Summary Information
Aldric Revell Papers
1933-1957
- Revell, Aldric, 1910-1965
U.S. Mss 158AF; PH 4719
0.8 cubic feet (2 archives boxes) and 0.1 cubic feet of posters (1 oversize folder)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Aldric Revell, a reporter and editorial writer for the Madison (Wisconsin) Capital Times known for his coverage of political and labor matters. The collection consists of correspondence, writings, and biographical material. Correspondence, primarily incoming, includes fan mail and letters concerning assignments for Time and Life and his appointment as a Nieman Fellow. Prominent correspondents include William T. Evjue, Glenn Davis, Robert M. La Follette Jr., Philip F. La Follette, and Frank P. Zeidler. Writings, which have been extensively weeded to remove material readily available on microfilm in the Society library, include unpublished articles, essays, speeches, radio scripts, and biographical sketches. Posters are also included.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0158af ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Aldric Revell, reporter and editorial writer for the Madison Capital Times, was born in Trinidad, West Indies, in 1910. At the age of fourteen he and his family immigrated to Brooklyn, New York. Revell matriculated at the University of Wisconsin, earning his B.A. in comparative literature in 1934. While a student at the university, Revell worked as a reporter for the Daily Cardinal and wrote a column entitled “Light Wines.”
For a short time in 1935 Revell was editor of the Oshkosh Free Press, but he left that position later the same year to join the staff of the Capital Times. Except for a year of study as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard (1948-1949), Revell was to remain with that paper until his death. During his career with the Times, Revell became well known for his coverage of political and labor matters through his regularly-featured editorial columns. During the 1940s he also broadcast a program of news commentary over the Capital Times' radio station, WIBA. In addition, Revell was a stringer for Time and Life, and he occasionally contributed articles to the New York Times. His other professional interests included presidency of the Madison Newspaper Guild and vice-presidency of the Guild's Midwest District Council.
Revell was also active in union and cooperative circles and was a prominent member of the Wisconsin Socialist Party. At one time he served as president of the Dane County Industrial Union and vice-president of the Wisconsin CIO. For several years he served as editor of Wisconsin Commonwealth, the monthly publication of the state's socialist party.
Revell died in Madison on March 8, 1965.
Scope and Content Note
The Aldric Revell Papers are primarily comprised of correspondence, writings by Revell, and biographical material. The collection provides documentation of varying depth, but in general it affords good insights into Revell's multifaceted career as reporter, writer, broadcaster, union activist, and socialist. For the most part the materials date from the earlier years of Revell's career.
The CORRESPONDENCE, which is primarily incoming, is of several types: general correspondence, fan mail, correspondence with Time and Life, and correspondence concerning his Nieman Fellowship. Although the general correspondence tends to be disappointing in the documentation it affords concerning Revell's career, the list of prominent correspondents includes individuals who were important in Wisconsin and national politics. Among his correspondents are Thomas Amlie, Glenn Davis, William T. Evjue, Philip La Follette, Gaylord Nelson, Oscar Rennebohm, Walter P. Reuther, and Norman Thomas.
Revell's fan mail divides into two categories: correspondence in response to his newspaper columns and letters regarding his radio broadcasts. In the former category his most prominent admirers were Robert M. La Follette Jr., Wayne Morse, Joseph McCarthy, and Frank Zeidler.
The correspondence with Time and Life deals with Revell's assignments as a stringer for the Luce publications. This section also includes a copy of Life's 1948 photo essay on Madison by Alfred Eisenstaedt for which Revell did the background research. The final correspondence section includes an assortment of correspondence and clippings dealing with Revell's appointment as a Nieman Fellow.
Revell's WRITINGS have been extensively weeded to remove by-lined articles and editorials which appeared in the Capital Times and the Daily Cardinal; these articles are readily available to the researcher on microfilm. Articles which appeared in other publications have been retained. Revell's other writings include speeches and notes, radio scripts, unpublished articles, college essays, an unpublished play, and biographical sketches on Julius Heil, Frank Lloyd Wright, Robert M. La Follette Jr., and William T. Evjue.
The BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL is comprised of photocopied clippings from various newspapers.
VISUAL MATERIALS consists of three event posters.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Stella and Mary Revell, Madison, Wisconsin, February 11, 1976. Accession Number: M76-041
Processed by P. Bainton (FGH class) and Carolyn J. Mattern, 1977.
Contents List
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U.S. Mss 158AF
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Series: Correspondence
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Box
1
Folder
1-2
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General correspondence, 1938-1957
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Box
1
Folder
3-5
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Fan mail (newspaper), 1938-1953
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Fan mail (radio), 1947
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Time/Life correspondence, 1941-1948
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Nieman Fellowship correspondence, 1947-1949
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Series: Writings
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Published articles, 1939-1948
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Box
2
Folder
2
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College essays, 1933-1934
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Speeches and notes, 1940-1946
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Radio scripts, 1943-1948
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Unpublished articles and essays, undated
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Untitled play, undated
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Biographical sketches, undated
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Series: Biographical Material
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Clippings, 1939-1954
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Box
2
Folder
9-10
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Clippings, undated
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Series: Visual Materials
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PH 4719
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Posters, undated
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