Papers, mainly 1944-1950, of a former Republican governor, businessman, and philanthropist, primarily documenting his tenure as lieutenant governor, 1945-1947, acting governor following the death of Walter S. Goodland, 1947-1949, and governor, 1949-1951. Included are correspondence and memoranda to and from constituents and governmental departments and officials, indexed speeches (one available in recorded form) and support material, press releases, appointment files, files concerning his 1944 and 1948 election campaigns, microfilmed clippings and other biographical information, and a few files of members of his staff. Subject files document a number of issues of concern during the period such as deer hunting, the Griffenhagen study for reorganization of state government, rent control, housing for World War II veterans, state printing and governmental efficiency, the new governor's mansion, and the state centennial celebration. Well documented federal and state governmental agencies with which Rennebohm had contact include the Annuity and Investment Board, the Committee on Educational Improvement, the Committee on the Resettlement of Displaced Persons, the U.S. Housing Expediter, the Grain and Warehouse Commission, and the Veterans Affairs Department.

The Rennebohm gubernatorial papers were among the first documents accessioned by the public records program at the State Historical Society. It is not known when the papers were organized, but it is likely this occurred during the 1950s. In 1969 Governor Warren Knowles discovered some additional files in the vault at the governor's office including speeches, campaign files, invitations, and memorabilia. At the same time, Mrs. Rennebohm turned over to the Historical Society several cartons of clippings and memorabilia. In 1988 these files were integrated into the earlier holdings and the entire collection reappraised in light of current archival practices and holdings elsewhere in the Archives and in the Society Library.

The resulting collection documents well Rennebohm's years as acting governor and governor, but contains virtually no information on his private life or his business career. It also seems to confirm his comparative isolation from the regular Republican Party leadership, although there is frequent correspondence with such Republicans as William J. Campbell and John Chapple. In addition, there is relatively little in the papers about specific legislation, certainly nothing like the bill files maintained in the offices of many Wisconsin governors in order to collect information and opinions on all pending bills. Nevertheless, there is good information in the papers on several important issues such as rent control and housing, particularly housing for World War II veterans; the presence of ROTC on the University of Wisconsin campus; and the Griffenhagen study of the organization of state government. There are also files in the collection on several state agencies for which there are no records of the period in existence in the Archives (and presumably no records in existence elsewhere).

The series contain correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports, speeches, press releases, campaign material, financial reports, photographs, microfilmed biographical clippings, and memorabilia. It is organized as GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, APPOINTMENT FILES, SPEECHES AND WRITINGS, DEPARTMENTAL FILES, CAMPAIGN FILES, SUBJECT FILES, and MISCELLANEOUS FILES.

The GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE is divided into two categories: an early numerical file and a later alphabetical file. The numerical system may be a filing system inherited by Rennebohm from his predecessor in early 1947. It continued until the end of that year. Unfortunately, there is no index for the numerical file which includes about 1000 categories, and few letters bear any notation to indicate precisely what these categories were. It is likely that the file fulfilled the function of the later subject and department files. The later portion of the general correspondence includes letters filed alphabetically by correspondent which were not appropriate in any of the other files. There is no separate file for 1949.

The APPOINTMENT FILES contain letters and recommendations from and about prospective gubernatorial appointees. Appointments for state agencies, commissions, and boards are arranged alphabetically by agency name; county and local appointments are arranged alphabetically by county.

SPEECHES AND WRITINGS consist of a numerical file (#100-#360) of Rennebohm gubernatorial speeches. Reading copies (some with handwritten annotations) are included, together with a few drafts and printed versions. An index file provides access to the numbered speeches by subject, by audience, and by type of speech. The reference files originally contained information collected by Rennebohm and his speech writers on diverse topics which might be useful in preparing remarks. From this, clippings and information of only a secondary nature have been weeded. Included are some unidentified speeches possibly delivered by Rennebohm. More gubernatorial speeches not part of the numerical file may be found under the heading unnumbered speeches, in the campaign files, and in his lieutenant governor's files. The collection also includes a disc recording of his speech for the dedication of the Petenwell Dam in 1947.

The DEPARTMENTAL FILES contain only limited amounts of the constituent inquiries found in the papers of many Wisconsin governors which are routinely channeled to state agencies. The remainder is an assortment of correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes, and notes sent to the governor for his information or his action. Some of the agencies well documented here include the Annuity and Investment Board, the Grain and Warehouse Commission, and the Veterans Affairs Department. Also included are files on the Council of Defense and the Pardon Board inherited from the Heil Administration.

The CAMPAIGN FILES do not appear to be the official files of the Rennebohm campaign organization, although the 1944 files which contain the correspondence of campaign aide M.F. Coolley are quite detailed. The 1948 correspondence consists of letters concerning the election which were received and sent by the governor, not by the campaign organization. There is almost no information on the 1946 reelection campaign. Also of note are the samples of form letters and other campaign literature issued by Rennebohm and the campaign briefing book that he took with him on the road in 1948.

The SUBJECT FILES contain correspondence covering a wide variety of topics, ranging from regular administrative files concerning his speaking engagements and official proclamations to files on issues such as deer hunting, rent control, and veterans housing, the new governor's mansion, and the state centennial celebration.

The MISCELLANEOUS FILES contain a small file of aide Philip Drotning primarily concerning the state printing program and a larger file of Jenning Murphy which contains significant information on the Committee on Educational Improvement. Also in this category is a small file of Rennebohm's correspondence and speeches as lieutenant governor, a small file of post-gubernatorial correspondence as well as some letters to Mrs. Rennebohm chiefly concerning her charitable interests, official photographs (in the Visual and Sound Archives), microfilmed biographical clippings, and memorabilia.