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Scope and Content Note
The correspondence in these Papers covers James H. Davidson's first two terms (1897-1900) as a Republican representative of the Sixth Congressional District of Wisconsin and is chiefly from his constituents, local party leaders and a few letters from Federal government officials. Some petitions are included with the correspondence, and there is one folder of his teaching certificates, election certificates, and printed programs.
The chief topic is patronage - in its various forms - more than one-half of the letters and petitions are concerned with appointments as census enumerator for the 1900 Census, and the political maneuvering involved. Other requests for patronage in the letters are for appointments as postmaster and to Annapolis and West Point, for commissions, pensions, free seeds, printed material, copies of the Congressional Record and speeches. Several of the letters reflect local opinion on current or pending legislation, and many comments on relations with Spain in 1898 and the outbreak of war.
In addition to correspondence, the only other manuscripts are contained in the last folder of the collection, and these account for the scattered dates prior to 1897 and following 1900. These include election certificates, school certificates, and various school programs, 1876-1900. All are related to James H. Davidson and his career.
There are several letters from each of the following correspondents, most of whom were local Republican party leaders.
| Baensch, Emil |
Manitowoc, Lt. Governor |
| Bishop, Dr. L. A. |
Fond du Lac |
| Blatchly, A. H. |
Milwaukee, personal friend |
| Boardman, Charles Ruggles |
Madison, Adjutant General of Wisconsin |
| Buckstaff, G. A. |
Oshkosh |
| Chittenden, T. S. |
Ripon |
| Clark, John |
Wautoma |
| Cook, Samuel Andrew |
Menasha |
| Edwards, R. H. |
Oshkosh |
| Ellarson, J. T. |
Madison |
| Englebright, W. H. |
Oshkosh |
| Evans, David R. |
Berlin |
| Givens, F. M. |
Fond du Lac |
| Hovey, J. A. |
Fond du Lac |
| Kennedy, J. E. |
Oshkosh |
| Kimball, Alanson Mellen |
Pine River |
| Kress, H. G. |
Manitowoc |
| Loper, Alonzo A. |
Ripon |
| Meinke, F. W. |
Westfield |
| Moses, L. D. |
Ripon |
| Muth, Christ |
Manitowoc |
| Noll, Andrew |
Chilton |
| Oleson, Ole |
Oshkosh |
| Phillips, M. C. |
Oshkosh |
| Sauerhering, Edward |
Member of Congress |
| Slocum, C. H. |
Omro |
| Stevens, E. E. |
Oshkosh |
| Tucker, Frank |
Princeton |
| Wilde, R. W. |
Oshkosh, brother-in-law and law partner |
| Young, W. C. |
Milwaukee |
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