Merlin Hull was a Black River Falls, Wisconsin, newspaperman and Republican and Progressive politician, who served as state assemblyman, 1909-1915, secretary of state, 1917-1921, and congressman, 1929-1931 and 1935-1953. The bulk of his papers are composed of political and business correspondence, together with financial records, 1856-1926, of the Badger State Banner prior to his operation of that paper. The collection also includes a small amount of miscellaneous materials including election materials and minutes from State Assembly committees, as well as some photographs.
The collection is arranged into five series: Correspondence, Hull Miscellany, Jackson County Banner Records, General Miscellany, and Photographs.
The Correspondence series is arranged chronologically and there is no correspondent index. To better use the correspondence series, an understanding of Hull's career should help with locating sought after correspondence. Prior to 1906, the papers include correspondence with Hull's former classmates at De Pauw University and many letters concerning his early law practice, his term as clerk of circuit court in Jackson County, his search for a journalism position or a political appointment, and his year (1902-1903) in Portland, Oregon, in publishing and promotional enterprises. From 1906 to 1917 much of the correspondence is concerned with his official duties as Jackson County district attorney (1906), assemblyman (1909-1915), speaker of the Assembly (1913), and secretary of state (1917-1921). Many business letters discussing the day-to-day operations involved in the publishing of Hull's newspaper comprise a large portion of the papers in this part of the collection.
Political correspondence of statewide significance becomes more frequent beginning about 1917, when Hull was concerned with Robert M. La Follette's stand on the war issue, with Loyalty Legion activities, with the prohibition movement, and with woman's suffrage. Numerous letters pertain to Hull's bids for the gubernatorial nomination in 1920 and for congressional nominations in 1924 and 1926. Some letters between 1918 and 1953 show Hull's varying alignments, sometimes with and sometimes against the elder Senator La Follette and his two sons. Entering Congress in 1929 as a Republican, Hull lost the support of many in his party by his opposition to the Hawley-Smoot tariff, and he was defeated for reelection in 1930. Four years later, running as a Progressive with the support of the La Follettes, Hull again won a seat in the House of Representatives. He was reelected in every subsequent campaign until his death.
Although he termed himself a Progressive until 1946 and a Republican thereafter, correspondence indicates that Hull frequently acted independently of party label. Letters from his constituents register reaction to his isolationist views on foreign policy both before and after World War II and to his liberal views on domestic matters, which led him to support many Democratic New Deal and Fair Deal legislative measures relating to labor, rural electrification, federal economic controls, and Social Security. Many other letters concern patronage within his district as well as legislation and special requests of interest to some of his supporters, particularly those in labor organizations and in dairy farming. Among Hull's many prominent correspondents are John J. Esch, James A Frear, Julius P. Heil, Herbert Hoover, Ralph M. Immell, Ada James, Philip F. La Follette, Robert M. La Follette, Robert M. La Follette Jr., Irvine L. Lenroot, John M. Nelson, Emanuel L. Philipp, John C. Spooner, and Woodrow Wilson.
The Hull Miscellany series pertain to his political career. The political files includes lists and other campaign materials, 1914-1916, and minutes of the Joint Committee on Finance, 1913, and the State Board of Public Affairs, 1914.
The Jackson County Banner Records contain records prior to its merger with Hull's journal. The financial records of the Banner, which were transferred to the Historical Society by the Jackson County Historical Society, were stored in Hull's basement. They offer a financial picture of newspaper operation in the 19th and early 20th centuries in Wisconsin that is not available in any other of the Society's manuscript collections. Included are journals and ledgers, as well as job printing, advertising, and subscription record books.
The General Miscellany series includes WPA material, soil conservation reports, and a Jackson County credit book.
The Photographs series, circa 1919-1951, included photographs of Hull, his family, his staff at the Wisconsin State Capitol, Governor Philipp and his staff, and banquets and dinners attended by Hull. Also included are images of groups in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., including members of the American Legion, Women's Patriot Conference on National Defense, and the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce.
