University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Otis, John P.

Church histories collection, 1967-[ongoing].

UWM Manuscript Collection 8

18.6 cubic ft. (20 photograph albums, 4 negatives boxes, 3 map boxes, 5 oversize boxes, 4 record center boxes, 3 archives boxes, 3 small archives boxes, and 1 shoebox)

ABSTRACT: The collection consists of John P. Otis's photographs, slides, and compiled histories of about 5,000 Wisconsin churches and a few synagogues, acquired over a twenty-year period. The photographs usually consist of a single 3" x 3" color exterior image of the building, kept in twenty albums. The photographs are indexed by "history" cards, arranged by locality. The collection includes four boxes of negatives, in no apparent order; and seventy-two maps showing the routes Otis traveled and the location of many of the churches he photographed.

Otis compiled the history of the churches through a standard form which requested the year the church was founded, the first pastor, and denomination or sect. A number of the respondents provided additional historical information. The forms are maintained in files, arranged by locality and/or county, which also contain histories of the churches, and newsclippings. The collection includes Otis' correspondence (1968-1979) concerning the acquisition of materials; the development of the project; miscellaneous faith and denomination histories; newsclippings; solicitation of funds; and efforts to donate the collection.

The collection also includes a videotape of news reports and a TV Workshop featuring John Otis.

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 collection consists of John P. Otis's photographs, slides, and compiled histories of about 5,000 Wisconsin churches and a few synagogues. The photographs usually consist of a single 3" x 3" color exterior image of the building, kept in twenty albums. The photographs are indexed by "history" cards, arranged alphabetically by locality, providing county, faith, album and page number, the year the congregation was founded, date the current building was erected, date a previous building was razed, a brief history, and notes.

An index of "sent" cards appears to be an earlier version of the "history" cards. A sampling of the "sent" cards found that all the information was transcribed onto the "history" cards.

Otis compiled the history of the churches through a standard form which requested the year the church was founded, the first pastor, and denomination or sect. A number of the respondents provided additional historical information. The forms are maintained in files, arranged alphabetically by locality and/or county, which also contain histories of the churches, and newsclippings. The "history" and "sent" cards note if a form or other materials are in the files.

The collection includes Otis' correspondence (1968-1979) concerning the acquisition of materials; the development of the project; miscellaneous faith and denomination histories; newsclippings; solicitation of funds; and efforts to donate the collection.

Otis recorded his travel routes and the locations of many of the photographed churches on seventy-two maps, which are arranged alphabetically by county.

The collection includes four boxes of negatives, in no apparent order, but the envelopes provide the names of the enclosed churches.

Information on church locations by county, mailing lists, and miscellaneous notes are also included in the collection.

The slide collection, includes interiors and exteriors of Wisconsin churches and synagogues, as well as images of church grounds and the surrounding area, and festivals. Also included are slides of St. Francis Seminary. A guide to the slide collection provides identifying information.

A videotape contains local news reports and a TV Workshop (1991) featuring John Otis.

A box of additions contains materials which need to be integrated into the collection.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: John Otis had a lifetime interest in geography and, and in 1963, began purchasing maps of Wisconsin's counties. In 1967, underwent a hernia operation, and as part of his therapy, he rode city buses. Otis became interested in the church steeples he saw along the routes, and began photographing them. His coverage quickly expanded beyond the city of Milwaukee, and he began collecting church histories in 1969. Mr. Otis died in 2002 at age 89.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Otis, John P. Church histories collection, 1967-[ongoing]. UWM Manuscript Collection 8. University Manuscript Collection. Golda Meir Library. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTION:

Otis, John P. Photographs, 1970-1995. (UWM Manuscript Collection 160)

ACQUISITION: John P. Otis donated the collection to the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee Library in November 1977. He donated a slide collection and a video in 1998 (accession 98-027).

PROCESSING: Published histories were removed from the collection in June 1996 for cataloging. The index cards, historical files, and miscellaneous materials originally housed in two file cabinets were boxed in November 1997.Christel Maass added the 1998 accession (98-027) to the collection in June 2001.

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

Anglican church buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
Baptist church buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
Catholic Church--Buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
Christian Science church buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
Church buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
Church history--Wisconsin--Sources.
Lutheran church buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
Methodist church buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
Mormon church buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
Orthodox Eastern church buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
Photographic collections--Wisconsin.
Presbyterian church buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
Protestant church buildings--Wisconsin--Photographs.
St. Francis Seminary--Photographs.
Synagogues--Wisconsin--Photographs.

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 8	BOX	FOLDER
Additions	21
Church Locations by County, Notes	14-15
Correspondence, 1968-1976	1	1-9
Correspondence, 1977-1979	2	1-2
Faith and Denomination Histories	2	3
Grants and Publications, 1971-1976	2	4
Historical Files, Abbotsford - Antigo	10
Historical Files, Appleton - Argonne	10
Historical Files, Argyle - Azatalan	10
Historical Files, Bagley - Barron	10
Historical Files, Batavia - Belmont	10
Historical Files, Beloit	10
Historical Files, Bendersville - Black Creek	10
Historical Files, Black Earth - Blue River	10
Historical Files, Boltonville - Brodhead	10
Historical Files, Brookfield - Byron	10
Historical Files, Cable - Cedarburg	10
Historical Files, Cedar Grove - Clyman	10
Historical Files, Cobb - Courtland Township	10
Historical Files, Crandon - Cylon Township	10
Historical Files, Dale - De Soto	10
Historical Files, Dodgeville - Dyckesville	10
Historical Files, Eagle River - Eau Claire	10
Historical Files, Eau Claire	10
Historical Files, Eau Claire - Edgar	10
Historical Files, Edgerton - Embarass	10
Historical Files, Emerald Grove - Evansville	10
Historical Files, Fall Creek - Florence	10
Historical Files, Fond du Lac	10
Historical Files, Fontana - Forest Township	10
Historical Files, Fort Atkinson - Fountain Township	11
Historical Files, Fox Lake - Fulton	11
Historical Files, Gale Township - Glendale	11
Historical Files, Glen Flora - Gratiot	11
Historical Files, Green Bay (3 folders)	11
Historical Files, Greendale - Grover Township	11
Historical Files, Halder - Hazel Green	11
Historical Files, Hebron - Hustler	11
Historical Files, Imalone - Janesville	11
Historical Files, Jefferson - Juneau	11
Historical Files, Kansasville - Kendall Township	11
Historical Files, Kenosha	11
Historical Files, Kenosha - Kunesh	11
Historical Files, La Crosse	11
Historical Files, Lagoda - Lamont	11
Historical Files, Lamarak Township - Limeridge	11
Historical Files, Lincoln Township - Lyons	11
Historical Files, Machville - Madison	11
Historical Files, Madison (2 folders)	11
Historical Files, Manawa - Marietta Township	11
Historical Files, Marinette - Marshfield	11
Historical Files, Marxville - Melvina	11
Historical Files, Menomonee - Menasha	11
Historical Files, Mercer - Milton	11
Historical Files, Milwaukee (14 folders)	12
Historical Files, Mindoro - Monticello	12
Historical Files, Morrison - Muskego	12
Historical Files, Nabob - Nekemi Township	12
Historical Files, Neekoosa - New Berlin	12
Historical Files, Newburg - North Clayton Township	12
Historical Files, North Fond du lac - Nutterville	12
Historical Files, Oak Creek - Oakley	12
Historical Files, Oconomowoc - Octonto Falls	12
Historical Files, Odanah - Ostburg	12
Historical Files, Oregon - Oshkosh	12
Historical Files, Oshkosh - Oxford	12
Historical Files, Packwaukee - Pence	12
Historical Files, Pepin - Pittsville	12
Historical Files, Plainfield - Plymouth Township	12
Historical Files, Poland - Port Washington	12
Historical Files, Port Wing - Poy Sippi	12
Historical Files, Prairie Du Chien - Quincy Township	12
Historical Files, Racine (2 folders)	13
Historical Files, Radisson - Reedsburg	13
Historical Files, Reedsville - Rice Lake	13
Historical Files, Richfield - Richwood	13
Historical Files, Ridgeland - Rothschild	13
Historical Files, Roxbury - Russell Township	13
Historical Files, Sharon - Sheboygan	13
Historical Files, Sheboygan - Sheboygan Falls	13
Historical Files, Shelby Township - Shullsberg	13
Historical Files, Sigal Township - Split Rock	13
Historical Files, Spooner - Stettin Township	13
Historical Files, St. Anna - St. Nazainze	13
Historical Files, St. Peter - Seymour Township	13
Historical Files, Stevens Point - Strum	13
Historical Files, Sturgeon Bay - Sun Prairie	13
Historical Files, Superior - Sussex	13
Historical Files, Tamarack - Thopp	13
Historical Files, Three Lakes - Tomah	13
Historical Files, Tomahawk - Twin Lakes	13
Historical Files, Two Creek - Two Rivers	13
Historical Files, Underhill Township - Washburn	13
Historical Files, Washington Island - Waterloo Township	13
Historical Files, Watertown - Waukechon	13
Historical Files, Waukesha	13
Historical Files, Waumandee - Waupun	13
Historical Files, Wausaukee - Wauwatosa	13
Historical Files, Wauzeka - West Allis	13
Historical Files, West Bend - West Milwaukee	13
Historical Files, Westport Township - White Creek	13
Historical Files, Whitefish Bay - Willow Springs Township	13
Historical Files, Wilmot - Withee	13
Historical Files, Wittenberg - Zittau	13
"History" Cards, A-Z	16-17
Mailing Lists, A-Z (two lists), Miscellaneous Cards and Notes	19-20
Maps of Counties: Adams	3
Maps of Counties, Ashland [Note: oversize]	5
Maps of Counties, Barron	3
Maps of Counties, Bayfield [Note: oversize]	5
Maps of Counties, Brown	3
Maps of Counties, Buffalo	3
Maps of Counties, Burnett	3
Maps of Counties, Calumet	3
Maps of Counties, Chippewa	3
Maps of Counties, Clark [Note: oversize]	5
Maps of Counties, Columbia	3
Maps of Counties, Crawford	3
Maps of Counties, Dane	3
Maps of Counties, Dodge	3
Maps of Counties, Door [Note: oversize]	5
Maps of Counties, Douglas	3
Maps of Counties, Dunn	3
Maps of Counties, Eau Claire	3
Maps of Counties, Florence	3
Maps of Counties, Fond du Lac	3
Maps of Counties, Forest	3
Maps of Counties, Grant [Note: oversize]	5
Maps of Counties, Green	3
Maps of Counties, Green Lake	3
Maps of Counties, Iowa	3
Maps of Counties, Iron	3
Maps of Counties, Jackson [Note: oversize]	5
Maps of Counties, Jefferson	3
Maps of Counties, Juneau	3
Maps of Counties, Kenosha	3
Maps of Counties, Kewaukee	3
Maps of Counties, La Crosse	3
Maps of Counties, LaFayette	3
Maps of Counties, Langlade	3
Maps of Counties, Lincoln	3
Maps of Counties, Manitowoc	4
Maps of Counties, Marathon [Note: oversize]	5
Maps of Counties, Marinette [Note: oversize]	5
Maps of Counties, Marquette	4
Maps of Counties, Menomonee	4
Maps of Counties, Milwaukee	4
Maps of Counties, Monroe	4
Maps of Counties, Oconto	4
Maps of Counties, Oneida	4
Maps of Counties, Outagamie	4
Maps of Counties, Ozaukee	4
Maps of Counties, Pepin	4
Maps of Counties, Pierce	4
Maps of Counties, Polk	4
Maps of Counties, Portage	4
Maps of Counties, Price	4
Maps of Counties, Racine	4
Maps of Counties, Richland	4
Maps of Counties, Rock	4
Maps of Counties, Rusk	4
Maps of Counties, Sauk	4
Maps of Counties, Sawyer	4
Maps of Counties, Shawano	4
Maps of Counties, Sheboygan	4
Maps of Counties, St. Croix	4
Maps of Counties, Trempealeau	4
Maps of Counties, Vernon	4
Maps of Counties, Vilas	4
Maps of Counties, Walworth	4
Maps of Counties, Washburn	4
Maps of Counties, Washington	4
Maps of Counties, Waukesha	4
Maps of Counties, Waupaca	4
Maps of Counties, Waushara	4
Maps of Counties, Winnebago	4
Maps of Counties, Wood	4
Negatives	6-9
News Reports and a TV Workshop, 1991, featuring John Otis [Videocassette (VHS)]	21
Newsclippings and Writings About the Collection, 1971-78	2	5
Photo Album, D-E, Milwaukee	unboxed
Photo Album, F, Washington, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan	unboxed
Photo Album, G, Milwaukee, Bahai Temple - Wilmetter; Chicago, Jewish-Chinese-Catholic	unboxed
Photo Album, H, Ozaukee, Waukesha, Walworth	unboxed
Photo Album, J, Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee	unboxed
Photo Album, K, Milwaukee, Dodge, Waukesha, Rock	unboxed
Photo Album, L, Dane, Jefferson	unboxed
Photo Album, M, Green, La Fayette, Grant, Sauk	unboxed
Photo Album, N, Iowa, Columbia, Door, Kewaukee, Marquette, Green Lake, Menomonee	unboxed
Photo Album, O, Brown, Marquette, Oconto, Florence	unboxed
Photo Album, P, Manitowoc, Calumet, Shawano, Outagamie	unboxed
Photo Album, Q, Winnebago, Langlade, Washara, Waupaca, Forest	unboxed
Photo Album, R, Marathon, Adams, Portage, Wood	unboxed
Photo Album, S, La Crosse, Clark, Vernon, Monroe	unboxed
Photo Album, T, Crawford, Richland, Jackson, Juneau, Chippewa, Pierce	unboxed
Photo Album, U, Sawyer, Burnett, Polk, Washburn, Saint Croix	unboxed
Photo Album, V, Taylor, Rush, Iron, Lincoln, Douglas, Oneida, Ashland	unboxed
Photo Album, W, Price, Dunn, Baron, Bayfield, Vilas	unboxed
Photo Album, X, Buffalo, Eau Claire, Pepin, Tremeleau	unboxed
"Sent" Cards, A-Z	17-18
Slide Collection of the Churches of Wisconsin, Tray/Slide Guide	22	1
Slide Collection, Tray 79	22	2
Slide Collection, Tray 80	22	3
Slide Collection, Tray 81	22	4
Slide Collection, Tray 82	22	5
Slide Collection, Tray 83	22	6
Slide Collection, Tray 84	22	7
Slide Collection, Tray 85	22	8
Slide Collection, Tray 86	22	9
Slide Collection, Tray 87	22	10
Slide Collection, Tray 88	22	11
Slide Collection, Tray 89	23	1
Slide Collection, Tray 90	23	2
Slide Collection, Tray 91	23	3
Slide Collection, St. Francis Seminary and Woods	23	4