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Summary Information
Orland S. Loomis Papers 1909-1945
- Loomis, Orland S. (Orland Steen), 1893-1942
Wis Mss UI; Audio 1645A; M2012-018
11.6 c.f. (29 archives boxes) and 1 tape recording; plus additions of 0.1 c.f.
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Orland Loomis, a Progressive lawyer and politician from Mauston, Wisconsin, who was a member of both houses of the Wisconsin state legislature, state attorney general, and governor-elect in 1942. The collection includes correspondence, legal papers, copies of proposed legislation, memoranda, personal accounts, campaign materials, schedules, speeches, and press releases. The correspondence between 1929 and 1933, when Loomis served in the state legislature, reflects his concern with the problems of farmers, veterans, education, and public electric power. Most of the correspondence from 1936 to 1942 relates to electioneering, but a few letters exchanged with Robert M. La Follette Jr. and Philip La Follette from 1931 to 1935 and in 1942 contain references to Progressive Party programs and problems. Correspondence for 1937 and 1938, when he served as attorney general, include several legal opinions. Other correspondents include Herman Ekern, John J. Esch, William Evjue, Halbert Hoard, Merlin Hull, Charles A. Kading, Irvine Lenroot, Gaylord Nelson, George W. Norris, and Gifford Pinchot. A large part of the collection relates to Loomis' attempts to bring publicly owned electric power to Wisconsin, and includes briefs, exhibits, correspondence, and legal papers relating to the municipalities Loomis represented in public-power cases between 1933 and 1942. Loomis' clients included Bangor, Edgerton, Viroqua, Hustisford, Fennimore, Waterloo, Kendall, McFarland, Poynette, and Pardeeville. The extensive materials for Pardeeville follow the case from the village decision by referendum to purchase their power plant through twelve years of litigation. The collection also includes a folder of briefs and other materials on the Wisconsin Development Authority, established in 1937 to aid municipal ownership and the orderly development of Wisconsin resources. Loomis' papers contain some of the records of his campaigns for governor in 1940 and 1942, and a group of letters and proposals for his administration made after the 1942 election. Loomis died, however, before he could take office. English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-wis000ui
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