University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Brennan, James B., 1926- .

Constituent correspondence, 1959-1960.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EL

.8 cubic ft. (2 archives boxes)

ABSTRACT: The James B. Brennan papers consist of the correspondence Brennan received as a state senator and his responses. The correspondence is arranged as Brennan filed it, first by year and thereunder by name of correspondent. The correspondence covers a wide variety of issues before the State Legislature but is more extensive for some controversial bills. In the area of law and court reform a bill to change the family law code (Senate Bill 151) received many favorable letters as did measures to raise the beer drinking age to twenty-one (Senate Bill 235) and to increase penalties for sales of marijuana (Senate Bill 382). Brennan received mostly favorable letters on several bills relating to mental health (Senate Bills 1-3), including some to create a Governor's Council on Alcoholism (Senate Bill 430). Bills affecting firemen, optometrists, and chiropractors (Senate Bills 846, 847,133, 353, and 243) generated considerable correspondence from affected individuals and associations representing their interests. Reaction was more evenly mixed to bills permitting farmers to draw irrigation water from streams (Senate Bill 176) and regulating billboards (Senate Bills 684, and 685). The correspondence also reflects divergent, sometimes bitterly opposing, views on labor-management matters. These include proposed changes in minimum wage laws (Senate Bill 173), full crew legislation (Senate Bills 164, and 278), and changes in collective bargaining and union shop provisions in state law (Senate Bill 576). Business and labor also split over the merits of withholding taxes (Senate Bill 550). Most correspondence opposed increases in mill rate limits (Senate Bill 77).

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).

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: James B. Brennan, a Democratic State Senator from Milwaukee (1959-1960), was born in Milwaukee in 1926. He served in the Navy during World War II, graduated from Notre Dame University in 1949, and received a law degree from Marquette University in 1952. Prior to his election to the State Senate he practiced law. In 1961 he resigned his Senate seat to accept an appointment by President John f. Kennedy as United States District Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Brennan, James B., 1926- . Constituent correspondence, 1959-1960. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EL. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. Golda Meir Library. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Presented by James B. Brennan of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 25 May 1965 (accession number M65-188).

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

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

Domestic relations--Wisconsin.
Drinking age--Law and legislation--Wisconsin.
Labor laws and legislation--Wisconsin.
Legislators--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Marijuana--Law and legislation--Wisconsin.
Mental health laws--Wisconsin.
Milwaukee (Wis.)--History--Sources.

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION EL	BOX	FOLDER
Correspondence, A - N, 1959	1	1-14
Correspondence, O - Z, 1959	2	1-7
Correspondence, A - V, 1960	2	8
Correspondence, G - T, 1960, undated	2	9