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 Wendell A. Anderson Papers, 1840-1929
MSS E
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Abstract
- Wendell Abraham Anderson (1840-1929) was born in Gray, Maine. He received a medical degree in 1863, served in the Civil War, and moved to La Crosse in 1866, to set up a medical practice. He became involved in public service and politics. He was Chairman of the State Democratic Committee, U.S. Consul General in Montreal, and twice mayor of La Crosse, his first term running from 1899 to 1901, and the second from 1907 to 1909. These materials are from Anderson’s two terms as mayor of La Crosse from 1899-1901 and 1907-1909 and are really mayoral papers. The arrangement is alphabetical by subject. Most of subjects deal with civic improvement, and range from flood control to parks to police to automobiles
- Collection Title
- Wendell A. Anderson Papers
- Date of Materials
- 1860-1917
- Creator
- Anderson, Wendell A., (Wendell Abraham), 1840-1929
- Call Number
- MSS E
- Amount
- 1.0 cubic feet
- Physical Description
- 3 archives boxes
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- La Crosse Public Library Archives
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Wendell A. Anderson Papers, MSS E, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI
Biographical Note
Wendell Abraham Anderson (1840-1929) was born in Gray, Maine. He received a medical degree in 1863, served in the field during the last two years of the Civil War, and attained the rank of major. Anderson moved to La Crosse in 1866, set up a medical practice, and became involved in public service. He served as City Physician and was a member of the Board of Education.
Anderson was also active in politics. He was Chairman of the State Democratic Committee, U.S. Consul General in Montreal, and twice mayor of La Crosse, his first term running from 1899 to 1901, and the second from 1907 to 1909. As mayor, Anderson was representative of the Progressive movement, and sought to give local government an active role in urban reform and civic improvement. He is remembered today as the creator of La Crosse’s modern park system, particularly for Riverside Park, and for his large-scale paving projects.
Scope and Contents
These materials are from Anderson’s two terms as mayor of La Crosse from 1899-1901 and 1907-1909 and are really mayoral papers.
Arrangement
The arrangement of the Wendell A. Anderson Papers is alphabetical by subject.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
La Crosse Public Library Archives
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
Transferred from the La Crosse County Historical Society (Accession no. x.005)
Processing Information
Processed by Allan Kovan, Dec. 1982
Related Materials
Related Materials
- (977.571 L117A V.1 SER.1-5)
- “Dr. Wendell A. Anderson” by John P. Bird in La Crosse County Historical Society Sketches, Series 2, pp. 83-86.
- (Clipping files)
- La Crosse--Biography--Anderson, Wendell A.
Controlled Access Headings
Geographic Name(s)
- La Crosse (Wis.)--Politics and government
Personal Name(s)
- Anderson, Wendell A., (Wendell Abraham), 1840-1929
Subject(s)
- Civic improvement--Wisconsin--La Crosse
- Mayors--Wisconsin--La Crosse
- Parks--Wisconsin--La Crosse
OCLC Number
28408543
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Auditorium, 1907-1908 |
1 | 1 | ||
|
Automobiles and traffic, 1907-1909 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Public Works, 1899-1901 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
Bridges (except Pettibone Park Bridge), 1899-1901, 1906-1909 |
1 | 4 | ||
|
Cameron Park Case, 1890-1900 (with gaps) |
1 | 5 | ||
|
Cannon, Spanish, 1899-1900 |
1 | 6 | ||
|
Central Electric Company, 1908 |
1 | 7 | ||
|
Common Council, 1897-1901, 1906-1909 |
1 | 8 | ||
|
Complaint against Postmaster Seymour, 1881-1882 |
1 | 9 | ||
|
Comptroller's reports, 1899-1901, 1907-1909 |
1 | 10 | ||
|
Conventions, 1901, 1905, 1907-1909 |
1 | 11 | ||
|
Curfew, 1900-1901 |
1 | 12 | ||
|
Flag, 1900 |
1 | 13 | ||
|
Financse: City, 1885-1909 (with gaps) |
1 | 14 | ||
|
Floods: North Side, 1899-1900, 1907-1908 |
1 | 15 | ||
|
Fountains, 1899-1900, 1908 |
1 | 16 | ||
|
Handbills, 1899-1900 |
1 | 17 | ||
|
Harbor, 1899, 1907-1908 |
1 | 18 | ||
|
Health and sanitation, 1900, 1907-1908 |
1 | 19 | ||
|
Inquiries about persons, 1899-1900 |
1 | 20 | ||
|
La Crosse Public Library, 1907-1908, 1910 |
1 | 21 | ||
|
Legislation, 1900-1901, 1909 |
1 | 22 | ||
|
Licenses (other than saloon), 1908 |
1 | 23 | ||
|
Lighting, 1907-1909 |
1 | 24 | ||
|
Lighting: Rates, 1899-1910 (with gaps) |
2 | 1 | ||
|
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1899-1901, 1907-1909 |
2 | 2 | ||
|
Moral conditions, 1907-1909 |
2 | 3 | ||
|
Parks (including Pettibone Park Bridge), 1907-1909 |
2 | 4 | ||
|
Permits, 1907-1908 |
2 | 5 | ||
|
Personal correspondence, 1886-1917 (with gaps) |
2 | 6 | ||
|
Police, 1899-1900, 1907-1908 |
2 | 7 | ||
|
Politics, 1888-1909 (with gaps) |
2 | 8 | ||
|
Prostitution, 1899, 1908-1909 |
2 | 9 | ||
|
Railroad crossings, 1899-1901, 1907-1908 |
2 | 10 | ||
|
Railroads, 1907-1908 |
2 | 11 | ||
|
Saloons, 1899-1900, 1907-1909, 1912 |
2 | 12 | ||
|
Schools, 1874, 1899-1902, 1905-1909 |
2 | 13 | ||
|
Sewers, 1898-1900, 1908-1909 |
2 | 14 | ||
|
Signs, 1899, 1907-1908 |
2 | 15 | ||
|
Speeches: Miscellaneous, 1897, 1908 |
2 | 16 | ||
|
Street lighting, 1899-1901, 1907-1908 |
2 | 17 | ||
|
Street railway, 1899-1900, 1906-1908 |
2 | 18 | ||
|
Streets and alleys |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Correspondence with other cities, 1899-1900, 1906-1908 |
2 | 19 | ||
|
Maintenance and obstructions, 1899-1901, 1909 |
2 | 20 | ||
|
Paving, 1899-1901, 1903, 1905 |
2 | 21 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Taxes, 1899, 1907-1909, 1913 |
2 | 22 | ||
|
Telephone, 1900, 1908 |
3 | 1 | ||
|
Water supply |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
1899, 1901 |
3 | 2 | ||
|
1907-1911 |
3 | 3 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Underground wires, 1899-1900 |
2 | 4 | ||
|
West Channel, 1900-1901 |
3 | 5 | ||
|
Appended materials |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Medical school identification cards and schedules, 1860-1866 |
3 | 6 | ||
|
Statements of account (La Crosse and Montreal), 1866-1888 (with gaps) |
3 | 7 | ||
|
Newspaper clippings, undated |
3 | 8 | ||