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.

Mimeographed copy of reminiscence by Eva George (Mrs. Charles Thompson) Ritchey, River Falls, Wisconsin; in which she reminisces about her youth in Vermont, her family's migration to North Dakota, and their early hardships and later successes there.

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.

Annual reports from the county's extension team, consisting of the County Home Agent, the 4-H Club Agent, and the Agricultural Agent.

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.

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”.

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.

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 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.

The Falconian, was a yearbook published by the Intra-Residence Hall Council that documents student life and activities of the early 1980s. It also includes information and photographs of hall councils.

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.

[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.

Records of the bank, including minutes of the board of directors and stock holders, 1892-1933; stock certificates issued and cancelled, 1919-1932; depositors agreements, 1929; and miscellaneous business ledgers, accounts, and files, 1932-1945.

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.

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.

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.

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 including minutes of the trustees and board of directors; sacramental record books; histories; records of the Wesley League, Willing Workers, and other church groups; photographs; yearbooks, 1962-1966; and other records.

[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.

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.

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.

Essay by Marshall Norseng, including programs for oratorical and extemporaneous speaking contests, 1926-1927; a brochure describing a 1928 debate trip; a speech outline for a 1926 contest; and a 1974 cover letter.

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.

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.

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)

Scrapbooks of a Pierce County Extension Homemakers member club; including awards, correspondence, news clippings, photographs, and programs.

Three articles written by Marson about the history of Exile, Wisconsin (in eastern Pierce County); about his father, Henry A. Marson, Exile's blacksmith; and about Miss Flora Evens, a resident there.

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.

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.

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."

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.

Photocopied undated letter from Franki Nye, reminiscing about her uncle, American humorist Edgar W. (Bill) Nye, and James Whitcomb Riley.

Photocopies of miscellaneous documents concerning Franz Muller (Frank Miller) and his wife Sevilla Wolf Muller, including a birth certificate, wedding license, land claim certificate, and a servant's work book from Germany.

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.

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.

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.

[1] Clerk's Record Book (1953-1957) containing accounts of cash disbursements and a breakdown by categories such as board salaries, teacher salaries, library books, etc.; and [2] Treasurer's Book (1955-1957) showing receipts and disbursements.

This series contains syllabi from Freshman English classes at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. This includes both the Teacher’s and Student’s copies of the Freshman English Syllabus. The earliest year represented in the collection is 1948-49.

The Freshman Record is a type of yearbook for incoming freshmen. It lists photos and useful information to help acquaint the student with the college experience. The name of the publication later changed to the New Student Record.

Family history compiled by Pattison and Kinney.

This collection documents the Future Teacher Institute program at the University of Wisconsin River Falls. The program at UWRF began as part of a larger program, the Consortium of Minorities in Teaching Careers. The consortium was comprised of nine other universities in the early nineties to increase the recruitment of ethnic minorities into the teaching profession. The program model was developed by Judson Taylor, from California State University at Domingues Hills. Dr. Taylor became the Vice Chancellor at UWRF. The program was led by José Vega, Assistant Dean. The program at UWRF sought to improve the recruitment of Native Americans into the teaching profession. Recruiters from schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin were sought to work with and recruit students that were thought to have potential and interest in the teaching profession. The Future Teacher Institute at UWRF was a two-week program where students who stayed on campus learned instructional methods the first week and the second week employed those methods by teaching elementary students that applied for the Academic Enrichment Program.

This collection is arranged into sub-series containing records of their respective programs. Consortium for Minorities in Teaching Careers, Future Teacher Institute, Academic Enrichment Program, and some records from the College of Education Teacher Education Department. This collection also contains photographs. Digital records were added as a later addition and are similarly arranged by program.

Papers, primarily from 1900-1956, of Dr. Glenn D. Gallup, River Falls, Wisconsin; his wife Frances Gallup; and their children. Included are fragmentary medical records, lesson plans and curriculum materials from Frances' teaching career, papers from the children's school years, family correspondence, photographs, and genealogies of the Peabody Family of Salem, Massachusetts.

Charts showing results of a survey on the impact of "urban sprawl" in Hudson, River Falls, and Prescott, Wis., and other areas in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Region; prepared by River Falls student Gary Fergot as a political science course requirement.

Established in 1992, the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual (GLB) Task Force was an Ad Hoc committee of the Faculty Senate Committee on Affirmative Action that was tasked to investigate Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual issues concerning Students, Staff, and Faculty at UWRF. In 1995, Chancellor Thibodeau expanded it to a University Committee reporting directly to the Chancellor.

Records include but are not limited; to correspondence, meeting minutes, a summary of activities to the chancellor, and grant applications to host programs and events on campus. Correspondence includes shared governance approval of the task force, internal memos, and memos to the chancellor on recommendations. Grant opportunities were pursued by the committee to further the mission to educate the campus community on issues.

The Gay/Straight Alliance was a student organization that evolved from the Ten Percent Society in 1997. The mission of the organization was to provide a safe, supportive, confidential, and empowering environment to members and guests. Members of the organization were active on and off campus to encourage educational awareness and provide social opportunities.

The majority of this collection contains conference materials attended by students of the organization. Administrative records and correspondence contain information on the organization's mission and activities.