The bulk of the material from this collection was part of two scrapbooks most likely assembled by members of the Jefferson Elementary Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Therefore, much of the material and many of the newspaper clippings pertain to the school’s PTA. Since many of the materials were fragile, and the scrapbooks were deteriorating, the scrapbooks were taken apart and the materials in them were reassembled in this collection.

Materials from this collection include correspondence, a program from the Jefferson Elementary school dedication (1951), miscellaneous materials, and newspaper clippings (1951-2000).

Organizations related to Jefferson Elementary include the Boy Scouts, the Mother’s Club, and the Parent Teacher Association. Boy Scout materials include a 1978 charter and other miscellaneous materials. A brief history of the Mother’s Club, the forerunner of the PTA, is included. PTA materials are more extensive and include annual coffee reports, awards, bylaws, correspondence, a history of the organization, membership lists, minutes, and other miscellaneous materials.

Photographic images comprise the rest of the collection. Photographs are included of the building and grounds and of classes. Some class photographs labeled by grade level only are from June 1909, and are presumably from the old Jefferson Elementary (also known as Fifth Ward School). Other class photographs (1967-1975) are labeled with the date and teacher’s name, but less than half of these photographs include the students’ names.

Other photographs include the PTA’s annual coffee, art shows, a Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, field trips, graduation, Oktoberfest, and miscellaneous photographs. Photographs of the PTA are labeled with the names of officers. Principal and administrator photographs include Harry Spence, Josephine Miller Waring, Borghild Olson, and Henry C. Schwandt.

Staff photographs are included. Those from 1953-1975 and 1982 are labeled with the teachers’ names. Staff photographs (1981; 1984-1992) are dated, but do not include the names of teachers. A photograph from 2004-2005 shows Principal Harvey Witzenburg, Deb Keller, and Lois Holper accepting a New Wisconsin Promise School of Recognition Award from State School Superintendent, Elizabeth Burmaster.