Records of Freeman Drug Company, a River Falls drug store; including cashbooks and other financial records, formula books, biographical information on owners R.S. and R.W. Freeman, and miscellaneous material including trade catalogues, advertisements, labels, and a tintype.

Biographical information and recollections written in 1974 of the English Department at River Falls Normal School provided by Fred Short, an alumnus from the class of 1910; genealogical information concerning the family of Fred Short; and an 1833 land indenture and a proof sheet of a humorous article by Bob Short in the Connecticut Courant, May 14, 1827.

Correspondence of Lord, who operated an abstract office at Ellsworth, Wisconsin, and with County Surveyor S.A. Carpenter prepared and published plat maps of Pierce County. Letters concern titles of land in Pierce County, publication and sale of his maps, a dispute with Carpenter, and local political matters.

Photocopied pages from a casebook kept by Dr. Epley who practiced in New Richmond, Wisconsin from 1877-1908, describing medical treatments used in cases including childbirth and various tumors, use of a blood transfusion with remarkable results, and a number of autopsies he performed.

Typewritten transcription of an autobiographical interview, Dec. 20, 1967, with Frank Schmidt, Stillwater, Minnesota, in which he describes his logging activities in Minnesota and bootlegging during the Prohibition era; plus a 1963 proposal for "St. Croix Valley Resource Persons Tape Library."

Assorted papers of Frank Peabody related to his schooling at Clear Lake School (Clear Lake, Wisconsin) consisting of examination certificates, graduation announcements, class notes on decoration, drawing, and design, and an essay on the history of slavery in the U.S. Also included is a letter (1896) from Peabody to Mrs. A. B. Emerson, Clerk of District No. 5, Clear Lake, Wisconsin asking to be considered for employment for the following term. There are also three unidentified photographs.

Papers of a Hudson, Wisconsin, man, including Civil War orders (1863-1866) about his service in Company G, 4th Wisconsin Cavalry; as Captain of Company H, 15th Regiment, Corps d'Afrique (1863-1866); and as officer of Company C, 99th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops. Includes muster rolls of the 99th, and correspondence describing his service in Louisiana and Mississippi, including the surrender of New Orleans. Also includes personal correspondence, 1833-1875, with relatives in Connecticut and Rhode Island, especially Eddy Harding, Brooklyn, Connecticut; business papers, 1848-1898, including warranty deeds, an estate list (1849), and the will of Nathaniel Smith, Providence, Rhode Island (1860); and genealogical notes on the Jewell and Barnard families of Star Prairie, Wisconsin.

On September 2, 1875, The State Normal School at River Falls was formally dedicated. Part of the National Normal School Movement that began in the 1830s, in response to growing concern over the shortcomings of American common schools, specifically schools to teach teachers.

Citizens of the Village of River Falls, along with surrounding townships, began to express interest in having a Normal School in the area. In January 1870, some 1,000 voters signed a petition requesting the state legislature “to pass an enabling act allowing River Falls and surrounding communities a tax of $20,000 to contribute to the establishment of the next State Normal School to be located in River Falls. (King, James T., and Wyman, Walker D. Centennial History: The University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 1874-1974. River Falls, Wis.: U of Wisconsin-River Falls, 1975)

In an effort to save River Falls from the fate of other teachers colleges, that of remaining small and limited, President Eugene H. Kleinpell proposed a Foundation in the 1940’s as a means of pulling the institution up by its own bootstraps. The general plan was to interest the community in building a fieldhouse for the college and the high school, so the slogan “Feed the Falcon Fieldhouse Fund” was adopted. If 5,000 former students contributed $10 a year for five years, the Foundation could reach its goal of $25,000. This first campaign proved to be disappointingly slow in obtaining results. By the end of 1950, only $13,837.10 had been received.

These records were compiled by UWRF Professor, James Pratt. Pratt was a forensics coach for many years at a variety of schools. Starting in 1977, Professor Pratt came to UW- River Falls and was the head Forensics Coach from 1977 until today. These are the records from before and after his arrival at UW- River Falls up until 1992. Professor Pratt not only was a college-level forensics coach, but he also was a high school and regional forensics coach. He was one of the head leaders for the Twin Cities Forensics League as well as a part of the American Forensics Association on top of being the River Falls High school and collegiate Forensics Coach.

A diary kept during World War I by a Wisconsin soldier who received the Croix de Guerre for courageous action in France. Apparently serving in the artillery, Leseman's brief daily entries describe camp life, German shelling and use of mustard gas, camp and battle duties, homesickness, and his hospitalized injuries and illnesses including a bout with spinal meningitis.

Typescript genealogies: "A Genealogy of the Dietrich Family and that of the Stiehl and other Related Families" by Floyd L. Haight, mentioning the family names Cunningham, Dowling, Harper, and Rozmenoski, and including notes and letters used in compiling the genealogy; "A Genealogy of the Peters Family" written ca. 1970 by Floyd and Mary Dietrich Haight, including the family names Cline, Cooley, Dietrich, Eberhardt, Kiteley, Klein, Piper, Ramsay, and Simon; and "A Genealogy of the Haight Family" edited by Haight in 1937 and again for certain branches of the family in 1969, mentioning the family names Piatt and Prestedge.

[1] School District Records (1914-1958) containing minutes of school board meetings and accounts of receipts and expenditures; [2] Clerk's Papers (1934, 1956-1958) including directives from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, teacher's annual reports, and other miscellaneous forms and papers; [3] Treasurer's Book (circa 1955-1958) showing receipts and disbursements; [4] Treasurer's Papers (1938-1958) containing bank book, statements, and canceled checks; and [5] School Registers (1924-1940, 1949-1953) including pupil attendance and work records, daily programs, visitor record, and state reading circle record.

This collection contains two campus publications: First Flight and the Prologue. Both publications contain University of Wisconsin-River Falls students' poetry, prose, and visual art. First Flight was only published from 1949 to 1950. The Prologue began publication in 1956 and continues today.

Records of the congregation and several of its organizations such as the Ladies Aid Society, Pilgrim Fellowship, women's Fellowship, and others. Included are minutes of meetings, histories, annual reports, membership and financial records, sacramental records, Sunday bulletins, correspondence, newsclippings, and photographs.

Records consisting of a photocopy of the church's manual, ca. 1897, describing church policies and the history of the church and Prescott, and including a membership list updated through 1902. Also included are copies of Sunday School "Cradle Roll" application cards, in chronological order, 1926-1952, 1954-1958, showing the names of children under the age of three, birthdates, and the parents' names.

Mainly legal, business, and political papers of two River Falls, Wis., lawyers, Ferris M. White and his son Kenneth. Correspondence of Ferris White, 1933-1940, concerns his law partnership with his son, chairmanship of the Board of Bar Examiners, participation in the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, service as city attorney of River Falls, and land and stock investments in Canada, Iowa, Texas, and Montana. Many letters and related papers concern his work, 1933-1935, as county attorney for both Pierce and St. Croix counties for the Home Owners' Loan Corporation, an agency to assist home owners enmeshed in debt during the depression. Occasional letters also relate to Ferris White's interest in Democratic politics and state political issues. Among his correspondents were Grover Broadfoot, Edward J. Dempsey, F. Ryan Duffy, and Daniel H. Grady.
Records of Kenneth White include files from his law partnership with John W. Davison, 1941-1946, as well as personal papers of Davison; military correspondence of Kenneth White from his service in World War I and World War II and his membership in the 32nd Division of the Wisconsin National Guard; and political correspondence of Republican White concerning his support for William E. Borah in 1936, his concerns as a legislator (1937-1941) with measures to improve the state college system and support the National Guard. Among White's frequent correspondents were Jim Dan Hill, Merlin Hull, Ralph Immell, Warren P. Knowles, Philip F. La Follette, Oscar Rennebohm, and Alexander Wiley. A few family papers also are in the collection.

[1] District Record Book (1935-1959) including minutes of district meetings, listing of orders drawn on the treasurer, and teacher's contracts; and [2] Treasurer's Records (1951-1960) showing receipts and disbursements of the district and cash balances in the district's bank account. There is also correspondence, annual reports, petitions for redistricting, bond information, and financial aid requests.

Materials compiled by Keith Wurtz on his parents and other family members. Included are transcripts of tape-recorded interviews with his mother and father (1968-1978), family tree charts for both the Wurtz and the O'Connel families, and photocopies of miscellaneous documents.
The interviews concern family history and stories of the Wurtz, Weideman, and O'Connel families with brief mention of various settlements in Pierce and Pepin counties in Wisconsin where they lived.

The Faculty Women’s Club was formed in about 1914, as a social organization for women connected with the River Falls State Normal School. It was originally called “The Faculty Women’s League,” but changed its name in November of 1940 to its present title, “The Faculty Women’s Club.” The philosophy of the organization always underscored sociability over money-making. Nevertheless, the group has continually supported a variety of charitable and civic causes. For example, the club awarded annual scholarships donated milk and clothing to the needy, and contributed to such organizations as the American Red Cross, the Girl Scouts, the Salvation Army, the American Legion, and the March of Dimes. In terms of social activities, the club became involved in a wide range of events and projects, including plays, musicals, teas, dinners, and writing cookbooks.

This collection contains minutes of meetings, early and revised constitutions, rosters of members, correspondence, programs, and other materials relating to the Faculty Women’s Club.

This series contains committee records, meeting minutes, correspondence, proposals, reports, and other materials of the Faculty Council (1956-1967); minutes and agendas, motions, meeting minutes and other records of the Faculty Senate (1967-present); and records of faculty committees (1934-present). Council records include correspondence and minutes of council and committee meetings. Senate records include agendas, minutes, reports, correspondence, and memoranda.

The purpose of the Faculty Handbook is to acquaint faculty with the plan of organization of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the administrative policies, personnel, practices, and institutional regulations. Updated editions to the Faculty handbook occurred roughly every four years. In 1999, the handbook included the academic staff of the university, leading to the title change, Faculty and Academic Staff Handbook.

The “Faculty Bulletin”, first issued by the River Falls State Teachers College administration in the fall of 1946, was designed as a communicative vehicle for faculty and administration, and included announcements and information emanating from both sources. They were published periodically throughout the school year, providing information concerning new staff and assignment changes, activity calendars, and changes in programs and school services. The “Bulletin” was discontinued during the 1973/74 school year in favor of a new publication, “This Week”.

Records of a church founded in 1890. The records consist of papers of the Women's Missionary Federation, Hudson Circuit; and congregation records including correspondence and business papers, 1935-1963; minutes of the board of trustees, 1939-1955; financial records, 1922-1963; bulletins; sermons; records of marriages, baptisms, and confirmations, 1901-1930; and minutes and financial accounts for such church-sponsored groups as the Luther League, Lutheran Mission Circle, Ezekiel Lutheran Church Ladies Aid, the Kinnickinnic Lutheran Ladies Aid, Lutheran Daughters of the Reformation, and numerous other groups.
There are also histories of some of these groups as well as numerous photographs of church buildings, pastors, and older members of the congregation. Also included are pictorial church directories from 1993 and 1997.

Recollections written in 1974 by Evalyn (Mrs. Richard) Meents of her teaching experiences at Herum School (District No. 4, Town of Martell), 1953-1957, and at Fargo School (Joint District No. 3, Towns of Martell and River Falls), 1957-1962, and a letter recommending people who might give information on other Pierce County, Wisconsin, schools.

Papers of a history professor and president of Wisconsin State University, River Falls from 1946 to 1967. Included is correspondence, speeches, a reminiscence, manuscripts of his dissertation and his book "In the Shadow : Reflections of a State College President," clippings, academic records, and memorabilia.

Miscellaneous papers of Williams, a teacher and attorney who resided for many years in Hudson, Wisconsin, consisting primarily of correspondence concerning her purchases of fertilizer, fencing, and other gardening supplies, her Supreme Court appeal in her lawsuit against the City of Hudson about a fence, a tax dispute, and other topics.

The autobiography of Lindner recounting his youth in Wurtemberg, Germany, brief service in the French Foreign Legion, immigration to the United States in 1837, adventures in Florida, his life as a merchant, farmer, doctor, and government official in Ohio, Kansas, and Florida, his Civil War experiences in the 36th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and his experiences and belief in spiritualism.

A paper by Gullicksrud for a university class based on his diary entries describing a two-month struggle by students with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls administration over the proposed closing of the trailer court in which they were living to make room for a new physical education building.