William F. Vilas papers, 1827-1961.

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William F. Vilas papers, 1827-1961.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/297174946

Papers, 1827-1961, of William Freeman Vilas, a cabinet officer during the first administration of President Grover Cleveland (1885-1889), and Democratic senator from Wisconsin (1891-1897), together with papers of his father, Levi B. Vilas (1811-1879), and his daughter, Mary Esther Vilas Hanks (1873-1959). The bulk of the collection relates to state and national politics and consists of correspondence, legal papers and cabinet papers. The correspondence pertains to routine administrative and political matters and policy level contacts with the President and his advisers; several congressional leaders such as James B. Beck, James H. Blount, Francis M. Cockrell, and Samuel J. Randall; and several Wisconsin politicians such as Wendell A. Anderson, Edward S. Bragg, Edwin E. Bryant, Lucius W. Nieman, George H. Paul, David S. Rose, John C. Spooner, Breese J. Stevens, Ellis B. Usher, and Edward C. Wall. National topics of interest include the payment of fees by H.K. Thurber of the United States and Brazil Mail Steamship Company, speculation in agricultural commodities, a railroad bridge between Wisconsin and Minnesota, controversies before the General Land Office, and the gold standard. Other noted correspondents include James B. Angell and Frank A. Flower (about the Deep Waterways Commission), Wade Hampton (about the Farmers' Alliance), and David A. Wells (on Connecticut politics and economics); as well as William H. Barnum, Thomas F. Bayard, William T. Sherman, and John C. Spooner. Documented Wisconsin issues include the Bennett Law, the State Treasurer cases, the University of Wisconsin, a new building for the State Historical Society, and the Wisconsin memorial at Vicksburg. Few papers concern his service during the Civil War. Papers concerning personal investments are scattered throughout, but are most extensive after 1890. They include exchanges with John H. Knight, his partner in the Superior Lumber Company; Thomas E. Nash, his partner in the Nekoosa-Edwards Papers Company; and officers of the Northern Electric Manufacturing Company and the Wisconsin Central Railroad. Other papers concern development of a cranberry marsh in Babcock, Wisconsin, the Cornelia Vilas Memorial Guild Hall of the Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, the Madison Hotel Company, and formation of the Madison Gas and Electric Company. The Legal Papers pertain to Vilas' career primarily from the latter part of his life, and include correspondence and court records for his clients and for cases in which he or a member of his family was involved. The Cabinet Papers consist of private letterbooks and files relating to the Post Office Department and the Interior Department. The General Papers and the Family Papers are more personal and consist of family correspondence; a diary of a Lake Superior trip in August, 1873; compositions and orations prepared by Vilas while a student at the University of Wisconsin; and Henry Vilas' Civil War letters as a member of the 23rd Wisconsin Infantry. Later correspondence concerns the family of Mary Esther Vilas Hanks.

27.4 c.f. (97 archives boxes, 5 card boxes, and 1 flat box)

Wisconsin Historical Society Archives

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7274087

Wisconsin Historical Society Archives

Related Entities

There are 28 Entities related to this resource.

University of Wisconsin

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6t839d8 (corporateBody)

The University of Wisconsin-Extension promotes continuing education and lifelong learning by providing statewide access to university resources and research to the people of Wisconsin. Its four divisions are continuing education; cooperative extension; entrepreneurship and economic development; and broadcast and media innovations. From the guide to the University of Wisconsin Extension Program Reports, 1960-1969, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries) ...

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

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Sherman was born in 1820 in Lancaster, Ohio, near the banks of the Hocking River. His father, Charles Robert Sherman, a successful lawyer who sat on the Ohio Supreme Court, died unexpectedly in 1829. He left his widow, Mary Hoyt Sherman, with eleven children and no inheritance. After his father's death, the nine-year-old Sherman was raised by a Lancaster neighbor and family friend, attorney Thomas Ewing, Sr., a prominent member of the Whig Party who served as senator from Ohio and as the first S...

Spooner, John C. (John Coit), 1843-1919

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s18p12 (person)

U.S. senator and railroad corporation lawyer from Wisconsin. From the description of Papers of John C. Spooner, 1855-1909 (bulk 1870-1907). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82551839 ...

Hanks family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60q081t (family)

Usher, Ellis B. (Ellis Baker), 1852-1931

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60z8r5v (person)

Collection revolving around the Usher family, originally of Buxton and Hollis, Me. The papers were gathered by Ellis B. Usher II, a newspaperman, politician, and author, born in Buxton, Me. He moved with his parents to Wisconsin in 1855, settling in La Crosse, where he eventually became a newspaper publisher (La Crosse Morning Chronicle). A Democrat, Usher was chairman of the state central committee (1887-1890), and from 1878 to 1881 was secretary of the La Crosse board of trade. In 1901 he move...

Vilas, William F. (William Freeman), 1840-1908

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6348x8x (person)

Wisconsin law professor and Civil War lieutenant colonel who was appointed Postmaster-General by President Cleveland in 1885 and then in December, 1887, was transferred to the Department of the Interior. From the description of Letter, March 29, 1888. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 56089358 James Barron Hope was born 23 March 1829 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was the grandson of Commodore James Barron (1769-1851) and son of Wilton Hope and Jane Armis...

Democratic Party (U.S.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62k030j (corporateBody)

Angell, James Burrill, 1829-1916

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American educator who served as the president of the University of Michigan. From the description of Letter, 1904. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367566221 President of the University of Michigan, minister to China and Turkey. From the description of James Burrill Angell papers, 1845-1916. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34419061 Editor of Providence Journal, 1860-1866. From the description of Letter, [ca.1860-1866], Providence,...

Flower, Frank Abial, 1854-1911

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Bryant, Edwin E. (Edwin Eustace), 1835-1903

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Madison Gas and Electric Co. (Madison, Wis.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xw9tfb (corporateBody)

United States. Deep Waterways Commission

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67b0wkt (corporateBody)

United States., Department of the Intérior

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The Alaska Public Works Program was authorized during the 81st Congress through the Alaska Public Works Act, Public Law 264. The Act authorized the General Services Administration to construct public works in Alaska, at a total cost of $70 million, then to sell them to the Territory of Alaska or other public bodies in Alaska at a purchase price that would recover approximately 50% of the total estimated cost. The authority, set to expire June 30, 1955, was extended to June 30, 1959. The program ...

Bayard, Thomas F. (Thomas Francis), 1828-1898

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American statesman. From the description of Autograph letter signed, dated : Wilmington, Del., to [Henry Morrison] Flagler, 1884 Sept. 3. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270672065 Epithet: American statesman British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000613.0x000223 Diplomat and statesman; U.S. senator (1869-1885); U.S. secretary of state (1885-1888); of Wilmington, Del. From the descriptio...

Thurber, H. Kinsley

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Vilas, Henry L.

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Nieman, Lucius W.

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Anderson, Wendell A. (Wendell Abraham), 1840-1929

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Surgeon, civic leader, and public official, of La Crosse, Wis. From the description of Papers, 1860-1917. (La Crosse Public Library). WorldCat record id: 28408543 ...

United States. Postmaster General

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Letter from N. Udall, Post Office Department, informs California Governor John McDougal (1851-1852) that his nominee for Assistant Postmaster General for California and Oregon, Col. James S. Graham, cannot be considered, since Post Office Department does not intend to establish an office on Pacific coast. From the description of U.S. Postmaster General letter, 1851. (University of the Pacific). WorldCat record id: 34816745 ...

Hampton, Wade, 1818-1902

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Wade Hampton (1818-1902) was a planter, Confederate officer, governor of South Carolina, and United States senator. From the guide to the Wade Hampton Papers, ., 1813-1891, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.) South Carolina governor. From the description of Letter : Columbia, S.C., to Gen. Conner, 1880 October 31. (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 32140158 Confederate Army off...

Barnum, William Henry, 1818-1889

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United States Senator and congressman from Connecticut. From the description of Autograph, 187-?. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367391599 American politician. Postcard to Worthington Ford. From the guide to the William Henry Barnum letters, 1866, 1870, 1871, 1877, 1884, 1885, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.) ...

National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union

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State historical society of Wisconsin

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The State Historical Society was founded in 1846, chartered in 1853, and became a trustee of the state in 1855. Chapter 75, Laws of 1967, continued the Society as an independent agency. The Society is charged by statute with the collection, preservation, and dissemination of historical and cultural resources relating to Wisconsin, the Midwest, and the nation. From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145776528 ...

Wells, David Ames, 1828-1898

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Economist, author, and public official. From the description of Papers of David Ames Wells, 1795-1898 (bulk 1860-1886) (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71067851 American economist. From the description of Papers of David Ames Wells [manuscript], 1851-1887. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647812256 Biographical Note 1828, June 17 Born, Sp...

Stevens, Breese J., 1834-1903.

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Vilas, Cornelia.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x3965c (person)

Rose, David S., 1856-1932

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Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908

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Grover Cleveland, born in Caldwell, NJ, 18 March 1837; moved to Buffalo, NY in 1855; Erie County Sheriff, 1871-1874; Mayor of Buffalo, 1882; Governor of New York, 1883-1884; President of the United States, 1885-1889, 1893-1897; married Frances Folsom, 1886; died at Princeton, NJ, 24 June 1908....