The original collection consists of material deposited with the Historical Society from 1973 through 1978. The materials in the original collection date primarily from 1967 through 1974, although there is some general correspondence for the 1975-1976 session. As a result, the collection does not cover Chilsen's role as assistant minority leader or minority leader during the mid-1970s and early 1980s. There is, however, substantial information for his political leadership of the Senate Republican Caucus, 1967-1972, and his relationship with Governor Patrick Lucey, as well as his prominence in committee work on issues such as aging, agriculture and rural development, cable television, campus unrest at the University of Wisconsin during the Vietnam War, humane treatment of animals, the Wisconsin response to the Kerner Report, health care and medical education, mental health, the University of Wisconsin System merger, and the Uniform Consumer Credit Code.
The collection relates chiefly to Chilsen's public role as a legislator, although there are subject files on his association as a private citizen with organizations such as the Friends of Wisconsin Libraries, the Marathon County Workshop for the Handicapped, the Natural Beauty Council, the Rural Development Council, and the Wisconsin Environmental Education Council. There is also documentation relating to his expertise on broadcasting (see, for example, the files on cable television and the Educational Communications Board), but only a few scattered items relate directly to his career with WSAU-TV. Campaign files are substantive only for Chilsen's 1974 reelection campaign.
The collection is organized as general correspondence, 1967-1976; legislative bill files, 1971-1974; subject files, 1967-1974; and personal files.
Ten cubic feet of the collection are GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, which is filed chronologically by session and then alphabetically by the name of the individual or organization. Contents range from routine constituent mail to exchanges with political and legislative leaders. Unfortunately no name or subject indexes or internal cross references are available for these files.
For the 1971-1972 and 1973-1974 sessions there are LEGISLATIVE BILL FILES, which consist of correspondence and information distributed by lobbyists, state agencies, and advocacy groups in order to influence voting. These files relate to specific legislation and are filed first by session, then by legislative branch and individual bill number.
Approximately one half of the collection consists of alphabetically-arranged SUBJECT FILES containing correspondence, minutes, memoranda, reports, and information concerning contemporary political issues and various legislative committees and organizations with which Chilsen was associated. In addition, there are numerous files on local matters filed under headings such as Wausau and Langlade, Marathon, and Shawano counties. There are also genre files containing form letters, press releases, speeches and speech reference material, and newsletters. The Archives' Wisconsin Political Vertical File contains a few similar items which postdate the Chilsen papers held by the Historical Society.
Two folders in the collection entitled PERSONAL FILES were so designated in Chilsen's office. They consist of schedules, memoranda and correspondence concerning members of Chilsen's family, and miscellany.
Approximately two cubic feet of subject files received from Chilsen's office were found to be the papers of Senator Jack Steinhilber; they have been added to that collection.
