This collection, although moderately-sized, only incompletely documents Gerald Lorge's long career in the Legislature. Entirely missing are papers dating from both his early and his later years in public office, with the bulk of the documentation present in the collection dating from the years 1965-1980. Also almost entirely missing are several types of files commonly found in legislative collections of the period: personal clipping scrapbooks, committee files, subject files, constituent case work files, and public relations materials such as newsletters. Although Lorge's name was frequently mentioned as a possible candidate and he actually ran for several high elective offices, there are virtually no campaign files in the collection. Most disappointing in this regard is the absence of files on the 1957 special election to fill Joseph R. McCarthy's seat in which Lorge ran as the logical “fighting marine,” conservative successor to the former senator. The collection contains only one piece of literature from this campaign.
The collection does contain a few incidental items of the above mentioned categories such as press releases, questionnaires (only from the years 1975 and 1984), and some subject and case work correspondence. These files are so limited that they have been arranged together as General Files. Also included here are biographical materials and resumes, a chronological file of all clippings found loose within the papers which referred to Lorge, and photographs. The photographs were made by Mercury Outboard Motor Company relating to a study group from the Wisconsin Legislature which included Lorge and was charged with studying the effects from the flood of the Wolf River during the spring of 1960. Images include views of flooded buildings, farmland, and members of the group.
The majority of the collection is comprised of Bill Files, i.e. correspondence concerning specific pieces of legislation for the years 1965-1980. As a result, the collection is of much greater value for research on the legislation of the period and the views of Lorge's constituents than it is for study of his personal influence within legislative and political circles. The bill files are arranged chronologically by session and then by bill or resolution number. Also included with the Senate files is information on appointments requiring the approval of that house. These files generally contain correspondence from constituents and colleagues, information from governmental agencies and legislative service bureaus, and material from lobbyists and advocacy groups.
Correspondence concerning electoral politics is primarily concentrated within the General Files in documentation dating from the period 1961-1965. This small group of material, which is listed as general correspondence, appears to have been extensively weeded in Lorge's office prior to transfer to the Historical Society. Although much of the remaining material is merely congratulatory in nature, there are a few items from political leaders of the era such as Gordon Bubolz, Ody Fish, Harold Froehlich, Kirby Hendee, Claude Jasper, Warren Knowles, Talbot Peterson, and John Reynolds.
