The collection consists of minutes, reports, financial records, correspondence, notes, lists, memoranda, and published histories. The documentation records the Local's activities from its inception in 1880 until 1927. The remaining years are covered briefly by two historical reviews filed at the head of the collection. In addition, volumes covering the history of Local No. 7, which dissolved in 1899, are included for the period 1893-1899.
The records of this Milwaukee Local are bilingual, as the proceedings were transcribed by the recording secretary in English and German script. Although Local No. 8 had many English-speaking members the minutes of its meetings were recorded solely in German until February 25, 1899. At that time Local No. 8 inducted the remaining members of the recently disbanded Local No. 7 into its organization. Local No. 7 had kept all of its records in English. Consequently two series of records were maintained side-by-side for the enlarged local. In 1918, no doubt due to the anti-German feeling of World War I, the local decided to record proceedings only in English. Although duplicating each other in terms of informational content, the two sets of records for the period 1899-1917 have been maintained primarily for their value to linguistic research.
The German and English minutes are arranged separately, with each category in chronological order. While volumes of minutes comprise the largest portion of the collection, they are followed by a smaller miscellaneous section containing the proceedings of the committee on jurisprudence and some letters, notes, and memoranda of the corresponding secretary. There is also one file containing audits, reports, and statements found loose in several volumes of the English minutes.
