Title: Thomas J. Fleming and Harold J. Fleming Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1922-1940

Creators:

• Fleming, Thomas J., 1869-1930
• Fleming, Harold J., 1900-

Call Number: Milwaukee Mss EC

Quantity: 1.6 c.f. (4 archives boxes)

Repository:

Housed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries’ Archives Department / Milwaukee Area Research Center; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Papers of a father and son who were West Allis, Wis., businessmen and community leaders. The bulk of the collection consists of the correspondence of the C. Nelson Smith Company, which manufactured a patent medicine, D-O-D. Thomas and Harold each were president of the company for a time. The remainder of the papers relate to the Democratic Party activities (1920-1930) of Thomas, who held several state party offices; and to the business, civic, and social activities of Harold, who ran an A & W Root Beer stand franchise, and was active in the American Legion, the Red Cross, local bowling teams, and the Fairview Country Club. Also included are copies of the correspondence of P. H. Callahan, a prominent Catholic layman, varnish manufacturer, and pro-prohibition leader, advocating that prohibition be retained.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil000ec

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Thomas J. Fleming was born in Emmet, Wisconsin around 1869. For a number of years he ran a dairy farm, and from 1895 to 1917 he was secretary of the Wisconsin Agricultural Society. By 1917 he was no longer farming but was owner of the Northern Chemical Company, a West Allis concern which manufactured D-O-D, a patent medicine. About 1918, Fleming transferred the manufacture of the powder to the C. Nelson Smith Company, also of West Allis, of which first he (1918-1930), and later his son Harold (1930-?), were president. Thomas Fleming was a delegate to every national Democratic Party convention from 1896 to 1928, state Democratic Party treasurer, and an unsuccessful candidate for state senator in 1928. Fleming and his wife Adelaide had four children: Harold, Edward, Helen, and Catherine. He died on August 28, 1930.

Harold J. Fleming, son of Thomas J. and Adelaide Fleming, was born March 8, 1900 in West Allis and was educated in the public schools there, at St. Thomas College, St. Paul, Minnesota, and at Marquette University, Milwaukee. After Thomas Fleming's death, Harold continued the manufacture, promotion, and sale of D-O-D. He also ran an A & W Root Beer stand on Greenfield Avenue in West Allis, which at this writing (1975) was still in operation at the same location. Harold Fleming was also active in local organizations such as the American Legion; the Fairview Country Club, of which he was secretary/treasurer and his father a director; the Red Cross; and several bowling teams. Married twice, Harold had four children: Thomas J., Mary Jeanne, David J., and Paul A.

The collection contains three series: C. Nelson Smith Company Records, Other Papers of Thomas J. Fleming, and the Harold J. Fleming Papers.

The C. Nelson Smith Company Records, the bulk of the collection, consists of the correspondence (1922-1935) of the company, which manufactured D-O-D, powdered medicine advertised as capable of curing every human ailment from sore throat to gangrene, as well as most animal diseases. Business correspondence includes: Thomas Fleming's recommendations to purchasers for treatment of various diseases, his suggestions to local sales representatives about various diseases, his suggestions to local sales representatives about potential customers to contact, and his letters to government officials and others written as a representative of West Allis businessmen; letters from purchasers concerning results of using D-O-D; correspondence concerning supplies; and D-O-D testimonials. An undated advertising pamphlet, a few financial records (1922-1929, 1938), and a legal document regarding The United States vs. the C. Nelson Smith Company (1931) are among the company records.

The Other Papers of Thomas J. Fleming include letters reflecting his political activities in the decade 1920 to 1930 during which he was a delegate to the national Democratic conventions, state Democratic Party treasurer, and candidate for state senator. Of particular political interest are copies of letters written by P. H. Callahan, varnish manufacturer, prominent Catholic layman, and pro-prohibition leader, to newspaper editors, politicians, government officials, and church leaders to advocate that prohibition remain in force. Among Fleming's few personal papers is an inventory of his estate (1935).

The Harold J. Fleming Papers concern his business, social, and civic interests. Letters from the R.W. Allen Company, Inc. pertain to his A & W Root Beer Stores franchise. Other letters refer to the American Legion, to the Red Cross, and to political activities, social events, and sports, particularly local bowling teams and scores. Financial records kept while he was secretary/treasurer of the Fairview Country Club and a few copies of The West Allis News (1938), a small mimeographed sheet containing news of local events and community gossip edited by the Flemings, are also filed among Harold's papers.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Harold J. Fleming, West Allis, Wisconsin, May 1960. Accession Number: M60-58

Processing Information

Processed by Robert D. Shuster (FGH intern) and Joanne Hohler, January 27, 1975.

	Series: C. Nelson Smith Company Records
	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   1	A, 1927-1929
Box   1 Folder   2	B, 1927-1929
Box   1 Folder   3	C, 1927-1929, 1935
Box   1 Folder   4	D, 1927-1929
Box   1 Folder   5	E, 1927-1929
Box   1 Folder   6	F, 1927-1929
Box   1 Folder   7	G, 1927-1929
Box   1 Folder   8	H, 1927-1929
Box   2 Folder   1	J, 1927-1929
Box   2 Folder   2	K, 1927-1929
Box   2 Folder   3	L, 1927-1929
Box   2 Folder   4	M, 1927-1929
Box   2 Folder   5	N, 1927-1929
Box   3 Folder   1	O, 1927-1929
Box   3 Folder   2	P, 1927-1929
Box   3 Folder   3	R, 1927-1929
	S
Box   3 Folder   4	1927-1928
Box   3 Folder   5	1928-1930
Box   3 Folder   6	T, 1927-1929
Box   3 Folder   7	U-V, 1927-1929
Box   3 Folder   8	W, 1927-1929
Box   4 Folder   1	X-Z, 1930-1931
Box   4 Folder   2	Re: business supplies (includes flyers), 1929-1930
Box   4 Folder   3	Testimonial letters, 1922-1924
Box   4 Folder   4	Financial records, 1922-1929, 1938
Box   4 Folder   5	Advertising, “D-0-D, the Human Cleanser,” pamphlet, undated
Box   4 Folder   6	Legal, The United States vs. The C. Nelson Company, 1931
	Series: Other Papers of Thomas J. Fleming	⇧
Box   4 Folder   7	Political correspondence, 1920-1930
Box   4 Folder   8	P. H. Callahan prohibition correspondence, 1930
Box   4 Folder   9	Personal papers, 1925-1935
	Series: Harold J. Fleming Papers	⇧
	Business
Box   4 Folder   10	A & W Root Beer stand franchise, correspondence and records, 1931-1939
	Civic and social
Box   4 Folder   11	American Legion activities, 1929-1939
Box   4 Folder   12	Bowling, correspondence and records, 1929-1940
Box   4 Folder   13	Fairview Country Club records, 1930-1931
Box   4 Folder   14	Memorial Day and Armistice (Veterans') Day ceremonies, 1929-1939
	Other
Box   4 Folder   15	The West Allis News, 1938
Box   4 Folder   16	Personal correspondence and miscellaneous, 1929-1939