This collection documents John O. Holzhueter's wide-ranging research interests and activities during nearly forty years at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Through both primary and secondary research documents, the collection represents Wisconsin history dating from pre-settlement days to the state's sesquicentennial celebration in 1998. Many of the research files in the collection also contain correspondence directly related to that file's subject, which helps provide context for the information contained therein. Research files regarding Wisconsin's state flag and seal; the fur trade; Indians of Wisconsin; murders, executions, and lynchings; the Martin Treptow Pledge; and Gerald L.K. Smith are of particular importance. The informational value of the collection's research files is voluminous, a boon to any student of Wisconsin history.

The collection is also rich in evidential value. The volume of professional correspondence and research notes within the collection demonstrates both Holzhueter's research methods and his personality. While the form of his correspondence with other researchers changes—it spans the period from carbons and mimeographs to E-mail—the nature of his advice and his tone remains direct and pithy. The research files contained within this collection provide the reader with a directory of names important to Wisconsin research. They also bear witness to the sort of networking that researchers do, to the way their careers may evolve, and to the friendships that often develop out of their work. Holzhueter's handwritten or carefully typed research notes convey the meticulous, ongoing nature of his research and his enjoyment of it.

This collection consists primarily of professional correspondence, research notes, clippings, photocopied published material, dissertations, theses, research papers, and other materials on Wisconsin topics. Prominent in the collection are research notes related to his fifteen years of weekly public radio broadcasts (Sketches from Wisconsin's Past, aired on WHA and WERN); an index of those broadcasts; reference and research correspondence created as a Society staff member and editor of the Wisconsin Magazine of History; drafts and notes relating to articles, programs, and speeches; and research on the origins of Wisconsin's state flag and seal.

Also included are 27 tapes of public radio interviews broadcast on Wisconsin Public Radio, three audiotapes of testimonials made at the time of Holzhueter's retirement (August 2000), and a collection of “Hassiana”—texts, cartoons, and photographs by co-worker and editor Paul Hass, which poke fun at Holzhueter's appearance and behavior. The cartoons demonstrate the working relationship between the two men. They also bear witness to Mr. Hass' considerable artistic abilities. Audiotapes of interviews on Wisconsin Public Radio (those in this collection occur mostly with Jean Feraca or Larry Meiller) record Holzhueter's enthusiasm for Wisconsin history and allow the listener to actually hear him “in action.” Audiotapes of Sketches from Wisconsin's Past broadcasts, however, are not contained within this collection. Tapes of 242 of the programs are available under the call number Audio 1214A as part of the WHA Radio collection.

These materials are arranged into CORRESPONDENCE, RESEARCH FILES, PRESENTATIONS AND INTERVIEWS, and “HASSIANA”/MEMORABILIA. The CORRESPONDENCE is arranged chronologically by year. The RESEARCH FILES are arranged in several ways: the files for Holzhueter's WHA/WERN broadcasts are chronological by date of broadcast; files concerned with ideas for future broadcasts are organized alphabetically by subject. Likewise, the General Research Files are also alphabetically arranged by subject. All materials concerned with PRESENTATIONS AND INTERVIEWS are arranged chronologically by date of presentation or interview.