The Aldric Revell Papers are primarily comprised of correspondence, writings by Revell, and biographical material. The collection provides documentation of varying depth, but in general it affords good insights into Revell's multifaceted career as reporter, writer, broadcaster, union activist, and socialist. For the most part the materials date from the earlier years of Revell's career.
The CORRESPONDENCE, which is primarily incoming, is of several types: general correspondence, fan mail, correspondence with Time and Life, and correspondence concerning his Nieman Fellowship. Although the general correspondence tends to be disappointing in the documentation it affords concerning Revell's career, the list of prominent correspondents includes individuals who were important in Wisconsin and national politics. Among his correspondents are Thomas Amlie, Glenn Davis, William T. Evjue, Philip La Follette, Gaylord Nelson, Oscar Rennebohm, Walter P. Reuther, and Norman Thomas.
Revell's fan mail divides into two categories: correspondence in response to his newspaper columns and letters regarding his radio broadcasts. In the former category his most prominent admirers were Robert M. La Follette Jr., Wayne Morse, Joseph McCarthy, and Frank Zeidler.
The correspondence with Time and Life deals with Revell's assignments as a stringer for the Luce publications. This section also includes a copy of Life's 1948 photo essay on Madison by Alfred Eisenstaedt for which Revell did the background research. The final correspondence section includes an assortment of correspondence and clippings dealing with Revell's appointment as a Nieman Fellow.
Revell's WRITINGS have been extensively weeded to remove by-lined articles and editorials which appeared in the Capital Times and the Daily Cardinal; these articles are readily available to the researcher on microfilm. Articles which appeared in other publications have been retained. Revell's other writings include speeches and notes, radio scripts, unpublished articles, college essays, an unpublished play, and biographical sketches on Julius Heil, Frank Lloyd Wright, Robert M. La Follette Jr., and William T. Evjue.
The BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL is comprised of photocopied clippings from various newspapers.
VISUAL MATERIALS consists of three event posters.
