Zeidler, Frank P.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Zeidler, Frank P.

Papers, 1897-1977.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection DJ

1 cubic ft. (2 archives boxes, and 1 small archives box)

ABSTRACT: Papers of a Milwaukee socialist and civic leader who served as mayor from 1948-1960. The collection consists mainly of materials (1950-1977) issued by various socialist organizations and a small amount of Zeidler's correspondence and writings about the Socialist Party and Social Democratic Foundation. Also includes various records of the national and state Socialist Party, and the Public Enterprise Committee, a socialist-leftist organization which promoted Zeidler for mayor.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Frank Zeidler was born in Milwaukee on 20 September 1912. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Extension Division; Marquette University; and the University of Chicago. Mr. Zeidler closed out the era of socialist mayors in Milwaukee---an era that began in 1910 and was interrupted only twice---when he served as mayor from 1948 to 1960. His three terms in office were marked by large-scale construction of public housing; the construction of the first educational television station in Wisconsin; slum clearance and city beautification programs; strong statements on behalf of civil rights; and the quadrupling of the size of the city. Since his retirement from public office, Mr. Zeidler has remained active in socialist parties on the national, state and local levels. He is currently chairman of the Socialist Party, U.S.A.

Frank Zeidler has had ties with all of the organizations for which there are papers in this collection. Zeidler was a long time member of the Socialist Party/Social Democratic Federation and of its National Action Committee which was primarily concerned with the anti-Vietnam war movement during the time period documented in this collection. In 1972, when the Socialist Party/Social Democratic Federation split into factions, Zeidler emerged as leader of one faction, the Socialist Party, U.S.A., which subsequently moved its headquarters from New York to Milwaukee. Zeidler has had equally strong ties to the Socialist Party of Wisconsin (called Socialist Party - Social Democratic Federation of Wisconsin until 1969), a regional affiliate of the Socialist Party/Social Democratic Federation. The Socialist Democratic Party of America - Milwaukee Branch (known in its earliest days as the Social-Democracy of America) was the first formal manifestation of socialism in Milwaukee when it was founded in 1897. It was the progenitor of the party whose candidate, Emil Seidel, was elected first socialist mayor of Milwaukee (and in the United States) in 1910. The Public Enterprise Committee (also known as The Public Enterprise Committee of Milwaukee County and the Municipal Enterprise Committee) was formed in 1947 by a coalition of socialists and leftist Democrats to promote the candidacy of Frank Zeidler for mayor of Milwaukee. Since leaving public office in 1960, Mr. Zeidler has held various offices in this organization.

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection consists mainly of materials issued by various socialist organizations and a small amount of correspondence and writings of Frank Zeidler. The papers have been arranged in five series: Socialist Party/Social Democratic Federation, Socialist Party, U.S.A., Socialist Party of Wisconsin, Public Enterprise Committee, and Frank Zeidler Papers.

The Socialist Party/Social Democratic Federation papers include membership and dues records, newsletters, minutes and secretary’s reports, and minutes and reports of the National Action Committee.

Papers of the Socialist Party, U.S.A. consist of constitutions, minutes, statements, press releases and printed memos, and printed memos and subscription information regarding The Socialist Tribune, a newspaper published by the party. Records of the national conventions of the Socialist Party, U.S.A. contain minutes, reports, and resolutions adopted by delegates.

Included with the records of the Socialist Party of Wisconsin is a file of printed programs from picnics held annually by the membership. Within each program a history of the party, biographical sketches of prominent party leaders and members, and advertising, may be found. Also present in this series are newsletters and associated material, a published article and a two-page synopsis of the history of socialism in Milwaukee, and a minute book of the Socialist Democratic Party of America-Milwaukee, Local Branch No. 2, Twenty-first Ward, 1897-1901.

The Public Enterprise Committee papers consist of general correspondence dating from the 1950s and from 1962, with many gaps; general records, including memos, statements, and similar material for distribution to the membership, and platforms and planks adopted by the party.

The Frank Zeidler Papers are comprised of a folder of fragmentary correspondence, primarily with other Socialists and party leaders; a folder of pamphlets written by Zeidler, including his translation of Macbeth by William Shakespeare; and photocopied newspaper articles about Zeidler. Also included with his writings is Zeidler’s proposed domestic program for consideration by the Debs Caucus in 1971.

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).

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Zeidler, Frank P. Papers, 1897-1977. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection DJ. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

King, Anthony J., 1894-1965. Papers, 1892-1965. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection BE)

Kuryer Publishing Company (Milwaukee, Wis.). Records, 1893-1961. (UWM Manuscript Collection 46)

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

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Oral History Project. Records, 1981-1990. (UWM Archival Collection 16)

ACQUISITION: Presented by Frank Zeidler of Milwaukee in 1971, 1974, and 1975, by Bettie Eisendrath of Milwaukee in 1975 to 1977, and by Brahm Bassford of Milwaukee in 1973; with additions from the Social Action Vertical File (accession numberes M71-129, M74-533, M75-141, M75-293, M76-211, M77-409, and M73-470).

PROCESSING: Reprocessed with additions by Menzi Behrnd Klodt in April 1980.

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

Milwaukee (Wis.)--History--Sources.
Milwaukee (Wis.)--Politics and government.
Public Enterprise Committee (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Socialism--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Socialist Democratic Party of America. Milwaukee Branch.
Socialist Democratic Party of the United States of America.
Socialist Party (Wis.).
Socialist Party-Social Democratic Federation.
Socialists--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION DJ	BOX	FOLDER
Public Enterprise Committee, Correspondence, 1950-1951, 1955-1956, 1962	2	9
Public Enterprise Committee, General Records, 1947, 1957-1963, 1967-1971	2	10-11
Public Enterprise Committee, General Records, 1972-1977	3	1-3
Public Enterprise Committee, Miscellaneous Materials, undated	3	5
Public Enterprise Committee, Platforms and Planks, 1947-1951	3	4
Socialist Party, U.S.A., Constitutions, 1973, 1975, undated	1	10
Socialist Party, U.S.A., Minutes, Statements, Press Releases, and Printed Memos, 1971-1975	1	11
Socialist Party, U.S.A., Minutes, Statements, Press Releases, and Printed Memos, 1976-1977	2	1
Socialist Party, U.S.A., National Convention Minutes, Papers, Reports, and Resolutions, 1974-1977	2	2-3
Socialist Party, U.S.A., The Socialist Tribune, 1971-1975	2	4
Socialist Party of Wisconsin, Draft Party Program, 1972	2	6
Socialist Party of Wisconsin, History of Socialists in Milwaukee, 1965-1969	2	7
Socialist Party of Wisconsin, Newsletters and Memos, 1962-1974	2	6
Socialist Party of Wisconsin, Programs from Socialist Party Picnics, 1942-1967	2	5
Socialist Party of Wisconsin, Socialist Democratic Party of America – Milwaukee Branch, Minute Book of Local Branch No. 2, Twenty-First Ward, 1897-1901	2	8
Socialist Party/Social Democratic Federation, Membership Lists and Records, 1964-1966, 1970	1	1
Socialist Party/Social Democratic Federation, National Action Committee, Minutes and Reports, 1963-1968	1	5-8
Socialist Party/Social Democratic Federation, Newsletters, Minutes and Secretary’s Reports, 1962-1967	1	2-4
Socialist Party/Social Democratic Federation, Statements, Principles, 1960, 1966	1	9
Frank Zeidler Papers, Correspondence and Ephemera, 1962, 1965-1967	3	6
Frank Zeidler Papers, Miscellaneous, undated	3	9
Frank Zeidler Papers, Zeidler’s Translation of Macbeth, 1957	3	7
Frank Zeidler Papers, Zeidler’s Writings, and Articles about Zeidler, 1965-1977	3	8