Title: State Historical Society of Wisconsin: Building Commission Records
Inclusive Dates: 1895-1915, 1923

Creator:

• State Historical Society of Wisconsin

Call Number: Series 941; PH 136; PH 347

Quantity: 4.6 c.f. (9 archives boxes and 2 flat boxes) and 147 photographs

Repository:

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.

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Records, mainly 1895-1915, of several commissions appointed to oversee the construction of the Historical Society building and various early additions. The photographs, primarily cyanotype prints, document the construction, circa 1897-circa 1900. Included are images of the interior and exterior of the building, construction details, construction drawings, and workmen. Also included are views of the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus and of the Milwaukee Public Library.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-ser00941

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

Included are detailed correspondence of the commission and its secretary Isaac Bradley with the architectural firm Ferry and Clas, correspondence and reports of the inspector of construction Francis M. Grant, minutes and reports of the commission and various committees, specifications, bids, proposals, contracts, records of receipts and disbursement, vouchers and bills, and photographs. Also included are correspondence, architectural drawings, and other materials collected by Draper in 1881 concerning planning for a new building.

Building Commission Blueprints and Drawings (Series 942) and Building Additions and Sites Blueprints and Drawings (Series 949) include a large number of blueprints and detailed tissue drawings prepared by architects Ferry and Clas for the construction of the building and its furnishings, as well as blueprints submitted by various subcontractors. In addition, the Visual Materials Archives holds numerous other photographs documenting the building construction and the interior condition of the building.

Acquisition Information

This series contains records previously catalogued as Series 942, 943, 944, 945, 946, and 947.

Series 941	Minutes of the commission and its committees
Box   10	1896-1906
Box   1 Folder   1-2	1907-1908: 1911-1914
Box   1 Folder   3	Architect selection procedure and submissions
Box   1 Folder   4	Background material, 1881-1891
	Bids
Box   1 Folder   5-8	1897
Box   1 Folder   9	1898
Box   2 Folder   1	1899
Box   2 Folder   2	1900, Conditions governing bids
Box   2 Folder   3	1900
Box   2 Folder   4	1912-1914
Box   2 Folder   5	Bills, 1913-1914
Box   2 Folder   6	Certificate book of building superintendent, 1912-1914
Box   2 Folder   7	Certificates of indebtedness
	Correspondence
Box   2 Folder   8-14	1895-1899 January
Box   3	1899 February-December
Box   4	1900 January-July
Box   5 Folder   1-6	1900 August-1901
Box   5 Folder   7	1902-1908
Box   5 Folder   8	1911-1912
Box   6 Folder   1-8	1913-1915, 1923, undated
	Contracts
Box   6 Folder   9	1895-1899
Box   7 Folder   1	1900-1901
Box   7 Folder   2	1907-1915, 1923
Box   7 Folder   3	Copy of deed
Box   11	Daily reports of Francis W. Grant, 1897-1899
Box   7 Folder   4	Drawings and plans
Box   7 Folder   5	Expenditures and receipts, 1896-1906, 1911
Box   7 Folder   6	Expenditure record, 1911-1915
Box   7 Folder   7	Miscellaneous meeting records
Box   7 Folder   8	Miscellaneous records
Box   7 Folder   9	Order book for extras, 1-194, loose order forms, 195-214
Box   7 Folder   10	Reports, 1895, 1899
Box   7 Folder   11	Resolutions adopted by commissioners
Box   8 Folder   1-10	Specifications, 1896-1913, undated
PH 136	Superintendent's commemorative photo album, circa 1897-circa 1900
Series 941 Box   11 Volume   1-2	Superintendent's letterbook, 1897-1901
Box   8 Folder   11	Superintendent's reports, 1911-1912
	Vouchers
Box   8 Folder   12-14	1-200
Box   9 Folder   1-5	201-442