Breweries and Brewing Industry Records

Subject Listing:
Breweries and Brewing Industry Records

A. Gettelman Brewing Company.
Scrapbooks, 1860-1987.
UWM Manuscript Collection 107

The collection consists mainly of newspaper clippings and photographs documenting the history of Milwaukee's A. Gettelman Brewing Company. The clippings, which also include articles from various brewing-related publications, document not only the history of the Gettelman brewery, but also the history of the brewing industry in Milwaukee and in general. These clippings, which mainly date from the 1950s through the 1960s, include material on the Schlitz, Miller, Pabst, Blatz, and Heileman brewing companies, as well as information about unions and strikes by brewery workers; the beer lobby and the legal drinking age; beer sales; marketing; and company buyouts. Articles about prohibition and members of Milwaukee's brewing families are also found in the collection. The clipping files also contain memoirs and histories, advertising, beer bottle labels and packaging materials, information about the Froedtert Malt Corp, as well as some Gettelman family history and miscellaneous items of a more personal nature. Also included in the collection are photographs of the Gettelman brewery and the Gettelman family; individuals and employee celebrations; brewers conventions, conferences, and various meetings; as well as photographs from a number of outings, including several fishing trips. Some photographs of the Froedtert Malt Corporation are also included in the collection. Photographs identified as "personal" include photographs of Thomas Gettelman at brewery association and other business functions, hunting and fishing, with his airplane, as well as several photographs of his family and residence. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Alexander, Ray A., 1927- .
Papers, 1972-1988.
UWM Manuscript Collection 192
This collection contains Ray A. Alexander's papers pertaining to his work as executive director of the Afro Urban Institute beginning in 1970. The Afro Urban Institute is a tax exempt, non-profit community development corporation for the Milwaukee black community. The Ray A. Alexander Papers consist of documents pertaining to various businesses and programs that the Afro Urban Institute helped establish. This collection includes donor solicitations; publications, including Business Insight and the Tal-N-Art Consortium, Inc. Times newsletters; correspondence; meeting minutes; and program evaluations referring to projects such as the Cheops Construction Company, Apex Cab Company, the Economic Development Center, the Northside Community Design Center, and the Career Opportunities Preparation program, aimed towards junior high school students to encourage education and future business operation and participation. This collection highlights some of the Afro Urban Institute's earlier work and illustrates the tenacity and dedication which Alexander and the Afro Urban Institute needed to conduct business during the 1970s. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Blatz Brewing Company.
Records, 1862-1944.
UWM Manuscript Collection 132
The majority of the collection consists of over three hundred accounting books that document the financial history of the Valentin Blatz Brewing Company. Most of the records are from the 1880s through the early 1920s, although some date as early as 1862 and as late as 1944. A variety of records are included in the collection, such as general ledgers and journals, cash books, inventory books, and cash customer journals. The records trace the history of the brewery, the bottling plant, various branches, and Valentin Blatz's estate. The Blatz collection documents the company's rapid growth in the late nineteenth century, the sale of the business in 1890, the disposition of the Valentin Blatz estate, and the impact of the Prohibition movement. There is also extensive information pertaining to the beer bottling industry, including data about finances, vendors, customers, productions, production development, and sales. The records also demonstrate the complicated network of branches and depots that was in place as early as the 1880s. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Crosby, Henry.
Papers, 1969-1976.
UWM Manuscript Collection 188
This collection contains Henry Crosby's papers pertaining to the 1970 acquisition and the 1972 closure of the Peoples Brewing Company. Crosby was on the board of directors of this company. This brewery was owned by a group of Milwaukee-based African American Investors. As a result of this purchase and the subsequent African American directed stock sale, the Peoples Brewing Company became the first major African American owned brewery in Wisconsin. The Henry Crosby Papers consist of documents relating to the Peoples Brewing Company in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; the president of the Peoples Brewing Company, Theodore Mack; minority business initiatives; the Wisconsin brewing industry; and the Small Business Administration (SBA), which is the federal government agency whose function is to council and assist the interests of small businesses. The collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, legal documents, publications, public stock records, Peoples Brewing Company business records, a publication from the Afro-Urban Institute, cardboard beer case labels, and Peoples Brewing Company and Oshkosh Brewing Company regalia. This collection has profound significance not only as the first African American owned brewing company, but in the federal investigations that were prompted from SBA mishandling of the company's closure. In addition, it incited investigations of other corporations and federal bureaus that were related to Mack's initial suit against the SBA and the Defense Department in 1972. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Elsner, Richard, 1859-1938.
Papers, 1854-1967.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 193
Photocopies from a scrapbook and memoir of Richard Elsner, an early champion of both the trade union and Socialist movements in Milwaukee. Born in Germany, Elsner came to Milwaukee in 1880 and became a pioneer in the Brewery Worker's Union, a veteran of the Socialist Party, an attorney, and was elected as a civil judge, register of deeds, and a member of the Wisconsin legislature. The papers include photocopies of family materials, writings by Elsner, miscellaneous articles, and photographs of Elsner and his family. Also included is an undated biography of Elsner written by Charlotte Bleistein. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Federated Trades Council of Milwaukee.
Records, 1900-1950.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection DR
Records consist largely of correspondence of General Secretary Frank J. Weber to affiliated member unions (1923-1933) concerning trade unionism, old age pensions, collective bargaining, conscription and wages during World War II, socialism and capitalism, inter-union disputes, and labor legislation. Also contains minutes of the executive board (1923-1939); minutes of meetings (1900-1903); and some material on the Milwaukee Laundry Strike of 1934-1935. Weber founded the Council in 1887 to organize craft unions in Milwaukee, and was its secretary until 1934. Herman Seide was secretary from 1934-1943. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Harriet Parker Wisconsin Postcard Collection,
[ca. 1908-1972].
UWM Manuscript Collection 174

A collection of 282 Wisconsin postcards collected by Harriet Parker. Many of the postcards do not have writing on them. Some were sent to the Parker family; others are from elsewhere. A number of the cards contain reminiscences from the 1950s. Finding aid available in the Archives.

International Union of Operating Engineers. Local 311 (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Records, 1906-1967.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection DA
Mostly correspondence (1930-1959) with firms that employed union members. Companies include A. O. Smith, Armour, Koehring Company, Layton Park Dairy, and others. The correspondence concerns contract negotiations, strikes, and cases before the National Labor Relations Board and the Wage Stabilization Board during World War II, and transcripts of hearings. Also contains minutes of the regular and executive board meetings, by-laws, and committee reports. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Johnson, Albert G.
Zinn Malting Company records, 1947-1955.
UWM Manuscript Collection 189
Miscellaneous records from the Zinn Malting Company, consisting of an agreement for the sale of the stock of the Zinn Malting Company and condensed balance sheets, acquired by Albert G. Johnson, a company stockholder. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Miller, Frederic E., 1824-1888.
Papers, 1771-1844.
Milwaukee Small Collection 167
Family papers, including a Miller family tree, photocopies of 12 family photographs, and a typed transcript of a July 1879 letter from Miller in Milwaukee to relatives in Germany discussing family news, life in Milwaukee, the family brewing business, and Miller's personal philosophy.

Milwaukee Brewers' Association.
Records, 1883-1894.
UWM Manuscript Collection 142
This collection contains a general journal (1883-1894) and a general ledger (1883-1894) from the Milwaukee Brewers' Association. These volumes document the close relationship between several Milwaukee brewery owners, who committed to their community through philanthropic donations to local charities benefiting the poor or ill. They also gave money to religious, political, cultural, and educational organizations. Some of the more popular recipients included Turnverein Vorwaerts, Liegel, Milwaukee Infants House, St. Rosa's Orphanage, the Thirteenth Ward Catholic Church, and the Working People's Reading Club. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Milwaukee Grain Exchange.
Records, 1849-1974.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection EB

This collection contains the records of one of the chief national markets for the trading and inspection of grain, which was closely linked with the early commercial history of Milwaukee. The collection is an excellent source of information on Milwaukee's Grain Trade before 1935. In addition, commercial information broader in scope is contained in the records of the early ears, when the commercial interests of the exchange members were more diverse. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Milwaukee Journal Stations.
Collection, 1922-1980.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 203
This collection contains materials pertaining to the Milwaukee radio and television stations owned by The Journal Company (now Journal Communications Inc.). The paper records include scripts for editorials read on radio and television, audience surveys, photographs, promotional materials, scripts for newscasts, as well as materials pertaining to the personnel, the history of, and operation of the radio and television stations. The approximately 1 million feet of 16 mm news film is the original edited footage used on the air to illustrate news stories from 1948 to 1980. The collection includes footage of the Milwaukee Braves, the Civil Rights movement in Milwaukee during the 1960s, local businesses such as Allis-Chalmers, the Pabst, Schlitz, and Miller Breweries, and national and international politicians and celebrities who visited Milwaukee. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Pabst Brewing Company (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Records, 1873-197? (bulk 1873-1940).
UWM Manuscript Collection 161
Collection documents the administrative and financial history of the Pabst Brewing Company and its various subsidiaries. The earliest records date from the incorporation of the Phillip Best Brewing Company in 1873 and continue through 1889, when the company name changed to the Pabst Brewing Company. The majority of the records predate 1940. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Schlitz Audubon Center (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Records, 1942-1988.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 119 and Milwaukee Micro Collection 59
Records, mainly 1971-1972, of a nature education center owned by the National Audubon Society in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and of the local citizens group, Citizens for the Nine Mile Farm Nature Center, which worked to establish the center in 1972. Included is extensive correspondence (some also available on microfilm) between members of the citizens group, the National Audubon Society, and members of the Uihlein family, which owned the property, and their lawyers; legal documents; notes; minutes; newspaper clippings and scrapbooks (only available on microfilm); planning documents; and photographs. More recent material consists of brochures, schedules, and advertising; an incomplete run of the Center's newsletter; and correspondence of Winifred Woodmansee and her files on the Education Committee of the Friends of the Schlitz Audubon Center. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Tehan, Robert, 1905-1975.
Papers, 1940-1975.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 104 and Milwaukee Micro Collection 51
Papers of a Wisconsin Democratic party leader, state legislator, and United States District Court judge consisting of biographical clippings, correspondence relating to his political and judicial career, speeches, judicial administrative files, a small quantity of personal financial records, and photographs. The biographical information focuses on Tehan's tenure in the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate (1936-1949), his leadership of the Democratic Party as state chair, and his later career as a federal judge (1949-1975). The legislative correspondence consists of letters to and from constituents, letters concerning the Wisconsin Democratic Party, and get-well and thank-you letters from political leaders. Tehan's judicial papers include files documenting court administration and relations with other government officials and other federal judges such as F. Ryan Duffy, as well as some material on his professional activities such as attendance at Seventh Circuit Judicial conferences. The correspondence from his years as a federal judge also includes letters concerning his appointment. The bulk of the judicial papers are opinions, orders, and other materials from Tehan's personal chamber files. These papers cover a wide variety of civil cases and a smaller number of criminal cases. Additional files concern three-judge panels that reviewed constitutional issues. Among the highlights are cases concerning desegregation and open housing in Milwaukee and cases featuring prominent railroads and Wisconsin corporations such as J. I. Case, Allis-Chalmers, and Milwaukee Gas Light Company. Other files concern the Woodman Reality Company bankruptcy case and the Milton Margolis case. Limited financial records from 1949-1973 include papers about his investment in WFOX, a Milwaukee radio and television station, and photographs taken at his judicial swearing-in and elsewhere. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Uihlein, William Benedict.
Papers, 1904.
UWM Small Collection 47
This is an original copy of the thesis submitted for a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Wisconsin by William Benedict Uihlein in 1904. This thesis includes descriptions of the bottling plant, boiler room and engine room. Included are boiler tests and various results to show the efficiency of the boilers used in the plant. There are several glossy reproductions of drawings of the plant, the main boiler room, and two of the engine rooms. Also included is a detailed hand-drawn diagram of the plant, showing the locations of the bottle houses, ice houses, wash houses, cooper shops, hay room, malt house, grain elevators, brew house, boiler rooms, engine rooms, and more, giving an accurate portrayal of the plant in 1904. Finding aid available in the Archives.