The Carl W. Thompson Papers span approximately the last twelve years (1972-1984) of Thompson's career as a Wisconsin state senator and contain personal papers and political files as well as other records dealing with issues or matters of statewide interest during this period. Because the original order of the collection has largely been lost, files have been arranged into three separate series in order to make the content more accessible. These series, defined by their purpose within Thompson's office, are: PERSONAL/POLITICAL FILES, CONSTITUENT COMMUNICATION, and the LEGISLATIVE SUBJECT FILES. The separate files within each series have been arranged first alphabetically and then chronologically as necessary. Since these files were created and maintained in conjunction with one another, some overlap in content may be expected.
The PERSONAL/POLITICAL FILES is the smallest of the three series and provides some documentation of Thompson's campaigning, his association with the Democratic Party and his involvement in the Oregon Rotary. This series also contains a copy of Thompson's original primer entitled Programs, Problems, Taxes, Choices: Plain Talk about State Government in Wisconsin and associated commentary. Essentially these files indicate personal interests and activities outside of the specific parameters of Thompson's role as a state senator and tend to relate more closely to his relationship with the Democratic Party.
The CONSTITUENT COMMUNICATION series provides insight into how Thompson kept in tune with the attitudes and needs of the people that he represented. Files include newsletters updating constituents on recent accomplishments and the pressing topics of the time, questionnaires seeking to gauge sentiments on certain topics with the results frequently tallied by township and totaled, and, finally, an assortment of constituent requests received in 1979 with accompanying responses. These materials offer a glimpse of some of the political issues considered most relevant to the people residing in the 16th senatorial district of Wisconsin during the period and is evidence of Thompson's practices regarding data-gathering, polling, and responding to constituent concerns. The constituent request file particularly complements and reflects much of the correspondence arranged in the LEGISLATIVE SUBJECT FILES.
The LEGISLATIVE SUBJECT FILES, comprising the bulk of the collection, relate to Thompson's committee work and interactions with both his constituents and other governmental offices. Materials contained within these files consist primarily of memos and correspondence, informational journal articles, book chapters, newspaper clippings, reports, and personal notes. Much of this content appears to have been gathered in an effort to: (a) become better acquainted with a subject that has been brought to his attention by constituents or through committee work; (b) gauge public opinion on various issues; (c) document hearings; and/or (d) document committee interests. The broad themes that appear repeatedly within the files include: aging and retirement, agriculture, budget and taxes, crime and punishment, education, energy and utilities, employment, transportation, health and medical care, marriage and separation. Files of significant enough interest and breadth of content to warrant arrangement under headings include: Assembly Bills, Education, Highways, Prisons, Senate Bills, and the University of Wisconsin. Some files contain documents that may have little unique informational value, but do indicate that the Senator's office dealt not only with issues of great importance, but also simpler mundane concerns or questions. Although many of these files pertain to senate bills, few are labeled as such. Additionally, despite Thompson's involvement in several committees and sub-committees over the course of the decade or so covered by these materials, there are few distinctly defined committee and subcommittee files.
