The research papers, 1883-1987, of Arnold Strickon are arranged in six series: Research Notes, Subject Files, Genealogies, Surveys, Photographs, and Sound Recordings.
The RESEARCH NOTES (1974-1975) consist of notebooks kept by Strickon during his field work in Vernon County. The general notes are logs of Strickon's field work. They describe interviews he conducted and events he observed, and include notes about print sources that he consulted. In addition to the general notes, there are also three notebooks devoted to notes on the records of St. Charles Parish, Immanuel Lutheran Church, and a Vernon County family's scrapbooks, respectively.
The SUBJECT FILES (1883-1987) consist primarily of materials acquired by Strickon during his field work. Some of the materials are actual notes; others are research papers, annual reports, pamphlets, and ephemeral items. Topics documented include agriculture, Norwegian ethnicity, history, and property values. Of particular interest is the Tobacco subject file, which includes an account book of a nineteenth-century tobacco farm.
The GENEALOGIES (1963-1975) consist of genealogies of Vernon County area families. Some are published, whereas others are simply genealogical charts. Some of the genealogies include narratives recalling settler life.
The SURVEYS (circa 1975) consist of completed questionnaire forms filled out by residents of Vernon County. The survey was intended to measure attitudes toward ethnicity.
The PHOTOGRAPHS (1974-1975) consist of color slides and black and white contact prints, taken during Strickon's work in Vernon County. They document area landmarks, such as churches and cemeteries, as well as local festivals and activities. A photo log notebook contains captions and descriptions of the photographs and slides.
The SOUND RECORDINGS (1974-1978) consist of oral history interviews with residents of Vernon County. There are no transcripts of these interviews in the collection. However, the interviews are described in the general research notes and, briefly, in the tape log.
