating from 1964 to 1969.

SUBJECT FILES divide into three overlapping chronological groups; 1964-1967; 1971-1974, and 1965-1976. The last group chiefly pertains to the 1975-1976 session. It is divided into broad subjects (such as education, local and medical issues, and the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission), and then further subdivided into more specific files. Most extensive are folders on the Highway Safety Committee, the Governor's Council on Traffic Law Enforcement, and the Governor's Committee on Conservation of Outdoor Resources. Because of Azim's service on various educational study committees, there are numerous files on educational concerns, as well as on his involvement with UW-Platteville. The local files include material on the Southwestern Regional Community Action Program, the Dubuque Bridge, the the Southwestern Regional Planning Commission.

The BILL FILES are arranged by session and by bill number. Documentation on the 1969 and 1971 sessions is absent, and for earlier legislatures bill originating in the Assembly are most evident. Subjects most extensively documented are bills on the UW System merger, binding arbitration for public employees, and revision of the Wisconsin Children's Code.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by Mr and Mrs. James N. Azim, Jr., Muscoda, Wisconsin, 1971-1976. Accession Number: M71-42, M74-548, and M76-441


Processing Information

Processed by Carolyn J. Mattern, 1985.


Contents List
Series: General Files
Box   1
Folder   1
Biographical clippings, press releases, and memorabilia
Box   1
Folder   2
Office file listing, circa 1976
Box   1
Folder   3-10
General correspondence, 1964-1969
Series: Subject Files
1964-1967 files
Box   1
Folder   11
Age of majority, n.d.
Box   1
Folder   12
Agriculture, 1967
Box   1
Folder   13
Appreciation and appointment letters, 1967-1968
Box   1
Folder   14
Commerce and transportation, 1967
Box   1
Folder   15
Congratulations, 1967-11968
Box   1
Folder   16
Commercial fishing, 1964-1965
Box   1
Folder   17
Conservation, 1967
Box   1
Folder   18
County pound appointment, 1965
Box   1
Folder   19
Education, Higher, 1965-1967
Box   1
Folder   20
Education, Secondary, 1965-1967
Financial
Box   1
Folder   21
General fund budget, 1965-1967
Box   1
Folder   22
Tax program, 1965-1967
Box   1
Folder   23
Get well correspondence, 1967
Box   1
Folder   24
Gun control, 19687
Highway Safety
Box   1
Folder   25
Committee, 1964-1965
Box   1
Folder   26-29
Correspondence, 1964
Box   1
Folder   30
General information, 1964-1965
Box   1
Folder   31
Governor's Council on Traffic Law Enforcement, 1965-1967
Box   1
Folder   32
President's Committee, Proposed legislation, 1965
Box   1
Folder   33
Press releases, 1964-1965
Box   1
Folder   34
Information requests
Invitations, 1966-1967
Box   1
Folder   35
Insurance, 1967
Labor, 1967
Box   1
Folder   36
Licenses, 1967
Box   1
Folder   37
Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission, 1967
Box   1
Folder   38
Oleo legislation, 1965
Box   1
Folder   39
Public assistance, 1967
Box   1
Folder   40
Republican Party, 1967
Speaking engagements, 1967
Box   1
Folder   41
Sympathy, 1967
Box   1
Folder   42
Upper Mississippi River compact, 1967 (Governor's Committee on Conservation of Outdoor Resources)
Box   1
Folder   43
Wisconsin River, 1964-1965
1971-1974 files
Box   2
Folder   1
Abortion, 1973
Box   2
Folder   2
ERA, 1973-1974
Box   2
Folder   3-4
Education, 1971-1974
Box   2
Folder   5-6
Functions, 1971-1974
Box   2
Folder   7
Health care, 1973
Box   2
Folder   8
Highway safety, 1970-1971
Box   2
Folder   9
Homestead tax relief, 1971-1974
Box   2
Folder   10
Insurance, No fault, 1973
Box   2
Folder   11
Just cause contract renewal, 1973
Box   2
Folder   12
Kidney disease legislation, 1974
Box   2
Folder   13-14
Labor, 1969-1974
Box   2
Folder   15
Medical, 1971-1974
Box   2
Folder   16
Military, 1973-1974
Box   2
Folder   17-18
Miscellany, 1971-1974
Box   2
Folder   19
Milk fund, 1974
Box   2
Folder   20
Natural Resources, Department of, 1971-1974
Box   2
Folder   21
Parochial school funds, 1971-1972
Box   2
Folder   22
Personal, 1971-1973
Box   2
Folder   23
Railroads, 1965-1971
Box   2
Folder   24
Requests, 1973-1974
Box   2
Folder   25
Teacher retirement, 1971-1974
Box   2
Folder   26
Thank you correspondence, 1971-1974
Box   2
Folder   27
User fees for education, 1973
1965-1976 files
Education
Box   2
Folder   28
Compulsory education, 1975
Box   2
Folder   29
Cooperative Education Service Agency, 1975-1976
Box   2
Folder   30
DPI standards, 1974
Box   2
Folder   31
General, 1975
Box   2
Folder   32
Libraries, 1974-1975
Box   2
Folder   33
NCSL Educational Tax Force, 1975
Box   2
Folder   34
Noble, Marcia, 1975-1976
Box   2
Folder   35
Parochial school aid, 1971-1975
Box   2
Folder   36
School boards association, 1975
Box   2
Folder   37
School prayer, 1969
Box   2
Folder   38
State school aids, 1971-1976
Box   2
Folder   39
TAUF, 1974-1975
Box   2
Folder   40
Teacher retirement, 1974
University of Wisconsin
Box   2
Folder   41
Centers, 1975
Box   2
Folder   42
Extension, 1975
Box   2
Folder   43
Law school, 1975-1976
Box   2
Folder   44
Merger bill, 1971-1975
Platteville
Box   2
Folder   45
Alumni Association, 1974-1975
Box   2
Folder   46
Building program, 1974
Box   2
Folder   47
Chancellor, 1975-1976
Box   2
Folder   48
Engineering program, 1974
Box   3
Folder   1-3
Miscellaneous, 1973-1976
Box   3
Folder   4
Mission statements, 1973-1974
Box   3
Folder   5
Pioneer patrons, 1974-1975
Box   3
Folder   6
Regents, 1974-1976
Box   3
Folder   7
Tuition reciprocity, n.d.
Box   3
Folder   8
Weber, Lon, 1973-1975
Box   3
Folder   9
Richland Center, 1975-1976
Box   3
Folder   10
Veterinary medicine, 1973-1976
Box   3
Folder   11
Vocational education, 1975
Local
Box   3
Folder   12
Blue River watershed, 1971-1973
Box   3
Folder   13
Boscobel Nursery, 1973-1974
Box   3
Folder   14
Brillion Marsh Project, 1975
Box   3
Folder   15
Bus service, 1975
Box   3
Folder   16
Community Action Program, Southwestern Region, 1973-1976
Box   3
Folder   17
Castle Rock, 1976
Box   3
Folder   18
County and local government, Miscellaneous, 1965-1975
Box   3
Folder   19
Dickeyville Park Project, n.d.
Box   3
Folder   20
Dubuque Bridge, 1973-1976
Box   3
Folder   21
Ellis Engineering, 1973
Box   3
Folder   22
Ferry service, 1973
Box   3
Folder   23
Grant County Health Resources Committee, 1973-1976
Box   3
Folder   24
Grant County Medical Association, 1973
Box   3
Folder   24a
Highway 151 and 18, n.d.
Box   3
Folder   25
Housing (Low cost for elderly), 1973-1976
Box   3
Folder   26
Lancaster IRS office, 1974
Box   3
Folder   27
Mining Museum, 1974-1975
Box   3
Folder   28
Platteville (City of), 1975-1976
Box   3
Folder   29
Platteville Police Academy, 1973
Box   3
Folder   30
Railroads, Southwestern Wisconsin, 1971-1976
Box   3
Folder   31
Sewer and water, 1973-1975
Box   3
Folder   32
Wisconsin River, 1965-1976
Medical
Box   3
Folder   33
Abortion, 1974-1975
Box   3
Folder   34
Ambulance personnel, 1976
Box   3
Folder   35
Drugs, 1975
Box   3
Folder   36
Health Security Action Commission, 1974
Box   3
Folder   37
Health Policy and Planning, Division of, 1975-1976
Box   3
Folder   38
Kidney Disease Advisory Committee, 1975-1976
Box   3
Folder   39
Malpractice insurance, 1975-1976
Box   3
Folder   40
Medical, Miscellany, 1973-1976
Box   3
Folder   41
Mental health institutes, 1975
Box   3
Folder   42
Nursing homes, 1975-1976
Box   3
Folder   43
Wisconsin Association of LPN's, 1975
Miscellaneous subjects
Box   3
Folder   44
Agriculture, 1974-1976
Box   3
Folder   45
Agricultural consultants, 1975
Box   3
Folder   46
Badger Girls/Boys State, 1975-1976
Box   3
Folder   47
Bingo, 1974
Box   3
Folder   48
Budget, 1971-1975
Box   3
Folder   49
Budget, (Mini-budget), 1976
Box   3
Folder   50
Cable and educational television, 1973-1976
Box   3
Folder   51
Catholic Conference of Wisconsin, 1972-1976
Box   3
Folder   52
Catholic Social Services, 1973
Box   4
Folder   1-3
Constituent assistance, 1970-1976
Box   4
Folder   4
Consumer affairs, 1975
Box   4
Folder   5
Corps of Engineers, 1974-1975
Box   4
Folder   6
Council of State Governments, 1975
Box   4
Folder   7
Court reorganization, 1975
Box   4
Folder   8
Criminal justice, 1975
Box   4
Folder   9
Election campaign laws, 1975
Box   4
Folder   10
Emergency Energy Assistance, Office of, 1973-1974
Box   4
Folder   11
Equal Rights Amendment, 1975
Box   4
Folder   12
Financing statements, 1974-1975
Box   4
Folder   13-14
Functions, 1974-1976
Box   4
Folder   15
Gun control, 1975
Box   4
Folder   16
Health and social services, 1975
Box   4
Folder   17
Homestead tax, 1975
Box   4
Folder   18
Insurance, Compulsory, 1974
Box   4
Folder   19
Insurance, No fault, 1973
Box   4
Folder   20
Intergovernmental Relations Committee, 1975
Box   4
Folder   21
Joint Rule 26, 1975-1976
Box   4
Folder   22
Judiciary Committee, 1975
Box   4
Folder   23
Judiciary Committee (Leg. Council), 1975
Box   4
Folder   24
League of Wisconsin Municipalities, 1975
Box   4
Folder   25
Legal services, 1975
Box   4
Folder   26
Legislative roll call, 1975-1976
Box   4
Folder   27
Lotteries, 1975-1976
Box   4
Folder   28
Minnesota/Wisconsin boundary, 1971-1973
Box   4
Folder   29-31
Miscellany, 1974-1976
Box   4
Folder   32
Motor Vehicles, Division of, n.d.
Box   4
Folder   33
National Conference of State Legislatures, 1975-1976
Box   4
Folder   34
Natural Resources, Department of, 1973-1976
Box   4
Folder   35
Non-returnable bottles, 1975-1976
Box   4
Folder   36
Nuclear power, 1975
Box   4
Folder   37
Open meetings law, 1974
Box   4
Folder   38
Oregon School for Girls, 1975
Box   4
Folder   39
Payment for municipal services program, 1973-1974
Box   4
Folder   40
Post offices, 1973
Box   4
Folder   41
Prevailing wage rates, 1975-1976
Box   4
Folder   42
Questionnaires (sent to JNA), 1975
Box   4
Folder   43
Rape laws, 1975
Box   4
Folder   44
Requests by JNA, 1974-1976
Box   4
Folder   45
Sales permits, 1975
Box   4
Folder   46
Social Security, 1975
Box   4
Folder   47-48
State Building Commission, 1975-1976
Box   4
Folder   49
Bonding, 1976
Box   4
Folder   50
Gift policy, 1976
Box   4
Folder   51
State Building Corporation, 1975
Box   4
Folder   52
State Elections Board, 1974
Box   4
Folder   53
State employees unions, 1975
Box   4
Folder   54
State Ethics Board, 1973-1976
Box   4
Folder   55
State Historical Society, 1971-1976
Box   4
Folder   56
State Life Fund, 1975
Box   4
Folder   57
State Park trails, 1975
Box   4
Folder   58
Tarr Task Force, n.d.
Taxes
Box   4
Folder   59
Miscellaneous, 1969-1976
Box   4
Folder   60
County equalization proposal, 1975
Box   4
Folder   61
Gas and registration fee increases, 1975
Box   4
Folder   62
Property and Negative aid, 1975-1976
Box   5
Folder   1
Revenue sharing, 1973-1976
Box   5
Folder   2
Shared payment, 1975
Box   5
Folder   3
Thank you correspondence, 1975-1976
Box   5
Folder   4
Unemployment compensation, 1973-1976
Box   5
Folder   5
Unified boards, 1974-1975
Box   5
Folder   6
United Nations, 1971
Box   5
Folder   7-8
Veterans affairs, 1974-1976
Box   5
Folder   9
Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, n.d.
Box   5
Folder   10
Wisconsin Manufacturers Association, 1975-1976
Box   5
Folder   11
Wisconsin Power and Light, 1974-1976
Box   5
Folder   12
Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, 1971-1975
Box   5
Folder   13
Wisconsin Towns Association, 1975
Box   5
Folder   14
Workmens' Compensation, 1969-1974
Political
Box   5
Folder   15
America Party, 1974
Box   5
Folder   16
Cabinet form of government, 1975
Box   5
Folder   17
Campaign 1976, 49th District, 1976
Box   5
Folder   18
Campaign finances, 1973-1975
Box   5
Folder   19
Committee appointments, 1974-1975
Box   5
Folder   20
Democratic Party of Wisconsin, 1975
Box   5
Folder   21
Legislative questionnaires completed by Azim, 1974
Box   5
Folder   22
Lucey, Patrick, 1971-1975
Box   5
Folder   23
Miscellaneous, 1972-1976
Box   5
Folder   24
Open primary, 1975-1976
Box   5
Folder   25
Presidential campaign, 1975-1976
Box   5
Folder   26
Republican conference, 1975
Box   5
Folder   27
Republican national convention, 1976
Box   5
Folder   28
Republican Party of Grant County, 1975-1976
Box   5
Folder   29
Republican Party, Third District, 1973-1976
Box   5
Folder   30
Republican Party, Wisconsin, 1973-1976
Box   5
Folder   31
Republican Party, Wisconsin, College, 1973-1975
Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Box   5
Folder   32
Meeting notices, 1974-1975
Box   6
Folder   1
Minutes of meetings, 1970-1976
Box   6
Folder   2
Application and Project Review Committee, 1971
Box   6
Folder   3
Economic Development Committee, 1974
Box   6
Folder   4
Miscellany, 1973-1976
Box   6
Folder   5
Muscoda project, 1975
Policy application and project reviews,
Box   6
Folder   6-9
1971-1975
Box   7
Folder   1-2
1975, Continued
Box   7
Folder   3
Quality of life report, 1974
Box   7
Folder   4
Withdrawal, 1974-1975
Box   7
Folder   5
Transportation, 1975
Series: Bill Files
Box   7
Folder   6-9
1965-1966 session, Assembly bills
1967-1968 session
Assembly bills
Box   7
Folder   10-17
3-543
Box   8
Folder   1-5
544-Assembly joint resolutions
Box   8
Folder   6-11
Senate bills
Box   9
Folder   1
1971-1972, SB 257
1973-1974 session
Box   9
Folder   1a-4
Assembly bills, 3-1539
Box   9
Folder   4a
Senate bills, 342-814
1975-1976 session
Box   9
Folder   5-20
Assembly bills, 3-1480
Box   9
Folder   21
Assembly joint resolutions
Senate bills
Box   9
Folder   22
1-97
Box   10
Folder   1-6
105-837
Box   10
Folder   7
Senate joint resolutions