University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

French, Lewis C., 1893-1960.

Papers, 1919-1960.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection Z

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

ABSTRACT: Lewis C. French's correspondence, 1919-1960, is a mixture of personal letters and professional communications with persons engaged in all phases of agriculture, marketing, food processing, papermaking, conservation, and related fields. Correspondents include government personnel, industrialists, educators, old army friends, and 4-H Club members. Magazine articles, news copy, annotated news releases, working noted and notebooks make up the remainder of the collection.

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: Lewis C. French was born in 1893 in Naperville, Illinois. For thirty-four years he was farm editor of one of the leading daily newspapers in the agricultural state of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Journal.

After graduating from the Janesville (Wisconsin) High School in 1912, he worked for the Janesville Gazette and later for the Duluth News-Tribune. After World War I service with the artillery in France, he returned to the Janesville Gazette, where he started one of the first daily farm pages in the country, with emphasis on 4-H Club work and marketing co-operatives. When tobacco prices hit new lows, French helped form the Wisconsin Tobacco Pool. He also developed the Rock County show herds, forerunner of the state show herds.

French joined the staff of the Milwaukee Journal as financial editor in January, 1926, and shortly after became farm editor. Until his retirement in 1960 his work was centered chiefly in agriculture and conservation, "green grass, new trees, clean water." During these years the excellence of his work earned many awards for the newspaper as well as for himself. Lewis C. French died on December 18, 1960.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

French, Lewis C., 1893-1960. Papers, 1919-1960. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection Z. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Presented by Mrs. Lewis C. French of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 4, 1961 (accession number M61-150).

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

Agricultural journalists--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Agriculture--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Milwaukee journal.
Milwaukee (Wis.)--History--Sources.

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION Z	BOX	FOLDER
Annotated News Releases, 1932-1958	3	5
Annotated News Releases, 1958-1959	3	4
Annotated News Releases, 1959-1960	3	3
Articles and Speeeches, 1934-1960	3	2
Articles and Speeches, undated	3	1
Biographical Material, 1924-1960	3	7
Correspondence, 1919-1952	1	1
Correspondence, 1953-1956	1	2
Correspondence, 1956-1957	1	3
Correspondence, 1957-1958	1	4
Correspondence, 1958-1959	1	5
Correspondence, 1959-1960	1	6
Correspondence, 1960	2	1-2
Miscellaneous Notes, 1922-1959	3	6