The materials in this collection date roughly from 1976 to 2001. The vast majority of documentation occurs in two runs, one from 1982-1986, and the other from 1993-1997. The major subject of the collection is the Crandon mine controversy of 1975-2003. Other environmental issues, such as nuclear waste dumping, can also be found, but to a lesser extent. Tyra also took an interest in tribal affairs and this is documented to a significant extent. Native American rights and issues are a key aspect of this collection and material is included relating to the Midwest Treaty Network and the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa and, to a lesser extent, other tribes. Prominent environmentalists such as Professor Al Gedicks and Roscoe and Evelyn Churchill also figure in this collection. Politics in Nashville, Wisconsin, especially the Town Zoning Commission and Town Board, are documented as well, through board proceedings and memoranda. The collection covers key Wisconsin political issues such as the budget and Public Intervenor Office crisis of 1995, opposition to Governor Tommy G. Thompson, and the Mining Moratorium of 1998. Government bodies documented through reports, information sheets, memos, and correspondence include the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The CORRESPONDENCE series contains Drafts of Letters by Dorothy Tyra during the years 1988, 1994-1997, and General Correspondence received by Dorothy Tyra during the years 1983-1998. This series documents Tyra's correspondence with several politicians including Roger Breske, Russ Decker, and Spencer Black as well as with other environmentally concerned citizens such as George and Marilyn Rock, and various organizations.
The NOTES AND MEETINGS series is split into several headings, which overlap in date. The Environmental Notes folders contain handwritten chronological notes on issues such as mining, waste disposal, and Native American rights. The information in the Environmental Notebooks is not limited to meetings, but also includes notes on telephone conversations, and summaries of media coverage of environmental issues. There is a run of Public Concern Meetings notes, which were typed and circulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources following meetings held in several cities and towns during 1997 concerning the Crandon mine proposal. Address Lists and Sign-In Sheets are included in this section as well. These were taken at various meetings and circulated within the environmental groups.
The bulk of the PUBLICITY series is Articles and Letters to the Editor. The articles are predominantly from Wisconsin newspapers including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Wisconsin State Journal, the Forest Republican, the Antigo Herald, and the Ladysmith Pioneer Express. Subjects include the Crandon mine controversy, nuclear waste dumping, groundwater contamination, local government, and Native American affairs. A significant run of Mining Company Newsletters illustrates the pro-mine counterpoint. There is one folder of Newsletters. These are newsletters that originated with organizations that do not have a subject file in the collection. The Petitions, Pledges, and Writing Campaigns materials relate predominantly to the Crandon mine controversy, but other environmental issues are present. These document the various petitions and writing campaigns in which Tyra participated. The Flyers section is primarily composed of meeting announcements that originated with unspecified organizations, multiple organizations, or organizations that do not have a subject file. The Pamphlets and Brochures folder contains materials originating with organizations that do not have a subject file in the collection or which were published by multiple affiliated organizations. There are also a few Press Releases, which are composed of releases by organizations that do not have a subject file in the collection. The Contacts file contains lists of press and political contacts. The Talking Points folder contains a small amount of talking points drawn up in support of the various speaking tours Tyra was involved with. This series provides an overview of the grassroots press campaign run by the environmental groups.
The REPORTS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION series contains documentation that was primarily used for informational purposes by the anti-mining activists. This series is divided into several headings. The Government Reports and Information consists of reports and information that originated with government agencies such as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the United States Department of the Interior. The Third Party Reports and Information consists of documentation generated by independent contractors or concerned citizens or groups. The Mining Company Information is composed of documents produced by the Crandon Mining Company. This includes information sheets and some public financial documents. The government reports are annotated. This series illustrates both the information the environmentalists had access to and the information they chose to disseminate.
The SUBJECT FILES series contains documentation of organizations and groups, local government affairs, and selected topical issues. Organizations documented include the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council, the Wolf Watershed Educational Project, and the Town of Nashville, Wisconsin Zoning Commission. The files are labeled by subject and in alphabetical order.
