Scope and Content Note

The particular value of the Bolens collection lies in the correspondence with political leaders in the state between 1922 and 1936. Many of the active Stalwart Republicans in Wisconsin apparently trusted Bolens and sought his advice. Many of the letters go into considerable detail concerning political plans, hopes and ambitions. Some of these letters were confidential and were only for Bolens' information and not for publication. These letters provide a good insight into the behind-the-scenes working of the Republican Party during a period in the state's history when Republican politics were in an upheaval.

The Bolens collection is composed of Correspondence; Bills and Receipts; Articles and Speeches; Bolens and Pernet Family Genealogy; Miscellaneous Printed Material; and a Scrapbook.

The Correspondence, 1836-1952, is chronologically arranged and is composed of family letters, business letters and political letters. The very early letters in the collection are letters from Bolens' grandfather to his son and nephew. Much of the correspondence is business, but by far the bulk of the correspondence is political in nature. The more outstanding correspondents of Bolens are (because of the relatively small size of the collection, only the year or inclusive years are given):

• Bedford, A.C., 1924
• Campbell, William J., 1925-1938
• Chapple, John B., 1932-1936
• Coleman, Thomas E., 1943
• Falk, Otto H., 1925-1938
• Frank, Glenn, 1927
• Goodland, Walter S., 1927-1939
• Grau, Phil A., 1925-1928
• Heil, Julius P., 1938-1940
• Hoover, Herbert C., 1927-1936
• Kohler, Walter J., 1924-1937
• Lenroot, Irvine L., 1926-1928
• Levitan, Solomon, 1927
• Lowden, Frank O., 1926-1927
• McGovern, Francis E., 1925
• Nevitt, Charles, 1925-1930
• Paine, Nathan, 1925-1930
• Philipp, Cyrus L., 1943
• Rose, David S., 1924-1925
• Tittemore, J.N., 1926-1934
• Vandercook, G.E., 1925-1930
• Vits, George, 1925-1933
• White, William A., 1923
• Zimmerman, Fred R., 1926

The small quantity of Bills and Receipts is unorganized. Most of these bills and receipts relate to the printing business that Bolens operated.

The Articles and Speeches relate to local history, civic affairs, politics, and business affairs. Some of these speeches are copies delivered by persons other than Bolens but which were passed on to him because of his interest or upon his request.

The Bolens and Pernet Family Genealogy consists of a genealogy sketch of the Bolens family, two letters relating to the family genealogy; and

Genealogy of the Bolens family from 1607 to 1807 made from the family tree and written in French, which is now in the possession of Mrs. Olophia [?] Mary Teal of Ligionier, Indiana and continued to 1891. To which is added an account of the Pernet family, maternal ancestors of the Bolens in this country and a chart to trace relationship and consanguinity translated and arranged by A.L.P. Vairin, Owensboro, Kentucky.

The Miscellaneous Printed Material contains copies of some of Bolens' editorials, a copy of the last issue of the Statesman containing Bolens's obituary, and other miscellaneous printed material.

The Scrapbook contains miscellaneous memorabilia concerning the various projects that Bolens was interested in at one time or another during his life.