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Guide to the Dale Kendrick Materials Related to the "Nein the Stein - Protect the Skyline" Campaign in La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1993-2004
MSS 138
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Abstract
- "The World's Largest Stein" was designed by artist Susan Sampson in 1993, and was proposed to be built as a tourist attraction in La Crosse, Wisconsin, at an estimated cost of $1,000,000. The structure was meant to stand 75 feet tall with shops, galleries, and a pub. Dale Kendrick organized a "Nein the Stein-Protect the Skyline" campaign to petition against the Stein that same year, thereby impacting public opinion. Eventually Sampson decided to build the Stein in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, instead, at an estimated cost of nearly $10,000,000. Though ground was eventually broken, the Stein was never built. Materials are arranged by subject in a binder, with tabs placed to mark different sections.
- Collection Title
- Dale Kendrick Materials related to the "Nein the Stein-Protect the Skyline" Campaign in La Crosse, Wisconsin,
- Date of Materials
- 1993-2004
- Creator
- Kendrick, Dale, 1928-2003
- Call Number
- MSS 138
- Amount
- 0.4 cubic feet
- Physical Description
- 1 archival binder
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- La Crosse Public Library Archives
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Dale Kendrick Materials Related to the "Nein the Stein-Protect the Skyline" Campaign in La Crosse, Wisconsin, MSS 138, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI
Biographical Note
Dale Kendrick was a mixed medium artist, active from 1951 until his death in 2003. Kendrick first earned his bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, in 1950. He completed his master’s degree from the State University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1951, and his Ph.D. from Penn State University in 1960, while studying under known art professor, Viktor Lowenfeld. After completing his Ph.D., Kendrick became an instructor at Eastern Michigan University until 1952. Following, he became an assistant professor at Arkansas State College in Jonesboro, Arkansas, until 1954. Kendrick was also a visiting lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1956-1958. Finally, Dale Kendrick spent the bulk of his career as a professor of art at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse from 1960-1990, and was also the department chairperson from 1974-1990.
Kendrick, and his wife, the former Betty Perna, owned and operated the Behind the Brewery Gallery at 1026 S. Front Street from 1970-2011. Behind the Brewery was both a gallery to showcase artists from around the United States as well a place at which both Kendrick and his wife taught art classes for children, pottery programs with visiting potters, and Dale taught watercolor classes for adults.
Dale Kendrick died on October 31, 2003.
Historical Note
| Timeline of the campaign against the stein in La Crosse, Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
| 1993 June | Susan Sampson plans to build the 75-foot tall stein in La Crosse at an estimated cost of $1,000,000 |
| 1993 July-August | Dale Kendrick organizes "Nein the Stein - Protect the Skyline" campaign |
| 1993 August-September | "Nein the Stein - Protect the Skyline" collects 250+ signatures on petition |
| 1993 September | Sampson moves plans to Black River Falls, Wisconsin |
| 1994 June | Sampson is sued by her collectible stein manufacturer for failing to pay $235,000 |
| 1998 August | Sampson breaks ground; promotes plans to build 138 foot-tall building at a cost of nearly $10,000,000 in Black River Falls, Wisconsin |
| 2000 May | Sampson is forced to reorganize or foreclose on office buildings in La Crosse |
| 2001 April | Sampson maintains the stein is going forward in Black River Falls |
Scope and Contents
The "Nein the Stein" collection includes a variety of mixed materials. These include Susan Sampson's artist renderings; newspaper articles; letters to the editor; press releases announcing upcoming "Nein the Stein-Protect the Skyline" campaign meetings; letters between Sampson's and the City's legal representatives; letters between the City Council and Dale Kendrick; the petition with signatures against the Stein; and hate mail to Dale Kendrick.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
La Crosse Public Library Archives 2012 July
800 Main St.La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601
(608) 789-7136
archives@lacrosselibrary.org
Revision Description
2016 December
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for patron use.
Acquisitions Information
(Accession No. 2012.035) Donated by Betty Kendrick, former owner of the Behind the Brewery Gallery, June 2012
Processing Information
Processed by Benjamin H. Lang, July 2012; reprocessed by Hannah L Weber, December 2016
Controlled Access Headings
Personal Name(s)
- Kendrick, Dale, 1928-2003
- Sampson, Susan
Subject(s)
- Art--Wisconsin--La Crosse
- Artists--Wisconsin--La Crosse
- City planning--Wisconsin--La Crosse
- Public art--Wisconsin--La Crosse
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
|
World's Largest Stein Materials 1993-1996 |
1 | 1 | ||
Nein the Stein-Protect the Skyline Campaign |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Financial Records, 1993 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Meeting Materials, 1993 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
Correspondence, 1993 |
1 | 4 | ||
|
Press Releases, 1993 |
1 | 5 | ||
|
|
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Correspondence to Dale Kendrick, 1993 |
1 | 6 | ||
|
Newspaper Clippings, 1993-2004 |
1 | 7 | ||