Kole, John W.

ABSTRACT: Papers of Kole, a former chief (1970-1989) of the Washington, D.C. bureau of the Milwaukee Journal from 1970 to 1989. Prior to that time he was a staff writer for the Milwaukee Journal and the capital bureau (1963-1970). The papers consist of draft articles, clippings, memoranda and correspondence, handwritten and typed notes, and research material. Koles coverage of Wisconsin and national government, politics and politicians is represented by files on Les Aspen, Robert Kasten, Melvin Laird, Gaylord Nelson, David Obey, Alvin O'Konski, William Proxmire, Henry Reuss, Clement Zablocki, Henry Maier and others. Documented issues relating to Wisconsin include Project ELF, the Ice Age Trail, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Some of the files contain draft articles by other members of the Washington, D.C. bureau: Frank A. Aukofer, Laurence "Con" Eklund, and Ira Kapenstein.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection consists of professional records created by Jack Kole while working for the Milwaukee Journal. The earliest item is a press release dated 1948, but the majority of the records date from approximately 1960 to 1989, and thus they primarily document his career with the Washington, D.C. bureau. An exception to this concerns the coverage of Mayor Henry Maier during 1963 and 1964 while Kole was still in Milwaukee. Additionally the file entitled "Secrets in City Government" contains draft articles and a scattering of correspondence pertaining to the period, 1961-1962, when Kole was the Milwaukee Journals city editor. The collection also includes draft articles written by other members of the bureau staff: Frank A. Aukofer, Laurence "Con" Eklund, and Ira Kapenstein. 

The Kole Papers are arranged as an alphabetical subject file. The contents of each file is fairly consistent: bylined and unbylined clippings from the Milwaukee Journal, the Milwaukee Sentinal, and other newspapers; press releases and background research material, notes; and draft copies of articles. 

The draft articles are an important and unusual part of the collection because the drafts offer insights into the way in which a story was edited for eventual publication. Much of the copy itself consists of drafts as they were wired to the copy desk in Milwaukee. Typewritten notes are often attached. In some cases these are random notes, but in others the notes document interviews conducted for the articles. The majority of the drafts are annotated with corrections and proofreader's marks. (A Milwaukee Journal stylebook included with the papers [Box 4, Folder 8] helps to interpret those marks that are from the early 1970s).

Correspondence and memoranda are scattered throughout the collection, with the majority consisting of letters to the editor forwarded to Kole, memoranda to and from Dick Leonard, Joe Shoquist, and Sig Gissler; and occasional exchanges with political figures. The majority of the letters are comments on articles by Kole. Exchanges with the editorial staff consist of gossipy news and discussion of the handling of particular stories. 

The clippings in the collection are primarily from the Milwaukee Journal and the Milwaukee Sentinel. Until 1966, when the Milwaukee Sentinel established its own bureau, articles by Kole appeared in both newspapers. Unfortunately, many of these articles were not bylined, and so they cannot be conclusively identified. Perhaps the most interesting series of articles, clearly written by Kole for the Milwaukee Sentinel are several stories regarding David Rabinvitz, the Sheboygan lawyer nominated to the post of federal judge by President Kennedy but never confirmed because of the Presidential assassination.

In general, Koles coverage of national news and politics focused on the Wisconsin connection of a particular story. Thus, there is strong coverage of the Wisconsin congregational delegation and on issues that were important to Wisconsin and to members of the delegation such as Project ELF, the Ice Age Trail, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the Milwaukee Road. Among the best covered Wisconsin politicians are John Gronouski, Robert Kasten, Melvin Laird, Gaylord Nelson, David Obey, Alvin O'Konski, Henry Reuss, Clement Zablocki, and in particular, Willam Proxmire. At one point, the Milwaukee Journal editors accused Kole of being biased toward Proxmire. In addition to the standard material described above, the Proxmire file includes two tape recorded interviews. Less well known individuals with Wisconsin connections include John Doar, David Keene, Robert Lewis, Sheldon Lubar, and Paul Weyrich.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Born on January 27, 1934 to John H. and Euna Kole, John "Jack" Kole grew up in Zealand, Michigan where his father was an automobile mechanic and his mother was a hospital administrator. Kole attended the local public schools and upon graduation from high school, he enrolled at Michigan State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. During his summers as a college student he worked at the Holland Evening Sentinel. After graduation, Kole  attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, graduating with a Master's degree in journalism in 1956. Two days after his graduation Kole went to work for the Milwaukee Journal as an obituary writer. In a matter of months Kole was reporting on the Milwaukee suburbs and federal court cases. Early in 1959, he was promoted to city hall editor, a position that he held until 1962. At this time Kole was awarded a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University. When he returned to Milwaukee in the following year Kole resumed political reporting. 

In 1963 Kole switched to the combined Washington, D.C. bureau of the Milwaukee Journal and the Milwaukee Sentinel. Both papers were owned by the Journal Company, and Kole wrote stories that appeared in both newspapers until 1966 when the Milwaukee Sentinel established an independent bureau. In 1970, Laurence "Con" Eklund retired as bureau chief, and Kole was chosen to replace him. Frank Aukofer, a prominent civil rights reporter at the Milwaukee Journal, joined him from Milwaukee. The two men made up the bureau staff until 1989 when Kole resigned to work for congressman David Obey. 

Jack Kole retired in 1997. Jack and Betty Kole are the parents of five children, including two sets of twin daughters.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Kole, John W., Papers, 1960-1989.  Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 197. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

Milwaukee Journal Stations Collection,. 1922-1980. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 203) 

Milwaukee (Wis.). Mayor. Records of the Henry W. Maier administration, 1960-1988. (Milwaukee Series 44 and Milwaukee Tape 1235A) 

Reuss, Henry S., 1912-2002. Papers, 1939-1982. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 112) 

Sensenbrenner, F. James, 1943- . Papers, 1967-1978. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 91 and Milwaukee Micro Collection 43)

Shoquist, Joseph William. Papers, 1952-1985. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 145)  

ACQUISITION: Presented by John Kole via Martin Kaiser of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2001 (accession number M2002-014).

PROCESSING: Processed by Elizabeth Stephan (SED Student- cjm) in 2002. 

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

• Allen-Bradley Company--History.
• American newspapers--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• Aspen, Les. 
• Aukofer, Frank A., 1935- .
• Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad Company. 
• Ice Age National Scenic Trail (Wis.).
• Journalists--Washington (D.C.). 
• Journalists--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.  
• Kapenstein, Ira, 1936-1971.
• Kasten, Robert W. 
• Laird, Melvin R. 
• Maier, Henry W., 1918- . 
• Milwaukee journal.
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Milwaukee sentinel. 
• Milwaukee  (Wis.).--Newspapers. 
• Milwaukee (Wis.).--History--Sources. 
• Nelson, Gaylord Anton, 1916- . 
• Obey, David R. 
• O'Konski, Alvin E. (Alvin Edward), 1904-1987.
• Project ELF.
• Proxmire, William. 
• Reuss, Henry S. 
• Saint Lawrence Seaway--Economic Aspects.
• United States--Politics and government.  
• Zablocki, Clement John, 1912-1983.

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Last edited on Friday, April 25, 2003.
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