George A. Nelson Papers, 1889-1990

Contents List

Container Title
Wis Mss CA
Part 1 (Wis Mss CA): Original Collection, 1908-1954
Physical Description: 2.0 cubic feet (5 archives boxes) 
Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of three boxes of correspondence, 1908-1954; one box of clippings, financial information, marketing agreements, minutes of meetings and conventions, and similar miscellaneous material; and four volumes concerning operation of the Milltown Co-operative Laundry, 1914-1916.

The correspondence is arranged chronologically and is almost entirely letters to Nelson chiefly from men working with him in farmers' organizations. Those from 1914-1917 are mainly about the Milltown Co-operative Laundry Company, the first such company in Wisconsin. From 1917-1919, they concern the Polk County Council of Defense of which Nelson was chairman. The 1921-1922 letters come from constituents urging Assemblyman Nelson's support for or opposition to various bills.

Beginning in 1923, letters from fellow members of farmers' groups predominate. Most concern the Society of Equity (mainly 1922-31), the Farmers' Union (mainly 1934-41), and, to a lesser extent, the Co-operative Creameries Association (1920s). All are related to the workings of these organizations rather than to the ideologies behind them.

Also of interest are letters from 1931 to 1933 on arrangements for Wisconsin's exhibits at the Chicago Centennial of Progress. There are a few letters about the 1934 campaign when Nelson was Socialist candidate for governor and the 1936 one when he was the nominee for vice-president.

The four volumes are all dated within the period from 1914 to 1916 and concern the Milltown Cooperative Laundry. Volumes 1, 2, and 3 are account books listing (1) incoming money from customers, (2) daily accounts, and (3) outgoing expenses, respectively. Volume 4 is a record of shareholders.

Box   1-3
Correspondence, 1908-1954, undated
Box   4
Clippings, 1908-1933
Box   4
Co-operative Creameries
Box   4
Farmers' organizations
Box   4
Milltown Cooperative Laundry
Box   5
Volume   1
Account book (customers), 1914-1916
Box   5
Volume   2
Account book (daily), 1914-1916
Box   5
Volume   3
Account book (outgoing), 1914-1916
Box   5
Volume   4
Record of Shareholders
Box   4
Social Democratic Party, 1909-1912
Box   4
Miscellaneous
M96-118
Part 2 (M96-118): Additions, 1889-1990
Physical Description: 1.6 cubic feet (4 archives boxes), and 219 photographs and 183 negatives (in 2 archives boxes) 
Scope and Content Note: Additions include personal correspondence with family members while George Nelson was gold mining in the Yukon (1898-1901; some letters are in Danish); courtship letters as well as later correspondence between Nelson and Christina Larsen; other miscellaneous correspondence with family, friends, and business associates; political correspondence, speeches, and campaign memorabilia concerning Nelson’s political career as a Socialist; various family papers, including autograph albums, a student diary, and school papers and souvenirs; Klondike ephemera and memorabilia and financial records from this period; business records concerning the Milltown Cooperative, the People’s Cooperative, and the Milltown Bank; and photographs of the Nelson and Larsen families, friends, and the Yukon.
Box   1
Folder   1
Clippings
Box   1
Folder   2
Biographical essay on George Nelson by Vicki Nelson, 1965
Box   1
Folder   3
Autograph album (George Nelson), 1893-1894
Box   1
Folder   4
Patterson Lyceum (club), 1896
Box   1
Folder   5
Official Guide to Klondike Country, 1897
Box   1
Folder   6
Klondike-Chicago Transportation and Trading Company, 1898
Box   1
Folder   7
Financial records, Klondike, 1898-1899
Box   1
Folder   8
Klondike newspapers and ephemera
Correspondence
Box   1
Folder   9
George Nelson to Christina Larsen, 1894
Box   1
Folder   10
Miscellaneous friends to George Nelson (Elkhorn College), 1894-1896
1898
Box   1
Folder   11
George to Christina
Box   1
Folder   12
Christina to George
Box   2
Folder   1
George to family
1899
Box   2
Folder   2
George to Christina
Box   2
Folder   3
George to family
1900
Box   2
Folder   4
George to Christina
Box   2
Folder   5
George to family
1901
Box   2
Folder   6
George to Christina
Box   2
Folder   7
Christina to George
Box   2
Folder   8
George and Christina, 1905-1911
Box   3
Folder   1
Miscellaneous, 1892-1921 and undated
Box   3
Folder   2
Miscellaneous, 1946-1958
Box   3
Folder   3
With State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1955-1990
Box   3
Folder   4
Political correspondence, 1908-1939
Box   3
Folder   5
Speeches
Box   3
Folder   6
Campaign memorabilia
Box   3
Folder   7
Testimonial for Nelson, 1921
Box   3
Folder   8
Polk County, 1902-1942
Box   4
Folder   1
Marie Larsen obituary and funeral, 1949
Box   4
Folder   2
Nelson family student records and diary, circa 1897-1922
Box   4
Folder   3
Miscellaneous Nelson family papers
Box   4
Folder   4
George and Christina Nelson anniversary, 1946 and 1951
Box   4
Folder   5
Greeting cards, souvenirs, calling cards, etc.
Box   4
Folder   6
Brick schoolhouse on Nelson family property, 1889-1944
Box   4
Folder   7
Milltown Cooperative and People's Cooperative, 1929-1949
Box   4
Folder   8
Harry Baker correspondence regarding Milltown Bank, 1919-1923
Box   4
Folder   9
Miscellaneous legal and business papers (including Milltown Bank)
Box   5-6
Photographs and negatives of George Nelson; the Nelson and Larsen families; the Yukon; Frederic, Wisconsin; Luck, Wisconsin; Indians at Pine Lake, etc.
M2017-069
Part 3 (M2017-069): Additions, 1898-1962
Physical Description: 1.7 cubic feet (2 archives boxes, 1 flat box, 1 negative box, and 1 oversize folder) 
Scope and Content Note: Additions, 1898-1962, consisting of correspondence, expense notebooks, diaries, newspaper articles, election and membership cards, farm conference and convention programs, records of dairy herds, 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair materials, Socialist pamphlets and books and photographs.
Correspondence
Box   1
Folder   1
Christina and George A. Nelson from family, 1921-1945
Box   1
Folder   2
George A. Nelson from Christina and family, 1907-1936
Box   1
Folder   3
Constituents to George A. Nelson, 1918, 1921, 1928
Box   1
Folder   4
Phillip La Follette and the La Follete law firm, Proclamation and Honorary Appointments from Governors, 1923-1938
Box   1
Folder   5
Expense account notebooks, 1926-1939
Box   1
Folder   6
Letterhead
Box   1
Folder   7
Ephemera, 1908, 1926, 1937-1945
Box   1
Folder   8
Newspaper clippings, 1926, 1931-1938, 1962
Box   1
Folder   9
Photographs - wedding, political campaign picture cards
Box   1
Folder   10
Yukon diary, 1898
Box   2
Folder   1
Farm conference and convention programs, 1937, 1937
Box   2
Folder   2
Farm correspondence, 1938-1939
Box   2
Folder   3
Farm photograph, 1906
Box   2
Folder   4
Polk County, Wisconsin book, 1905-1938
Box   2
Folder   5
"A Century of Progress" newsletter, 1930-1931
Box   2
Folder   6
Northward Trails in Wisconsin, Compliments of G.A. Nelson to World's Fair Visitors, 1933
Box   2
Folder   7
A Century of Progress World's Fair photographs, 1933
Box   2
Folder   8
A Century of Progress World's Fair Statement of Plan and Purpose and Relation to States and Foreign Countries to Them, 1931, 1933
Box   2
Folder   9
Labor/Socialist Party pamphlets and notes, 1934, 1936
Box   2
Folder   10
Pamphlets and books
Box   3-4
Ledgers and cashbooks, 1914-1943
Box   5
Name tags, 1911, 1934-1937, 1942-1948
Oversize Folder  
Sample ballots; certificates of appointment, 1921, 1923, 1928, 1932