University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Clemens, Harold W., 1918- .

Papers, 1952-1970.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EJ and PH Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EJ

1.2 cubic ft. (3 archives boxes) + 1 oversize folder


ABSTRACT: Clemens served as a Republican State Assembly member from Waukesha County from 1956-1968, and served on a variety of committees. He resigned his seat to become State Treasurer. The papers relate exclusively to Clemens' activities as a legislator, and except for the 1963 legislative session, are fragmentary and incomplete. Most of the collection consists of both incoming and outgoing letters relating to specific bills before the Wisconsin State Assembly, including: increasing teachers' retirement benefits; merchandise trading stamps; public transportation for students in private schools; Blue Cross coverage for nursing care and dental and drug expenses; interstate transfer of mental patients; regulation of billboards; use of phosphates in detergents; protection of the Wolf River; fair housing laws; and the reading of rights to arrested suspects. Also included is a General Obligation Bond of 1970 signed by Clemens as State Treasurer as well as photographs of Clemens signing the bonds and of members of the State Assembly.

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 Harold W. Clemens papers are organized in three series: Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, General Files, and Photographs. The papers relate exclusively to Clemens' activities as a legislator and, except for the 1963 legislative session, are fragmentary and incomplete.

The Correspondence on Proposed Legislation consists of both incoming and outgoing letters relating to specific bills before the Legislature. It is arranged by year and thereunder by bill number. In the 1957 portion of this series only one bill, a proposal affecting sales of proprietary medicines, has more than a few pieces of correspondence. In the more extensive materials for 1963, substantial amounts of correspondence are found for several issues. Clemens received both favorable and opposing views on increasing teachers' retirement benefits (Assembly Bills 74, and 228) and permitting merchandise trading stamps (Assembly Bills 45, and 543). Most correspondents opposed measures to provide public transportation for private religious school students and to give tax advantages to their parents (Assembly Bills 39, 528, and 554). Medical care providers split over the merits of allowing Blue Cross coverage for nursing care and dental and drug expenses (Assembly Bill 131), and the value of an interstate mental health compact (Assembly Bill 167). Proposals dealing with environmental concerns also received mixed reactions. They included regulation of billboards (Assembly Bill 234), use of phosphates in detergents (Assembly Bill 63), protection of the Wolf River (Assembly Bills 360, and 442), and changes in zoning laws (Assembly Bills 83, and 360). Groups representing women and minority groups favored fair housing (Assembly Bill 367) and were opposed by realtors and other business groups. Law enforcement officials vehemently opposed a bill requiring them to give arrested suspects full explanation of their legal rights before questioning.

The General Files consist of correspondence not related to specific bills before the Legislature, requests for information, annotated copies of bills, and reference materials on boating safety and daylight saving time. Also included is a General Bond of 1970 signed by Clemens as State Treasurer. 

The Photographs include Clemens signing the General Obligation Bond of 1970 as well as two photographs of members of the State Assembly from 1957 to 1958 and 1959 to 1960.


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Harold W. Clemens, a Republican State Assembly member from Waukesha County (1956-1968), was born in Oconomowoc in 1918. He graduated from Milwaukee Technical High School and prior to his election to the State Assembly he operated a private boat livery, picnic, and swimming area in Oconomowoc. As an Assembly member Clemens had a variety of assignments. In 1957 he was a member of the Elections and Municipalities committees and vice-chairman of the Legislative Council's Boating Safety Committee. Clemens served on the Elections and State Affairs committees in 1959 and was vice-chairman of the Education and Transportation committees in 1961. Two years later, Clemens became speaker pro tem of the Assembly, chairman of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, and vice-chairman of the Elections Committee. Clemens also served on the Legislative Council's Local Government Committee (1965-1967), its Aged Tax Relief Committee (1963-1965), and its Interstate Cooperation Committee (1963-1965). Harold Clemens resigned his Assembly seat in 1968 to accept an appointment as State Treasurer by Governor Warren Knowles.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Clemens, Harold W., 1918- . Papers, 1952-1970. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EJ and PH Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EJ. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Presented by Harold W. Clemens of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin on July 30, 1969 (accession number M69-224). A second accession was presented by Arlene Clemens of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin in 1999 (accession number M2002-082).

PROCESSING: Processed by J. Sorenson and J. Fleckner on August 29, 1977. Additions were processed by Myrna Williamson on May 31, 2002.

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

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION EJ BOX FOLDER
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 15-235, 1957 1 1
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 263, 1957 1 2
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 300-319, 1957 1 3
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 333, 1957 1 4
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 343-627, 1957 1 5
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 1-893, 1959 1 6
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 44-798, 1962 1 7
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 1-12, 1963 1 8
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 23, 1963 1 9
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 30-100, 1963 1 10
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 102-195, 1963 1 11
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 210-234, 1963 1 12
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 238, 1963 1 13-14
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 241-299, 1963 1 15
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 301-362, 1963 2 1
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 363, 1963 2 2
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 378-396, 1963 2 3
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 404-495, 1963 2 4
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 500-528, 1963 2 5
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 543, 1963 2 6-7
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 545-598, 1963 2 8
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 603-604, 1963 2 9
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 615, 1963 2 10
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 618-965, 1963 2 11
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 1-639, 1964 2 12
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 1-639, 1964 2 12
Correspondence on Proposed Legislation, Assembly Bills, 12-464, 1967 2 1
General Files, Boating Safety Materials, 1952-1959, undated 3 6
General Files, Correspondence, 1956-1957 2 14
General Files, Correspondence, 1959 2 15
General Files, Correspondence, 1961-1962 2 16
General Files, Correspondence, 1963 3 1-3
General Files, Correspondence, 1964, 1967 3 4
General Files, Correspondence, undated 3 5
General Files, Daylight Saving Time, 1957 3 7
General Files, Elections Committee, 1957-1959 3 8-10
General Files, Elfers and Olson Election Dispute, 1963 3 11
General Files, General Obligation Bond, 1970 [PH Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EJ, oversize folder 1]    
General Files, Press Clippings, 1956, 1959, 1962-1963, undated 3 12
Photographs, General Obligation Bond, 1969 [PH Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EJ, oversize folder 1]    
Photographs, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1957 [PH Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EJ, oversize folder 1]    
Photographs, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1959 [PH Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EJ, oversize folder 1]    

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Last edited on Thursday, April 10, 2003.
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