This is a finding aid (or, description) of materials available in the La Crosse Public Library Archives.  At this time, none of the materials listed below are accessible over the internet.

Contact the Archives to learn more about using these materials.

Guide to the La Crosse, Wisconsin, Office of the City Clerk, Licenses Issued by the La Crosse City Clerk, 1856-1955 La Crosse Series 050

Guide to the La Crosse, Wisconsin, Office of the City Clerk, Licenses Issued by the La Crosse City Clerk, 1856-1955

La Crosse Series 050

Summary Information

Abstract
Lists of licenses issued by the City Clerk’s Office as designated by the La Crosse Common Council, 1856-1955. Some of the early volumes came from the City Treasurer’s Office and are journals that sometimes include orders paid and tax certificates as well as licenses. There is a gap from 1878-1881 inclusive in the license record. Types of licenses include retail and wholesale liquor, taxis, gun powder, "runners" (i.e. proprietors of hotels), beverage, shows (including circuses and menageries), billiard/pool/bowling alley, etc. Generally the volumes cover a number of years, and arrangement is by type of license. The information taken includes licensee’s name and fee paid.
Collection Title
La Crosse, Wisconsin, Office of the City Clerk, Licenses Issued by the La Crosse City Clerk
Date of Materials
1856-1955
Creator
La Crosse (Wis.). Office of the City Clerk.
Call Number
La Crosse Series 050
Amount
8.0 cubic feet
Physical Description
2 archives boxes, 9 volumes
Language of Materials
English
Repository
La Crosse Public Library Archives

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], La Crosse, Wisconsin, Office of the City Clerk, Licenses Issued by the La Crosse City Clerk, La Crosse Series 050, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

Return to Table of Contents »


Scope and Contents

Licenses were required by the La Crosse Common Council from the very beginning of city government. These volumes (1856-1955) list the various types of licenses required by the City which changed over time. There is a gap in the license record from 1878-1881 inclusive. Examples of licenses issued by the City Clerk are retail and wholesale liquor, gun powder, taxis, "runners" (hotel proprietors), beverage, shows (circuses, menageries, etc.), pool/billiard/bowling alley, cigarette, electricians, plumbers, scavengers, auctioneers, transient merchants, and the like.

The earliest volumes were kept by the Treasurer’s Office, as some are labelled "Treasurer’s Journal" and include orders paid by the City and some other accounts, including tax certificates. Tax sales list only names and amount and certificate number. There are no links between the certificate numbers and an address or legal description. A span of years is generally covered in each volume, although the earlier volumes have several sub-groups of licenses within a volume. Generally, within the volume the licenses are arranged by type of license, therein chronologically recorded. Information recorded includes licensee name and fee collected.

The City Clerk’s Office at City Hall retains licenses since 1955

Return to Table of Contents »


Administrative Information

Publication Information

La Crosse Public Library Archives 1997-1999

800 Main St.
La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601
(608) 789-7136
archives@lacrosselibrary.org

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

Acquisitions Information

(Accession no. 1996.004) Licenses were located in the City Clerk’s basement area of City Hall; came to the Archives as part of the Mayor’s Special Committee on Historic Records, Dec. 1996.

Processing Information

Processed by Anita Taylor Doering, May 1997; revised Feb. 1999

Return to Table of Contents »


Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • La Crosse (Wis.). Office of the Treasurer.

Subject(s)

  • Licenses--Wisconsin--La Crosse
  • Municipal government--Wisconsin--La Crosse
  • Public records--Wisconsin--La Crosse

Return to Table of Contents »


OCLC Number

42449950

Return to Table of Contents »


Collection Inventory

Journals 

Box Folder

Treasurer's journal, 1856-1877 

1 1

Treasurer's journal, 1864-1877 

Scope and Contents

Licenses, 1870-1877; La Crosse County in account with the City Poor Commissioner, 1864-1871

1 2

City Clerk's journal, 1882-1885 

Scope and Contents

Dog licenses, 1885-1890; Poor Commissioner's order, 1882-1885; tax sales, 1882-1885

1 3

Treasurer's journal, 1889-1895 

Scope and Contents

Delinquent personal property tax; dog tax, 1891-1895; tax sales, 1889-1895

2 1

Licenses 

Box Folder

City Clerk's office, 1886-1895 

2 2-3
Volume

City Clerk's office, 1890-1909 

1-2

Treasurer's office, 1910-1923 

3

Taxi licenses and driver permits, 1923-1941 

4

Treasurer's office, 1923-1925 

5

City Clerk's office, 1930-1955 

6-9