Summary Information
Earl Chapin Writings
1951-1973
River Falls Mss AU; River Falls Micro 15; Micro 1050
1.4 c.f. (4 archives boxes) and 2 reels of microfilm (35mm)
UW-River Falls, Chalmer Davee Library / River Falls Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Clipped newspaper writings by Chapin, a feature writer for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, consisting of historical articles based in 17 western Wisconsin counties as well as stories about contemporary Wisconsin people and events; comprising series organized by place, by subject, and by date.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-rf00au ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Earl Chapin is best known as the western Wisconsin correspondent for the St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press, a position he held between 1951 and his death in 1973. During these twenty-two years, Chapin regularly contributed news items, columns, and feature stories, often of a historical nature. He covered a seventeen-county area, stretching from Superior, Wisconsin, to Prairie du Chien.
Chapin was born at Badger, Minnesota, on January 10, 1910, and graduated from Roseau (MN) High School. Working his way through college, he received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Minnesota in 1943, after several years of interrupted study. Mr. Chapin devoted most of his life to journalism and writing: as a free-lance writer, publisher of a small-town weekly newspaper, and correspondent for the Pioneer Press. Chapin died on November 18, 1973, following a long illness.
Earl Chapin began his professional writing career in 1930, producing short informative features for juvenile magazines. His early articles appeared in such periodicals as The Pioneer, Evangelical Tidings, Youth's World, Open Road for Boys, Onward, and Boy's Life.
Chapin turned to writing juvenile fiction, circa 1933. Many of these pieces were published in journals such as The Boy's World. At the same time, he also wrote articles which appeared in what he referred to as “slick-paper magazines:” American Home, Country Home, Modern Mechanix, Farm Journal, Outdoor Life, Author and Journalist, and Forum. Much of his work during the 1940s and early 1950s appeared in church publications for youth, including Classmate (Methodist), The Young Catholic Messenger, Young People (Baptist), and Our Young People (Lutheran). The story which brought him the most attention, “The Great Drop Game” (1957), has appeared in five junior high English textbooks, and in Boy's Life Treasury. Chapin engaged in free-lance writing throughout his entire career. In all, he composed more than 200 short stories and articles.
In December 1935, Chapin joined the Minnesota Writers' Project, of the federal Work Projects Administration. In February 1936, he became state editor of the project, which produced Minnesota: A State Guide (1937).
Earl Chapin resigned from the Writers' Project in 1937, and began his career as a newspaper journalist with the purchase of the Warroad (MN) Pioneer, which he edited and published until 1945. He wrote numerous historical articles for the Pioneer, as well as various local and regional history booklets. While at the Pioneer, Chapin also compiled a short history of the Roseau Valley for Minnesota History, the quarterly journal of the Minnesota Historical Society, and developed a system of commercial tourist guides for northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Chapin sold the newspaper in 1945, and devoted the next two years solely to free-lance writing.
Mr. Chapin began his long association with the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1947, accepting a position as “roving” out-state Minnesota reporter. Initially locating in the St. Paul area, he soon returned to Roseau where, in 1948, he worked as Roseau County Assessor, while continuing to contribute to the Pioneer Press. Chapin resigned as assessor after two years, in order to write his first book Long Wednesdays. Awaiting publication of the completed manuscript, he took a position in northern Minnesota with the state's Department of Revenue.
In 1951, Pioneer Press editor V. E. Fairbanks offered Chapin the position of “roving” reporter for Wisconsin. Chapin accepted, resigned from the Department of Revenue, and moved his family to Bayport, Minnesota. The Chapins purchased a home in Woodville, Wisconsin, in 1954. As “Roving Reporter,” Chapin traveled extensively throughout seventeen western Wisconsin counties, producing feature articles concerning the people he met and the places he visited.
In addition to Long Wednesdays, Chapin was the author of Heavy Water (1954), a juvenile adventure story; Wonderful Western Wisconsin (1967), a compilation of selected features, columns, and pictures pertaining to western Wisconsin; and The Angle of Incidents (1970), a history of Warroad, Minnesota, and the Northwest Angle country. In addition, Chapin edited the Woodville Centennial Book (1970). Earl Chapin's Tales of Wisconsin (1973) is a selection of some of his stories and columns. Each of these volumes is in the River Falls Area Research Center. At the time of his death in 1973, Mr. Chapin had completed six chapters of yet another book, a fictional history set in the days of the fur trade.
The family for several years operated the House of Memories museum, which was housed in a former country school building located at the intersection of highways 29 and 63 near Martell, in Pierce County, Wisconsin. The museum was organized in 1958 by the Chapins to help finance the education of their children; it was staffed by Mrs. Chapin and the children. The museum was closed, circa 1963.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of articles written by Earl Chapin, clipped from the pages of the Wisconsin edition of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, from 1951 to 1973. Together, they form a nearly complete collection of Chapin's work as Wisconsin's “Roving Reporter.”
Historical articles concerning the people, places, and industries of western Wisconsin dominate the collection, reflecting Chapin's special interest in local and regional history. News stories and features about contemporary people and events are included as well. Chapin's by-line on those pieces is simply “staff writer.”
The collection is organized into five series: (1) Places (1960-1973), (2) Roving Reporter Columns (1960-1973), (3) Subjects (1960-1973), (4) Microfilm: Places (1951-1961), and (5) Microfilm: Chronological (1951-1961).
The material comprising series 1-3 was received in random order. The archives staff has therefore created the arrangement reflected in the folder titles listed below. Series 4 and 5 consist of scrapbooks, into which Chapin had pasted his earlier articles, and for which an index has been provided. These series have been microfilmed.
Chapin failed to date most of his articles. The archives staff has been able to determine an approximate date for most of the pieces, while many others, particularly those found in series 1-3, remain undated. Additionally, Chapin seldom gives any indication as to the informational sources of his historical articles.
The Chapin collection is especially useful as a basic resource for the researcher interested in the history of western Wisconsin and the St. Croix Valley. It is of greatest value as a source of general information and interesting anecdotes, particularly helpful as a starting place for more advanced research.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Mrs. Earl (Myrtle) Chapin and family, 1973.
Processed by David Peterson and Susan Steinwall, January, 1985.
Contents List
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River Falls Mss AU
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Series: Places, 1960-1973
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Alma, 1972, 1973
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Almena, 1970
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Alpha, 1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Altoona, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1970, undated
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Amery, 1968, 1970-1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Arcadia, 1968, 1971, 1972
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Arland, undated
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Ashland, 1965-1969, 1971, 1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Augusta, 1968
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Baldwin, 1967, 1969-1971, undated
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Balsam Lake, 1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
12
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Baraboo, undated
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Box
1
Folder
13
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Barre Mills, 1970
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Box
1
Folder
14
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Barron, 1971, 1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
15
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Barron County, 1966
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Box
1
Folder
16
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Bay City, 1966
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Box
1
Folder
17
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Bayfield County, 1971, undated
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Box
1
Folder
18
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Black River Falls, 1968, 1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
19
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Bloomer, 1971, 1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
20
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Boyceville, 1967, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
21
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Boyd, 1965, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
22
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Brill, undated
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Box
1
Folder
23
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Bruce, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, undated
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Box
1
Folder
24
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Burnett County, undated
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Box
1
Folder
25
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Cable, 1971, 1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
26
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Cameron, 1971, 1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
27
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Campia, 1964, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
28
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Canton, 1970
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Box
1
Folder
29
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Centuria, undated
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Box
1
Folder
30
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Chetek, 1971, 1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
31
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Chippewa County, undated
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Box
1
Folder
32
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Chippewa Falls, 1969-1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
33
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Clam Falls, 1963, 1970
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Box
1
Folder
34
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Clam Lake, undated
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Box
1
Folder
35
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Clayton, 1973
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Box
1
Folder
36
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Clear Lake, 1972, 1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
37
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Cochrane, 1966, 1971-1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
38
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Colfax, 1965, 1970, 1973
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Box
1
Folder
39
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Conrath, undated
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Box
1
Folder
40
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Coon Valley, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
41
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Coral City, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
42
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Cornell, 1968, 1971, 1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
43
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Cornucopia, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
44
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Courderay, 1966
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Box
1
Folder
45
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Cumberland, 1971, 1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
46
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Cushing, 1966, 1967, undated
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Box
1
Folder
47
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Dallas, 1969, 1970, 1972
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Box
1
Folder
48
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Danbury, 1965, 1968-1970, 1971, undated
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Box
1
Folder
49
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Deer Park, 1965, 1968-1970, undated
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Box
1
Folder
50
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Deronda, 1968
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Box
1
Folder
51
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Diamond Bluff, 1967, undated
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Box
1
Folder
52
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Downsville, 1972, 1973
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Box
1
Folder
53
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Drummond, 1969, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
54
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Dunhill, undated
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Box
1
Folder
55
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Durand, 1971, 1972, undated
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Box
1
Folder
56
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Eau Claire, 1970-1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
57
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Eau Galle, 1970, undated
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Box
1
Folder
58
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El Paso, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
59
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Eleva, 1970-1972
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Box
1
Folder
60
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Elk Mound, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
61
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Ellsworth, 1973
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Box
1
Folder
62
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Elmwood, 1972
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Box
1
Folder
63
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Ettrick, 1969, 1970
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Box
1
Folder
64
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Exeland, 1968
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Box
1
Folder
65
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Fairchild, 1968, 1970, 1972. undated
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Box
1
Folder
66
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Foster, 1969
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Box
1
Folder
67
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Fountain City, 1972
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Box
1
Folder
68
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Frederic, 1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
69
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Galesville, 1972
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Box
1
Folder
70
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Genoa, undated
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Box
1
Folder
71
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Gilman, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1971
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Box
1
Folder
72
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Gilmanton, 1964, undated
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Box
1
Folder
73
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Glen Flora, 1964-1966
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Box
1
Folder
74
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Glenwood City, 1972, 1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
75
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Grandview, 1969
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Box
1
Folder
76
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Grantsburg, 1965, 1966, 1969, undated
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Box
1
Folder
77
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Greenwood, 1973
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Box
1
Folder
78
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Hammond, 1971, undated
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Box
1
Folder
79
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Hannibal, undated
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Box
1
Folder
80
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Haugen, 1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
81
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Hayward, 1972, 1973, undated
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Box
1
Folder
82
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Hershey, 1968, undated
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Hertel, 1969
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Hillsdale, 1964
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Hixton, 1964, 1967
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Holcombe, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1972, undated
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Houlton, 1969
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Hudson, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1971-1973, undated
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Huntington, 1964
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Independence, 1966-1968, undated
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Iron River, 1969
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Island Lake, 1973
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Jump River, undated
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Box
2
Folder
12
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Knapp, 1966, undated
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Box
2
Folder
13
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La Pointe, 1968, 1971, undated
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Box
2
Folder
14
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Ladysmith, 1972, 1973
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Box
2
Folder
15
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Lake Nebagamon, 1972
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Box
2
Folder
16
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Lewis, 1969, undated
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Box
2
Folder
17
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Luck, undated
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Box
2
Folder
18
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Maiden Rock, 1965-1968
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Box
2
Folder
19
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Markville, Minnesota, 1965, undated
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Box
2
Folder
20
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Melrose, 1972
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Box
2
Folder
21
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Menomonie, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1973, undated
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Box
2
Folder
22
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Minong, 1966, 1967
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Box
2
Folder
23
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Mondovi, 1964-1967, 1969-1971
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Box
2
Folder
24
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Nelson, 1969
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Box
2
Folder
25
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New Auburn, 1967, 1970, undated
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Box
2
Folder
26
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New Post, 1968
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Box
2
Folder
27
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New Richmond, 1968-1971, undated
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Box
2
Folder
28
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Osceola, undated
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Box
2
Folder
29
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Pepin, undated
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Box
2
Folder
30
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Pepin, Lake, 1970, undated
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Box
2
Folder
31
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Pierce County, undated
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Box
2
Folder
32
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Plum City, 1963, 1964, 1966-1970, 1973, undated
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Box
2
Folder
33
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Polk County, 1964, 1969, 1973, undated
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Box
2
Folder
34
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Port Wing, 1972
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Box
2
Folder
35
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Poskin, 1973
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Box
2
Folder
36
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Prairie du Chien, 1972, 1973
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Box
3
Folder
37
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Prairie Farm, 1963, 1970, undated
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Box
2
Folder
38
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Prescott, 1967, 1968, 1970-1972, undated
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Box
2
Folder
39
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Radisson, 1965, 1966, undated
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Box
2
Folder
40
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Range, 1967
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Box
2
Folder
41
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Reserve, 1965, 1972
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Box
2
Folder
42
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Rice Lake, 1963-1972, undated
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Box
2
Folder
43
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Ridgeland, 1967-1969
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Box
2
Folder
44
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River Falls, 1965-1972, undated
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Box
2
Folder
45
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Riverside, 1968
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Box
2
Folder
46
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Roberts, 1964, 1966-1969, 1971, undated
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Box
2
Folder
47
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Rock Elm, 1966
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Box
2
Folder
48
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Rusk County, 1964-1966, 1969, undated
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Box
2
Folder
49
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St. Croix County, 1972, undated
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Box
2
Folder
50
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St. Croix Falls, 1963-1967, 1969-1973, undated
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Box
2
Folder
51
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St. Croix Valley, 1964, undated
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Box
2
Folder
52
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Sand Creek, 1965, 1973, undated
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Box
2
Folder
53
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Sand Lake, 1972
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Box
2
Folder
54
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Sarona, 1969, undated
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Box
2
Folder
55
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Sawyer County, undated
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Box
2
Folder
56
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Seely, 1971, 1972
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Box
2
Folder
57
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Sheldon, 1965, 1966
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Box
2
Folder
58
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Shell Lake, 1964, 1968-1970, 1972-73, undated
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Box
2
Folder
59
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Siren, 1964-1967, 1970, 1971, undated
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Box
2
Folder
60
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Somerset 1960, 1964-65, 1967-68, 1971, undated
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Box
2
Folder
61
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Spider Lake, 1971, 1973
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Box
2
Folder
62
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Spooner, 1963-1973, undated
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Box
2
Folder
63
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Spring Valley, 1963-1970, 1972, 1973, undated
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Box
2
Folder
64
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Springbrook, 1964, 1965
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Box
2
Folder
65
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Stanley, 1964, 1967-1969, undated
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Box
3
Folder
1
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Star Prairie, 1964, 1968-69, 1971-72, undated
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Box
3
Folder
2
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Stillwater, Minnesota, 1965
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Stockholm, 1960, 1970, 1972
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Stoddard, 1970, undated
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Box
3
Folder
5
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Stone Lake, 1964, 1970, 1971, 1973
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Box
3
Folder
6
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Strum, 1964, 1967, undated
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Box
3
Folder
7
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Superior, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970-1973, undated
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Box
3
Folder
8
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Taylor's Falls, Minnesota, 1966
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Thorp, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Tony, 1964, 1965, 1972, undated
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Box
3
Folder
11
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Trego, undated
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Box
3
Folder
12
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Trempealeau, 1966, 1967, 1970, undated
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Box
3
Folder
13
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Turtle Lake, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, undated
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Box
3
Folder
14
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Vanceburg, 1970
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Box
3
Folder
15
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Victory, undated
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Box
3
Folder
16
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Volga, 1964
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Box
3
Folder
17
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Wacouta, Minnesota, circa 1947
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Box
3
Folder
18
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Wanderoos, undated
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Box
3
Folder
19
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Washburn, 1971, undated
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Box
3
Folder
20
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Waubeek, undated
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Box
3
Folder
21
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Webb Lake, undated
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Box
3
Folder
22
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Webster, 1964-1970, 1972, undated
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Box
3
Folder
23
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West Salem, 1967, undated
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Box
3
Folder
24
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Weston, undated
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Box
3
Folder
25
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Weyerhaeuser, 1964, 1970, 1973, undated
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Box
3
Folder
26
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Wheeler, 1964, 1969, undated
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Box
3
Folder
27
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Whitehall, 1965-1969, 1971, 1973, undated
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Box
3
Folder
28
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Wildwood, undated
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Box
3
Folder
29
|
Wilson, 1967
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Box
3
Folder
30
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Winter, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1970-1972, undated
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Box
3
Folder
31
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Wisconsin Dells, 1970
|
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Box
3
Folder
32
|
Wisconsin, State of, 1967, 1971, undated
|
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Box
3
Folder
33
|
Woodville, 1963, 1965-1969, 1971, undated
|
|
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Series: Roving Reporter Columns, 1960-1973
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Box
3
Folder
34
|
1963
|
|
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Box
3
Folder
35
|
1964
|
|
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Box
3
Folder
36
|
1965
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|
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Box
3
Folder
37
|
1966
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|
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Box
3
Folder
38
|
1967
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|
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Box
3
Folder
39
|
circa 1963-1967
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Box
3
Folder
40
|
1968
|
|
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Box
3
Folder
41
|
1969
|
|
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Box
3
Folder
42
|
1970
|
|
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Box
3
Folder
43
|
circa 1966-1970
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|
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Box
3
Folder
44
|
1971
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
45
|
1972
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
46
|
circa 1970-1972
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
47
|
1973
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
48
|
circa 1971-1973
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
49
|
1951, 1961, 1964-1973, undated
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
50
|
Undated
|
|
|
Series: Subjects, 1960-1973
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
1
|
Census, 1970
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
2
|
Cheese, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
3
|
Colleges, Wisconsin, 1970, 1971
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
4
|
Golf, 1971
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
5
|
House of Memories, museum, 1960
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
6
|
Indian Scare of 1862, 1970
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
7
|
Let's Take a Trip, 1968, 1971, 1972, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
8
|
Neighborhood Youth Project, 1965
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
9
|
Newspapers, 1965, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
10
|
Politics, 1964, 1969, 1970
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
11
|
Sanguine Project, 1968-1970, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
12
|
Schools, western Wisconsin, 1964, 1965, 1972, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
13
|
Smoking, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
14
|
Snowmobiling, 1971, 1972
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
15
|
Steamboats, 1964, 1965
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
16
|
Story Ideas, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
17
|
Trail of Tears, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
18
|
Training School, northern Wisconsin, 1965
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
19
|
Wisconsin, University of, 1967, 1968, 1972, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
20
|
Wisconsin, University of, River-Falls, 1963, 1966-1972, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
21
|
Writings, other, 1939, circa 1961, 1970, 1973
|
|
|
River Falls Micro 15/Micro 1050
Reel
1
|
Series: Microfilm: Places, 1951-1961
|
|
|
Reel
1-2
|
Series: Microfilm: Chronological, 1951-1961
|
|
|
