University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Bolens, Albert D., 1861-1952.

Papers, 1836-1952.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection CE

1.4 cubic ft. (3 archives boxes, and 1 small archives box)


ABSTRACT: Papers of an Ozaukee County publisher of at least five newspapers during his career in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Bolens used the most notable, the Star and the Statesman, as vehicles for political editorials. The collection's particular value lies in the correspondence with political leaders in the state between 1922 and 1936. Numerous active Stalwart Republicans in Wisconsin apparently trusted Bolens and sought his advice. Many of the letters, some of which were confidential and not for publication, go into considerable detail concerning political plans, hopes, and ambitions. The letters provide a good insight into the workings of the party during a period when state Republican politics was in an upheaval. Collection also contains genealogical information about the Bolens and Pernet families.


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 particular value of the Bolens collection lies in the correspondence with political leaders in the state between 1922 and 1936. Many of the active Stalwart Republicans in Wisconsin apparently trusted Bolens and sought his advice. Many of the letters go into considerable detail concerning political plans, hopes and ambitions. Some of these letters were confidential and were only for Bolens' information and not for publication. These letters provide a good insight into the behind the scenes working of the Republican Party during a period in the state's history when Republican politics were in an upheaval.

The Bolens collection is composed of Correspondence; Bill and Receipts; Articles and Speeches; Bolens and Pernet Family Genealogy; Miscellaneous Printed Material; and a Scrapbook.

The Correspondence, 1836-1952, is chronologically arranged and is composed of family letters, business letters and political letters. The very early letters in the collection are letters from Bolens grandfather to his son and nephew. Much of the correspondence is business, but by far the bulk of the correspondence is political in nature. The more outstanding correspondents of Bolens are (because of the relatively small size of the collection, only the year or inclusive years are given): The small quantity of Bills and Receipts is unorganized. Most of these bills and receipts relate to the printing business which Bolens operated.

The Articles and Speeches relate to local history, civic affairs, politics, and business affairs. Some of these speeches are copies delivered by persons other than Bolens but which were passed on to him because of his interest or upon his request.

The Bolens and Pernet Family Genealogy consists of a genealogy sketch of the Bolens family, two letters relating to the family genealogy, and, a genealogy of the Bolens family from 1607 to 1807, made from the family tree and written in French, which is now in the possession of Mrs. Olophia [?] Mary Teal of Ligionier, Indiana, and continued to 1891. To which is added an account of the Pernet family, maternal ancestors of the Bolens in this country and a chart to trace relationship and consaguminity translated and arranged by A.L.P. Vairin of Owensboro, Kentucky.

The Miscellaneous Printed Material contains copies of some of Bolens' editorials, a copy of the last issue of the Statesman containing Bolens obituary, and other miscellaneous printed material.

The Scrapbook contains miscellaneous memorabilia concerning the various projects that Bolens was interested in at one time or another during his life.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Albert Douglas Bolens was a Stalwart Republican newspaper editor and publisher in Port Washington, Wisconsin. "A.D.," as he was known, was born in Washington County, Iowa on Christmas Day, 1861. In 1865 the family moved to Wisconsin when the father, Eugene B. Bolens, received the state printing contract. Bolens received his education in his father's printing shop and in the public schools until his father's health forced Bolens to quit school at the age of fifteen and devote all of his time to the family printing business.

Bolens published at least five newspapers during his career in Port Washington, the Port Washington Star, the Wisconsin Statesman, the Ozaukeean, the Grafton Enterprise, and the Modern Press. Of the five the first two, the Star and the Statesman, were used by Bolens as vehicles for political editorials. The Star was published as a weekly country newspaper and followed the usual format for such papers by publishing local news items of all types. The Statesman, on the other hand, was an out and out political organ which made few attempts at any news coverage outside of the political field. The Statesman began as a weekly in 1926 and later changed to monthly publication. In 1933 Bolens suggested that he publish his paper as a daily to serve as the conservative Republican organ in the state but the suggestion received no support and the Statesman remained a monthly.

An example of Bolens' activities during the period is the 1928 campaign when he supported Walter J. Kohler for Governor and carried on an extensive correspondence with Party leaders in the hope of securing Kohler's nomination and election. During the summer of 1928 Bolens sold the Star and moved to Sheboygan where he continued to publish the Statesman. The paper was not in a strong financial position and Bolens tried to interest Kohler in investing in the paper. Kohler refused to become involved to the extent of actually investing money in the paper. Nonetheless the Kohler Company continued to place advertising in the paper and to pay for subscriptions for as many as one hundred persons whose names the Company supplied to Bolens. This form of subsidy was also practiced by other firms, notable the Falk Co., Allis-Chalmers, and others of the same hue, who felt that it would be unwise to become directly involved in the ownership of the Statesman. The state Republican Party also refused to give direct financial help to Bolens though he often approached the Party for money. The Party, like the industrialists, limited its support to endorsing the paper and the cause for which it stood and furnishing names of persons who would be likely subscribers.

Bolens' political influence was, for all practical purposes, limited to the editorials which he wrote. He was an active Party worker and the County Chairman of the Republican Party in Ozaukee County for a number of years and he ran for the Assembly in the 1932 primary but did not get the nomination. throughout his career it is evident from his correspondence that Bolens sought political favors, but the favors granted were few and of no great importance. Apparently the party leaders and office holders felt that Bolens's editorials were useful but not so important as to warrant a political appointment. The one reward which Bolens did receive for his services and which he valued highly was an appointment as an honorary Colonel on Governor Julius P. Heil's military staff.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:
Bolens, Albert D., 1861-1952. Papers, 1836-1952. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection CE. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: The Wisconsin Historical Society purchased the Albert D. Bolens collection in June 1952 from Mr. Bolens' son, Douglas W. Bolens of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (accession number A11802).

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

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION CE BOX FOLDER
Articles and Speeches, 1927-1945 37
Bills and Receipts, 1928-1934 34
Bolens and Pernet Family Genealogy, 1891 35
Correspondence, 1836-1923 11
Correspondence, 1924 12
Correspondence, 1925 13
Correspondence, 1925-1926 14
Correspondence, 1926 15
Correspondence, 1927 21
Correspondence, 1927-1928 22
Correspondence, 1928 23
Correspondence, 1929-1930 24
Correspondence, 1930-1932 25
Correspondence, 1932-1934 31
Correspondence, 1935-1937 32
Correspondence, 1938-1952 33
Miscellaneous Printed Material, 1932, undated 36
Scrapbook, 1928-1952 [volume 1] 4

About the Archives | General Information | Subject Listings | Finding Aids
Genealogy | Upcoming Events | Exhibits | Teaching Resources
Records Management | Other Web Sites | Archives Home Page

©2003 University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee -- All Rights Reserved.
URL: http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/arch/findaids/mssce.htm
Last edited on Monday, June 3, 2003.
Ask an Archivist