Ada Lois James Papers, 1816-1952


Summary Information
Title: Ada Lois James Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1816-1952

Creator:
  • James, Ada Lois, 1876-1952
Call Number: Wis Mss OP; Micro 848

Quantity: 6.9 cubic feet (30 archives boxes and 1 oversize folder) and 6 reels of microfilm (35 mm)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:
Papers of Ada James, a social reformer, humanitarian, and pacifist residing in Richland Center, Wisconsin. Family correspondence, 1816-1904, contains material on her parents, David G. James and Laura Briggs James; these papers reflect her father's interest in employment for women, woman suffrage, spiritualism, birth control, and socialism. Among the volumes are also diaries, 1865, 1882-1904, and proceedings of the meetings of the Wisconsin Woman's Suffrage Association, 1885-1903, kept by her mother. Ada James' correspondence dates 1890-1952 and documents her suffrage activity in the Political Equality League, the Wisconsin Woman's Suffrage Association, and the National Woman's Party; and her work on behalf of pacifism, prohibition, and progressivism. After 1925 her correspondence deals principally with social work, particularly the founding and development of the Children's Board of Richland County.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-wis000op
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Biography/History

Ada James' family were pioneers in Wisconsin. Moving to Richland Center in the late 1840s from New Hampshire, George H. James opened a hardware store. David G. James clerked in his father's hardware store after serving in the Union Army and started courting Ada Briggs. After a three year courtship they were married in 1869. Shortly after the birth of a son, in August 1869 (Oscar B. James), Ada B. James died of tuberculosis.

By 1870 David James had taken over the hardware store. Business was good and he prospered, becoming prominent through activity in the G.A.R. The letters of this period, after his grief over his wife's death, show him turning to Laura Briggs, Ada's eclectic sister. Laura gave up teaching school to learn telegraphy as a profession at Oberlin College. D.G. insisted on helping her financially, and in the process fell in love with her. After a year or two of resisting marriage for the cause of pioneering in women's employment in telegraphy, she reconciled her conscience to the relative ease of marriage to D.G. They were married in 1873. Their first child, a son, was born in 1874 and died a year later. In 1876 Ada was born, Beulah in 1878, and Vida in 1887.

Laura Briggs James initiated the family interest in woman suffrage. In the late 1870s she was active in founding the Woman's Club of Richland Center, a group using the title as a mask for its suffrage activities. By 1920 this group was the oldest active suffrage group in Wisconsin. She attended the Wisconsin State Suffrage Conventions through 1903, apparently as secretary, since the minutes of the conventions are in her copybooks.

Despite complaints of ill health, she was also active and interested in other movements. She subscribed to magazines espousing spiritualism, the great I AM, birth control and sex freedom, Unitarianism, and socialism. Among her papers are several spirit messages from an aunt, Mrs. Eastland, and from her daughter Beulah who died of Bright's Disease in 1901, one month after she had married Robert DeLap. Laura Briggs James died in 1905.

Ada Lois James was born and grew up in Richland Center. The town claimed her activities and thoughts for most of her life. After graduating from high school, she taught school for a time, dabbled in painting and poetry, and tried to overlook her increasing deafness. She was moderately active in suffrage work in this period, but her interests were primarily social. These activities were side-lights against the focus of her life at this time --Charles Bingham Cornwall. In 1897 they were supposed to marry, but the opposition of parents and friends led her to delay. Eventually the affair broke off, and though, according to her diaries, there were other proposals of marriage, she never fell in love again. The letters of this courtship are very few, and seem to have been weeded. Her diaries show a sense of emptiness and a feeling of being “a nun in the world.” She emphasized love as the most important element of life, directing this feeling eventually to pacifism and social work with the Richland County Children's Board.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin and receiving treatment which arrested without curing her deafness, she assumed a prominent place in the suffrage movement. From this period on she and her father were leaders in the struggle for suffrage. In the summer of 1908 she went to Europe with three of her friends for two months. They kept an elaborate, illustrated (by Ada) journal of the trip.

In 1911 D.G. became a state senator, introducing a suffrage bill which passed the legislature but was defeated in a state referendum in 1912. The campaign of the Political Equality League, aided by the national woman suffrage organization, was defeated, Ada claimed, by the brewery interests who feared the strength of women in the WCTU and thought their vote would bring prohibition.

The material covering the 1911-1912 campaign opens with a few scattered letters to Senator James concerning various matters, including employment in the Capitol elsewhere and bills pending, a few of which were compulsory testing of cattle for tuberculosis, marking graves of Civil War veterans, and the Pension Law; but the bulk of the material covers the two years from 1911 to 1913, when Ada James was president of the Political Equality League, and later her activities in the Wisconsin Woman's Suffrage Association when the two organizations were combined.

The Political Equality League of Wisconsin was organized April 4, 1911, at the home of Dr. and Mrs. George W. Peckham of Milwaukee by women from various parts of the state who had worked during the previous winter to secure passage of the suffrage bill in the Wisconsin legislature. The following officers were elected: Ada James of Richland Center, president; Sarah James, Oshkosh, secretary; Mrs. W.M. Water, Richland Center, treasurer; and Mrs. Ben Hooper, Oshkosh, auditor. The vice presidents were: Henrietta C. Lyman of Madison, Mrs. George W. Peckham and H.A.J. Upham, Milwaukee, and Rose Swart and Mrs. B.C. Gudden of Oshkosh.

The object of the league was to organize campaign committees in every county and in this way reach the voters of the state. Headquarters were opened in the Wells Building in Milwaukee and many letters are to be found in the collection concerning this venture. A clipping bureau supplied the office with everything written by Wisconsin newspapers on the subject of suffrage. A press committee was appointed to answer all adverse articles and to correct all misstatements on woman suffrage that might appear in the press. In July speeches were made from automobiles and in the parks and on the street corners. During the month of August eighty-one outdoor meetings were held in eight different counties as people would not go inside a hall during the intense heat. In September the county and state fairs presented opportunities for making speeches and distributing literature. Late fall and winter brought conventions, institutes, and clubs into activity, and an effort was made to get suffrage speakers of national and international reputation among whom were Harriet Grim, Belle Case La Follette, Reverend Olympia Brown, Sylvia Pankhurst, and others. Considerable correspondence is to be found concerning all of these matters.

Hundreds of dollars worth of literature was distributed and articles of special interest mailed to farmers. The press committee, of which Theodora Youmans of Waukesha was chair, issued a weekly bulletin which was mailed to more than 500 newspapers in the state and frequent large meetings were held in theaters and churches under the direction of the campaign manager, Crystal Eastman Benedict. Harriet Grim spent several months lecturing in the state for the league and Alice Curtis devoted her time to county organizations for the campaign. Despite these efforts, the measure was defeated in 1912.

Both the Woman's Suffrage Association and the Political Equality League were active during the campaign of 1911-1912, but some weeks after the election the two organizations were combined under the name of the former and Mrs. Youmans of Waukesha was chosen president and Ada James a member of the committee. Although work started on a 1913 campaign, the letters in this collection stop late in 1913 and continue in 1914 with suffrage bulletins.

From 1914 to 1918 the letters take on a slightly different tone. Pure food laws, the Prohibition Party, peace, and the Woman's Party are mentioned and in 1917 Miss James severed her connection with the Wisconsin Suffrage Association to become a member of the National Woman's Party. In a letter dated November 20?, 1917. she explained her position to Mrs. Youmans:

It has been understood for some time that I was working with the Woman's Party, the W.S.A., or any organization which seemed to be doing effective work. I have believed for years that it is as deadly to suffrage to have one organization as it would be to politics to have but one political party. I have gone all over this before so I think my position is clearly understood and that everyone of the W.S.A. board knows that I was converted to the methods employed by the Woman's Party. I believe so earnestly that they are doing good that I am humiliated and ashamed to be out of Ocoquan [the workhouse near Washington, D.C., where Suffragette pickets were imprisoned]. You do not see it in this light but I am sure you know me well enough to believe that I am true in my conviction always--except perhaps in this Ocoquan matter, I cannot bring my weak self to leave my father, but I am making no excuses for myself, believing as I do I should be there.

Mrs. Youmans replied November 22, 1917:

We are sorry to have you leave our organization but I know that your heart hasn't been with us for a long time. Such being the case a separation is probably best. There is no question in the mind of anyone who knows you that you are doing what you think to be right. I must confess that it seems to me you would not be benefiting yourself or anyone else by going to jail so I am glad that your father is acting as a deterrent in that direction. Be assured always of my warm personal feeling for you. We may work along different channels for a little while but I fancy that we shall all be working together for certain civic ends when the Federal Amendment is finally passed and endorsed.

During World War I Ada James developed a belief in pacifism which remained with her throughout her life. She subscribed to organizations such as the War Resisters' League, leftist and socialist organizations, and opposed the continuance of the National Guard, ROTC, state militia, and federal troops in the 1930s and early 1940s. She was bitter about lack of participation in the League of Nations and military aid to Japan in the 1930s.

Unfortunately there is a gap in the diaries between 1921 and 1929, the period in which she was most active politically on the state level. This was due partially to her discovery of her cancer, which was eventually cured, and to her father's death. As a result, though she had aided in the founding of the Children's Board in 1920 and had established the James Memorial Fund in 1922 to supplement the board's activities, she was relatively inactive on the board until 1930, when she became an active case worker and eventually chairman of the board. She resigned this last in 1949.

Women had barely received the vote before Miss James found herself in a heated political situation. Levi H. Bancroft, whose record on prohibition and suffrage she judged to be lacking, had been appointed judge. In the spring primary of 1921 he campaigned for re-election to the position. Ada James persuaded Sherman E. Smalley to campaign against him for the Republican nomination. Smalley won, despite the recount demanded by Bancroft.

After the primaries, lawsuits descended upon all who had been active in the campaign. Bancroft began with four slander and libel suits against R.P. Hutton, head of the Anti-Saloon League; P.L. Lincoln, a lawyer and cousin of Ada; Judge Smalley; and Ada herself.

The case against Smalley was dismissed, and the one against Hutton was suspended. Ada and Lincoln continued their countersuits until the springof 1922 when, by mutual consent and an apology from Bancroft, both were dropped.

In 1922 the association begun with Robert M. La Follette Sr., in the suffrage campaign and continued in the Committee of 48, was strengthened when Ada James became vice-chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. Several letters from Belle Case La Follette show a close harmony in this year and in 1923, when Ada became president of the Wisconsin Progressive Association. The Progressive “honeymoon” ended with a split caused by La Follette's support of Blaine's candidacy for governor for a second term. When he claimed political expediency, Ada quoted his earlier idealism, resigned as president of the Progressive Association, and actively opposed Blaine and the “Madison Ring.” Blaine won despite her opposition and remained in office until 1927.

The conflict of practical politics and intense idealism turned her to concentration on social work and the Children's Board. She continued to be active in the prohibition movement and campaigned against allowing taverns to be licensed in Richland Center after the repeal of prohibition. Her major interest, however, remained the Children's Board.

In addition to relief and charity, she used the James Memorial Fund established in 1922, to provide medical care and psychological examinations for both adults and children in Richland County. The results of these medical and psychological clinics, conducted with the aid of the University of Wisconsin Sociology Department, led her to consider birth control and sterilization for the unfit.

Noting that half of Richland County's tax revenues were used for the support of those in institutions and for relief and charity, she felt it fairer to both the unfit and capable members of society that the increase of the mentally and physically incapable be ended. She proposed with others that sterilization and supervision be used wherever possible rather than institutionalization.

Ada James became allied with the birth control movement in the late 1920s, when she grew disgusted at legal restrictions on information and materials that would permit parents to space children for the sake of health and economy. She fought for laws authorizing the dissemination of contraceptive information and materials by doctors and authorized clinics. The right to be well born involved preventive measures before birth as well as improvement of environmental factors after birth.

During the 1930s she made several studies of the observed geometric increase of the moronic and imbecilic families in Richland County. She demonstrated the burden thrown on the county in terms of disease, crime, institutions, and the care of offspring. One of the results of these studies was a pamphlet, “A Little Story of Human and Economic Interest.” The materials for this and other speeches and articles were derived from the case files she built up asa social worker for the Children's Board. These cases vividly demonstrate the need for work in rural sociology.

She opposed entrance into World War II, and in later years her beliefs remained those of the reformer, humanitarian, and pacifist. After resigning as head of the Children's Board in 1949, illness came frequently. She died in 1952.

Scope and Content Note

This collection primarily concerns the social activist activities of Ada James and of her parents, David G. James and Laura Briggs James. The collection is organized in five series: David G. James Papers, George H. James Papers, Laura Briggs James Papers, Ada Lois James Papers, and finally Volumes which include material created by all four of these family members, by Ada's sister Beulah, and by the organizations in which family members were active.

Family correspondence, 1816-1904, in David's, George's, and Laura's papers reflects her father's interest in employment for women, woman suffrage, spiritualism, birth control, and socialism. Among the Volumes are also diaries, 1865, 1882-1904, and proceedings of the meetings of the Wisconsin Woman's Suffrage Association, 1885-1903, kept by her mother.

Ada James' Papers consist largely of correspondence which dates 1890-1952. In the correspondence, most numerous are the letters of the period from 1911 to 1918, when she was active in the suffrage movement as president of the Political Equality League, 1911-1913, and a member of the Wisconsin Woman's Suffrage Association and of the National Woman's Party. Many letters written in 1911 and 1912 concern the suffrage bill introduced into the Wisconsin legislature by her father, a state senator, and the resultant state referendum.

The letters written during World War I indicate her developing belief in pacifism and her interest in prohibition. Those of the early 1920s contain material on progressivism, including information on Miss James' service as vice-chairman of the Republican State Central Committee in 1922, her presidency of the Wisconsin Progressive Association in 1923, and her rift with Robert M. La Follette Sr., over his support of John J. Blaine in the 1924 campaign. After 1925 her correspondence deals principally with social work, particularly the founding and development of the Children's Board of Richland County.

Among the writers of letters are Jane Addams, Olympia Brown, Carrie Chapman Catt, Jessie J. Hooper, Belle Case La Follette, Catharine Waugh McCulloch, Sylvia Pankhurst, and Theodora W. Youmans.

Diaries, 1892-1920 and 1930-1947, scrapbooks, articles, and financial records contain additional information on Miss James' activities.

Because of their deteriorated condition, in 1980 selected portions of the Ada Lois James Papers were microfilmed. At this time the chronologically-arranged correspondence was sorted into incoming and outgoing letters, and the fragile outgoing correspondence, which largely consisted of the records of the Wisconsin Political Equality League and its campaign manager, Crystal Eastman Benedict, was microfilmed. At the same time several boxes of loose clippings and scrapbooks all pertaining to the Women's Suffrage Movement were integrated and filmed. After filming, all of this material was discarded.

Related Material

Researchers interested in further information on David G. James will find his Civil War letters cataloged as Wis Mss 112S. Also available are James Family Papers, 1863-1976 (Mss 439). Ada James' Children's Board case files and “A Little Story of Human and Economic Interest” are included in Richland County Children's Board records (Richland Series 4).

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by Ada L. James, 1948-1951, and by her estate, plus brief additions presented by Mrs. Daniel M. Young, Richland Center, Wisconsin, 1974 and 1975. Accession Number: M74-391, M75-383


Contents List
Wis Mss OP
Series: David G. James Papers
Box   1
Folder   1
Autobiographical sketch, undated
Box   1
Folder   2-4
Correspondence with Ada Briggs, 1857-1869
Box   2
Folder   1
Series: George H. James Papers, 1816-1888
Series: Laura Briggs James Papers
Box   2
Folder   2-3
Correspondence, 1864-1904
Box   2
Folder   4
Diaries, 1891, 1900
Note: Also includes spirit messages and miscellany.
Series: Ada Lois James Papers
Box   1
Folder   5
Appointment certifying Wisconsin's ratification of the 19th amendment, 1919 June 10
Incoming correspondence
Box   3
Folder   1
1890-1894
Box   3
Folder   2
1895-1896 June
Box   3
Folder   3
1896 July-1897
Box   3
Folder   4
1898-1900
Box   4
Folder   1
1901-1905
Box   4
Folder   2
1906-1908
Box   4
Folder   3
1909-1910
Box   5
Folder   1
1911 January-March 15
Box   5
Folder   2
1911 March 17-April
Box   5
Folder   3
1911 May
Box   5
Folder   4
1911 June
Box   6
Folder   1
1911 July-August 15
Box   6
Folder   2
1911 August 16-September
Box   6
Folder   3
1911 October
Box   6
Folder   4
1911 November
Box   7
Folder   1
1911 December
Box   7
Folder   2
1912 January
Box   7
Folder   3
1912 February 1-15
Box   7
Folder   4
1912 February 16-29
Box   8
Folder   1
1912 March 1-12
Box   8
Folder   2
1912 March 13-18
Box   8
Folder   3
1912 March 19-26
Box   8
Folder   4
1912 March 27-31
Box   8
Folder   5
1912 April 1-8
Box   8
Folder   6
1912 April 9-13
Box   9
Folder   1
1912 April 14-18
Box   9
Folder   2
1912 April 19-22
Box   9
Folder   3
1912 April 23-26
Box   9
Folder   4
1912 April 27-30
Box   9
Folder   5
1912 May 1-7
Box   9
Folder   6
1912 May 8-13
Box   10
Folder   1
1912 May 14-16
Box   10
Folder   2
1912 May 17-21
Box   10
Folder   3
1912 May 22-27
Box   10
Folder   4
1912 May 28-31
Box   10
Folder   5
1912 June 1-4
Box   10
Folder   6
1912 June 5-7
Box   11
Folder   1
1912 June 8-11
Box   11
Folder   2
1912 June 12-14
Box   11
Folder   3
1912 June 15-18
Box   11
Folder   4
1912 June 19-21
Box   11
Folder   5
1912 June 22-25
Box   11
Folder   6
1912 May 26-30
Box   11
Folder   7
1912 July 1-6
Box   12
Folder   1
1912 July 7-10
Box   12
Folder   2
1912 July 11-14
Box   12
Folder   3
1912 July 15-18
Box   12
Folder   4
1912 July 19-22
Box   12
Folder   5
1912 July 23-25
Box   12
Folder   6
1912 July 26-31
Box   13
Folder   1
1912 August 1-4
Box   13
Folder   2
1912 August 5-7
Box   13
Folder   3
1912 August 8-13
Box   13
Folder   4
1912 August 14-17
Box   13
Folder   5
1912 August 18-22
Box   13
Folder   6
1912 August 23-26
Box   14
Folder   1
1912 August 27-29
Box   14
Folder   2
1912 August 30-31
Box   14
Folder   3
1912 September 1-4
Box   14
Folder   4
1912 September 5-9
Box   14
Folder   5
1912 September 10-12
Box   14
Folder   6
1912 September 13-16
Box   15
Folder   1
1912 September 17-20
Box   15
Folder   2
1912 September 21-24
Box   15
Folder   3
1912 September 25-27
Box   15
Folder   4
1912 September 28-30
Box   15
Folder   5
1912 October 1-3
Box   15
Folder   6
1912 October 4-7
Box   16
Folder   1
1912 October 8-10
Box   16
Folder   2
1912 October 11-14
Box   16
Folder   3
1912 October 15-16
Box   16
Folder   4
1912 October 17-19
Box   16
Folder   5
1912 October 20-22
Box   16
Folder   6
1912 October 23-25
Box   16
Folder   7
1912 October 26-29
Box   17
Folder   1
1912 October 30-31
Box   17
Folder   2
1912 November 1-7
Box   17
Folder   3
Box   17
Folder   4
Box   18
Folder   1
Box   18
Folder   2
Box   18
Folder   3
Box   18
Folder   4
Box   19
Folder   1
Box   19
Folder   2
Box   19
Folder   3
Box   19
Folder   4
Box   19
Folder   5
Box   19
Folder   6
Box   20
Folder   1
Box   20
Folder   2
Box   20
Folder   3
Box   20
Folder   4
Box   21
Folder   1
1924
Box   21
Folder   2
1925-1926
Box   21
Folder   3
1927-1931
Box   22
Folder   1
1932-1933
Box   22
Folder   2
1934
Box   22
Folder   3
1935-1937
Box   22
Folder   4
1938-1944
Box   23
Folder   1
1945-1949
Box   23
Folder   2
1950
Box   23
Folder   3
1951
Box   23
Folder   4
1952 January-July
Box   23
Folder   5
1952 August-December
Box   24
Folder   1
undated
Micro 848
Outgoing correspondence
Reel   1
Frame   1
circa 1892, 1895, 1900, 1901, 1906, 1908, 1909
Reel   1
Frame   153
1911 April-1912 July 5
Reel   2
1912 January-July 5
Reel   3
1912 July 6-September 9
Reel   4
Frame   1
1912 September 10-December
Reel   4
Frame   1076
1913, 1915-1918, 1920-1921, 1923-1927, 1935-1936, 1943
Wis Mss OP
Box   24
Folder   2-4
Articles and speeches, 1893-1924
Miscellany
Box   25
Folder   1
James family genealogy
Box   25
Folder   2-3
Programs, handbills, etc. regarding women's suffrage
Oversize Folder   1
Programs, handbills, etc. regarding women's suffrage
Box   26
Bancroft campaign and lawsuits, 1921-1925
Series: Volumes
Box   27
Folder   1
Laura Briggs James memo book, 1863-circa 1866 (Volume 1)
Box   27
Folder   1
Laura Briggs James diary, 1865 (Volume 2)
Box   27
Folder   1
Laura Briggs James diary, 1882-1886 (Volume 3)
Box   27
Folder   1
Laura Briggs James diary, 1892-circa 1902 (Volume 4)
Box   27
Folder   2
Laura Briggs James diary, 1902 October-1904 May 22 (Volume 5)
Box   27
Folder   2
Laura Briggs James memo book, circa 1902 (Volume 6)
Box   27
Folder   2
Beulah James diary, 1898 (Volume 7)
Box   27
Folder   3
Ada James memo book and diary, 1892 (Volume 8)
Box   27
Folder   3
Ada James diary, 1893 (Volume 9)
Box   27
Folder   3
Ada James diary, 1894 (Volume 10)
Box   27
Folder   3
Ada James diary, 1895 (Volume 11)
Box   27
Folder   4
Ada James diary, 1896 July 22-1900 (Volume 12)
Box   27
Folder   4
Ada James diary and memo book, 1899 (Volume 13)
Box   27
Folder   4
Ada James diary, 1901 (Volume 14)
Box   27
Folder   4
Ada James diary, 1902 January-April (Volume 15)
Box   27
Folder   5
Ada James journal of European tour, 1908 (Volume 16)
Box   28
Folder   1
Ada James diary including speeches, articles, and minutes, 1908 (Volume 17)
Box   28
Folder   2
Ada James diary, 1917 (Volume 18)
Box   28
Folder   3
Ada James diary, 1918 (Volume 19)
Box   28
Folder   4
Ada James diary, 1918-1919 (Volume 20)
Box   28
Folder   4
Ada James diary, 1919 July-1920 March (Volume 21)
Box   28
Folder   5
Ada James diary, 1929 (Volume 22)
Box   28
Folder   5
Ada James diary, 1930 (Volume 23)
Box   28
Folder   5
Ada James diary, 1936 (Volume 24)
Box   28
Folder   5
Ada James diary and memo book, 1943 (Volume 25)
Box   28
Folder   6
Ada James diary, 1944 (Volume 26)
Box   28
Folder   6
Ada James diary, 1945 (Volume 27)
Box   28
Folder   6
Ada James diary, 1946 (Volume 28)
Box   28
Folder   6
Ada James diary, 1947 (Volume 29)
Box   29
Folder   1
George H. James account book, 1841-1853 (Volume 29a)
Box   29
Folder   1
Recipe book, 1956 (Volume 30)
Box   29
Folder   1
Political Equality League, account book, 1911-1912 (Volume 31)
Box   29
Folder   1
Ada James account book, 1944-1945 (Volume 32)
Box   29
Folder   2
Beulah James memo book, 1895 (Volume 33)
Box   29
Folder   2
Ada James memo book, 1902 (Volume 34)
Box   29
Folder   2
Ada James memo book and European notes, 1908 (Volume 35)
Box   29
Folder   2
Ada James address book, circa 1927 (Volume 36)
Box   29
Folder   3
Ada James suffrage address book, undated (Volume 37)
Box   29
Folder   3
Ada James memo book, circa 1938 (Volume 38)
Box   29
Folder   3
Wisconsin Women's Suffrage Association, convention proceedings, 1885-1892 (Volume 39)
Box   29
Folder   4
Richland Equality Club, minutes, 1892 (Volume 40)
Box   29
Folder   4
Wisconsin Women's Suffrage Association convention minutes and proceedings and membership lists, 1893-1903 (Volume 41)
Box   29
Folder   5
Ada James suffrage memo book, 1912 (Volume 43)
Box   29
Folder   5
Richland Women's Club, 1905-1907 (Volume 42)
Box   29
Folder   5
Ada James suffrage donation book, 1911-1912 (Volume 44)
Box   29
Folder   5
Ada James suffrage check stub book, 1912 (Volume 45)
Box   29
Folder   6
National American Women's Suffrage Association Political Equality Series, undated (Volume 46)
Box   29
Folder   6
Suffrage-memo book, undated (Volume 47)
Box   29
Folder   6
Memo book, circa 1945 regarding Children's Welfare Board (Volume 49)
Box   30
Folder   1
Ada James school notebooks, undated (Volume 50-51)
Box   30
Folder   1
Ada James articles, circa 1939 (Volume 52-53)
Box   30
Folder   2
David G. James (Volume ?) ledger and scrapbook, 1866-1867 (Volume 54)
Box   30
Folder   3
Ada James papers on welfare delinquency, and Richland County Children's Board (Volume 64)
Box   30
Folder   4
Ada James diary, 1931 (Volume 65)
Micro 848
Ada James Women's Suffrage clipping scrapbooks (Volumes formerly 48 and 55-63)
Reel   5
1887, 1908, 1909, 1910
Reel   5
1911 July-December
Reel   5
1912 January-August
Reel   6
1912 September-November
Reel   6
1913, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1921, 1935, 1943, 1948, 1950, 1951, undated