University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Prange, Louis H., 1884-1957.

Papers, 1952-1957.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EI

.6 cubic ft. (1 archives box, and 1 small archives box)

ABSTRACT: Consists primarily of constituent correspondence and press clippings of a Republican state senator from Ozaukee and Sheboygan counties. Much of the correspondence is between Prange and professional and business interests groups concerning highway safety and the state traffic patrol force; proposed raising of the drinking age; statewide daylight savings time; teachers' retirement legislation; legalized bingo; costs of funerals; chiropractic medicine; the Wisconsin Radio Council; artificial food coloring; and train crew laws.

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 Louis H. Prange papers consist primarily of constituent correspondence and press clippings. Most of the materials are dated 1955 or 1957. The collection contains no personal correspondence.

Several issues of general public concern predominated in the 1955 constituent correspondence. These include inprovement of highway safety and expansion of the state traffic patrol force, the proposed raising of the legal drinking age, and statewide daylight savings time. Much of the correspondence is between Senator Prange and people representing professional and business groups such as: teachers in support of retirement legislation, charitable and religious groups opposed to legalized bingo, and funeral directors opposed to legal limits on the costs of funerals.

In the 1957 correspondence daylight savings time was again a frequent issue along with the right to work and full train crew laws. Also, there is discussion of proprietary drugs, chiropractic medicine, the Wisconsin Radio Council, and artificial food coloring in canned foods.

The press clippings concern Prange's election campaigns and his legislative activities include his introduction of a bill to protect the State of Wisconsin against subversive activities.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Louis H. Prange, a Republican State Senator and lifelong Sheboygan County dairy farmer, was born in the Town of Sheboygan on August 19, 1884. He attended rural schools and Mission House (now Lakeland) College. Before his election to the legislature in 1952, he engaged in a variety of community activities in addition to farming. He served as an officer of the Tri-County Cheese and Dairyman's Cooperation Association, a member of the County Fair Board and superintendent of the fair for twenty years, and a school district officer. In 1948, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Dairy State Bank of Plymouth and in 1951 he became bank president. Governor Walter Kohler persuaded Prange to run for State Senate in 1952 after the death of the incumbent Gustave Buchen. Prange won reelection in 1956 from Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties, and remained in the Senate until his death on August 19, 1957. He held seats on the Senate Agricultural and Conservation Committee (1953 and 1955 sessions), on the Joint Committee on Finance (1957), and was chair of the Committee on Contingent Expenditures (1957). He also was a member of the State Building Commission.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Prange, Louis H., 1884-1957. Papers, 1952-1957. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EI. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Presented by Henry C. Prange of Plymouth, Wisconsin in 1960 (accession number M60-158).

PROCESSING: Processed by J. Sorenson and J. Fleckner on July 26, 1977.

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

Bingo--Law and legislation--Wisconsin.
Chiropractic--Law and legislation--Wisconsin.
Coloring matter in food--Law and legislation--Wisconsin.
Daylight savings--Law and legislation--Wisconsin.
Drinking age--Law and legislation--Wisconsin.
Legislators--Wisconsin--Ozaukee County.
Legislators--Wisconsin--Sheboygan County.
Ozaukee County (Wis.)--History--Sources.
Ozaukee County (Wis.)--Politics and government.
Railroads--Wisconsin--Full crew rules.
Republican Party (Wis.).
Sheboygan County (Wis.)--History--Sources.
Sheyboygan County (Wis.)--Politics and government.
Traffic regulations--Wisconsin.
Undertakers and undertaking--Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Radio Council.

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION EI	BOX	FOLDER
Correspondence, 1955, 1957	1	2-11
Correspondence, 1957, undated	2	1-4
Fair Reports, 1954	1	1
Press Clippings, 1952-1957	2	5
Press Clippings, undated	2	6