Title: David J. Fries Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1954-1972

Creator:

• Fries, David J., 1930-

Call Number: Whitewater Mss AX

Quantity: 0.2 c.f. (1 archives box)

Repository:

Housed at the University Archives & Area Research Center, Harold Andersen Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

UW-Whitewater Library / Whitewater Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Fragmentary papers of Fries, a Watertown, Wisconsin, attorney and Socialist Party official who was also a frequent political candidate of the Democratic Party. Socialist Party papers include proposals and project papers, memos, press releases, and statements authored by Fries and a folder of memos concerning his work as editor of the Socialist Tribune. The remainder consists of correspondence, 1968-1972, newspaper clippings, and Democratic Party campaign literature.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-whit00ax

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Fries was born March 9, 1930 in Racine, and was educated in local schools prior to receiving his BA (1952) and LLB (1957) degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has been a practicing attorney in Watertown since 1959, and served four years as Watertown City Attorney. Among his other political and civic positions, Fries has served as chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic Party, as president of the Americans for Democratic Action, and as director of the Jefferson County Mental Health Association. As a Democrat, Fries unsuccessfully ran for several political offices, among them the State Senate, and his dual allegiance to both the Democrats and the Socialist Party led to controversy at the time of his candidacies. Fries also held a variety of positions within the Socialist Party, including secretary-treasurer, and editor of the Socialist Tribune newspaper.

The papers present an incomplete picture of Fries' political activity. A folder of Fries' correspondence contains letters and copies regarding Socialist politics, with a few other items. There is a letter to the editor which illustrates Fries' anti-Vietnam War views. Papers on Fries' Democratic Party activities consist of newspaper clippings and campaign literature, scattered throughout the period 1954 to 1971. His Socialist Party papers include proposals and project papers apparently written by Fries on a variety of subjects; a few memos, press releases, and other statements, also authored by Fries. A folder of material about the Socialist Tribune mainly consists of Fries' memos and printed memos regarding the administrative functioning of the paper.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Roberta Fries, Watertown, Wisconsin, 1974. Accession Number: M74-523

Box   1 Folder   1	Biographical Sketches
Box   1 Folder   2	Correspondence, 1968-1972
Box   1 Folder   3	Fries' Democratic Party Activities, 1954-1971
Box   1 Folder   4	Miscellany
Box   1 Folder   5	Socialist Party Papers, 1968-1971
Box   1 Folder   6	Socialist Party U.S.A. - Debs Caucus Papers, undated
Box   1 Folder   7	Socialist Tribune Material, 1970-1971
Box   1 Folder   8	Writings and Notes re: Socialist Party, undated