The Crosby papers consist largely of files created in the course of his duties as district court judge. Personal correspondence and biographical information are notably absent. However, the papers do shed light on the judge and on the cases that were argued in his courtroom and the decisions he pronounced.
The collection, which primarily documents the periods 1925-1928 and 1940-1942, consists of correspondence and district court case files.
The papers have been extensively weeded. Removed from the collection were individual monthly bank reports, 1932-1939, which Crosby was required by statute to sign. The originals of these documents are held by the Archives as part of the records of the State Banking Commission including Series 1782, Series 1785, Series 823, and Series 792. Petitions and a number of other banking case documents have been removed from the collection for interfiling in those series.
The CORRESPONDENCE is divided into two categories - personal and professional - with the professional correspondence clearly being dominant. Included are inquiries from the public seeking legal advice, complaints, pleas and
notices of parole, correspondence with lawyers and judges, and information concerning the Board of Circuit Court Judges.
The DISTRICT COURT CASE FILES, which are more thorough and complete, contain official case correspondence, plaintiff and defendant briefs, decisions, and court orders. The case files are arranged alphabetically by plaintiff.
The cases range from divorce to personal injury and forgery. If a case proceeded to the Supreme Court, a published summary of the briefs and findings is included. For cases in which the State of Wisconsin is the plaintiff there is no background material in the files and seldom more documentation than charges.
Probably the most controversial cases Judge Crosby presided over were six drainage district cases, the most celebrated being the Beaver Drainage District case.
