Summary Information
Jeremiah Rusk Papers
1862-1898
- Rusk, Jeremiah McLain, 1830-1893
Wis Mss ER
4.0 c.f. (4 archives boxes, 7 flat boxes, and 1 oversize folder)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Private correspondence and letter books of Jeremiah Rusk, a Wisconsin Republican congressman (1871-1877), governor (1882-1889), and the first United States Secretary of Agriculture (1889-1893), particularly concerning state and national elections and his tenure as Secretary of Agriculture. There are some official papers concerning his military service with the 25th Wisconsin Infantry and scant incoming correspondence concerning his years in Congress and as governor. Also included is Rusk's correspondence as Secretary of Agriculture.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-wis000er ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Scope and Content Note
These papers particularly concern state and national elections and Rusk's tenure as Secretary of Agriculture. There are some official papers concerning his military service with the 25th Wisconsin Infantry and some incoming correspondence concerning his years in Congress and as governor. The years as governor are, however, well covered by four volumes of outgoing private letters. These volumes are not indexed. Gubernatorial correspondence of a more official nature is part of State Archives Series 33 and 34 at the Historical Society. One of the two events most associated with Rusk's administration--the bankruptcy of the Chicago, Portage, and Superior Railroad and his response to the plight of its employees--is documented in State Archives Series 44.
Prominent Wisconsin figures whose letters are scattered throughout the correspondence include Romanzo Bunn, Angus Cameron, Matthew H. Carpenter, Lucien B. Caswell, Lucius Fairchild, Richard Guenther, Nils P. Haugen, W. D. Hoard, Timothy O. Howe, Elisha W. Keyes, Charles King, Robert M. La Follette, Sr., Horace Rublee, Henry C. Payne, Horace Rublee, Philetus Sawyer, John C. Spooner, Isaac Stephenson, and Cadwallader C. Washburn.
Rusk's correspondence as Secretary of Agriculture consists of nine volumes of letters sent and boxed incoming letters. This mail, which is indexed, should be considered as private, as compared to Rusk's official correspondence held by the National Archives. Nevertheless, some official matters are covered. Matters touched upon include the St. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad land grant, the location of bridges across the Mississippi River, Rusk's cabinet ambitions, the 1889 silver issue, the Bennett Law, state treasurer suits of the early 1890s, the state reapportionment law of 1891, and dissatisfaction of the shipping interests with the administration of President Harrison. Material relating to the Department of Agriculture deals with the opening of European markets to American meat and livestock, pleuro-pneumonia eradication, Texas fever prevention, oleomargarine, inspection activities, newspaper criticism, various agriculture organizations, and departmental personnel. Some information on the influence of politics on appointments and its connection with inspection and law enforcement work is suggested by letters from Marcus A. Hanna, Algernon S. Paddock, Nelson Morris and Philip D. Armour, both Chicago packers, and others. Other national correspondents of prominence include James G. Blaine; Roscoe Conkling; James A. Garfield, a long-time friend; Benjamin Harrison and members of his Presidential campaign committee; Garret A. Hobart, John A. Logan, and John W. Noble.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Mary Rusk, 1926.
Contents List
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Incoming Correspondence
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Box
1
Folder
1-4
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1861-1889 March
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Box
2
Folder
1-4
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1889 April-1890
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Box
3
Folder
1-4
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1891-1892 June
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Box
4
Folder
1-6
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1892 July-1898; undated
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Letterbooks
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Box
5
Folder
1
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1866-1869
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Box
5
Folder
2
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1882-1884 September 22
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Box
6
Folder
1
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1884 September 27-1886 February 20
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Box
6
Folder
2
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1886 February 24-1887 September 17
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Box
7
Folder
1
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1887 September 19-1888 December 13
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Box
7
Folder
2
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1889 March 20-May 17
: Also includes letters of Norman J. Colman, Commissioner of Agriculture, April 15, 1885-October 5, 1888.
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Box
8
Folder
1
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1889 May 17-July 23 (Book 2)
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Box
8
Folder
2
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1889 June 23-December 6 (Book 3)
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Box
9
Folder
1
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1889 December 6-1890 May 21 (Book 4)
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Box
9
Folder
2
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1890 May 24-1891 February 16 (Book 5)
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Box
10
Folder
1
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1891 February 18-September 2 (Book 6)
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Box
10
Folder
2
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1891 September 2-1892 March 17
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Box
11
Folder
1
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1892 March 18-1893 January 11
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Box
11
Folder
2
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1893 January 14-March 6
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Box
4
Folder
7
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Speeches, undated
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Miscellany, undated
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Box
4
Folder
8
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Regular size items
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Oversize Folder
1
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Commissions, certificates, and oversize items
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