Warren's papers deal entirely with his one term in the Wisconsin Senate. Even for this period there are gaps in the collection. Like most legislative collections of the period, there are few personal insights in the papers. More disappointing here is the absence of documentation on his election campaigns or his meteoric rise within the Republican Party. On the other hand Warren kept files on his committee assignments which are very important. In several cases the files are more complete than the official files turned over to the State Archives.
Additional information about Warren's career as attorney general is contained in several series of records turned over to the State Archives by that department. In addition, the records of the McDonald-Davis advertising firm contain examples of some radio and television spots which they prepared in his behalf.
Warren's papers are organized as they were in his senate office: primarily general correspondence, legislative correspondence, and subject files. In some cases the distinction between the legislative correspondence, in which letters are filed by bill number, and the subject files, in which correspondence is arranged alphabetically by subject, is not readily apparent. The files have been rigorously weeded in the Archives to remove publications and routine and duplicate documentation. In addition to the three kinds of correspondence files, the papers include a small file of BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL which contains a few campaign brochures (added from the Archives' Political Vertical File) and biographical clippings removed from other portions of the papers.
The GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, which is primarily non-legislative in content, is arranged by session and then alphabetically by correspondent. LEGISLATIVE CORRESPONDENCE consists of correspondence received and sent during the 1967-1968 session only; these letters are filed by bill number. Also here is Warren's “Opinion Book” in which he recorded by bill number the names of all constituents who wrote to him with regard to legislation. These files cover both sessions in which he served.
The SUBJECT FILES comprise the largest and probably most valuable section of the collection. These files are arranged alphabetically by key word and most contain a variety of documentation dating from both sessions. Files pertaining to committee assignments are extensive. As well as correspondence, Warren's files on the Joint Finance Committee include material submitted by agencies to defend their budget requests. For both sessions in which Warren served such material is absent from the official records (Series 169) transferred to the Archives. The files on the Temporary Committee on Governmental Reorganization, also known as the Kellett Committee, are particularly valuable as no official records were handed over to the Archives. Warren's files, although probably not complete, include minutes, charts, distributions to committee members, and legislative information, as well as his own notes and correspondence with constituents. Files on the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, the Governor's committees on Water Resources and Eminent Domain, and the Legislative Council's Judiciary and Mental Health Advisory committees are also important, although less substantial.
