The collection consists of records of the Blatz Brewing Company dating from 1862-1944. Most
are basic accounting records, such as general journals, general ledgers, and cash books,
from the Milwaukee brewery and its Milwaukee bottling plant. The number of records increased
almost immediately after 1862 as the business grew and government record keeping
intensified, though the bulk of the records are from the pre-prohibition era. Most records
dating after repeal in 1933 are not included in the collection.
The accounting books give a detailed picture of the revenues, expenses, and brewery
operations over a long period of time, providing an excellent look at the Blatz Brewing
Company's emergence as one of Milwaukee's four national breweries. The variety of records
offers a more complete and accurate picture reflecting the complex environment and
accounting practices in a large business organization in the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries.
Scope and content notes of each series are included in the contents list.
