The papers are a subject file on La Crosse history. They consist of materials collected by Sanford during his tenure as president of the La Crosse County Historical Society and while he researched his book, The History of La Crosse, 1892-1900.

The collection has been divided into ten main subject areas: biographical materials, churches, Civil War, genealogical materials, industry and business, La Crosse (City of), La Crosse County, organizations, schools, and transportation. Materials which are not included under these headings may be found under heading additional topics.

BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS in the collection include published memorials, land grant records, correspondence and references to other sources. Some of the biographical materials consist of primary research materials, autobiographies, or biographies. Materials are arranged alphabetically. Best represented in this subseries are Timothy Burns, Charles L. Colman and the Colman family, Thomas B. Stoddard, Ellis B. Usher, and Cadwallader C. Washburn.

Information available on CHURCHES includes short essays on the origin of various La Crosse churches as well as lists of pastors and members. Also included are a few financial records relating to the construction of local church buildings. Materials on churches are arranged alphabetically by name of church. Best represented here are Chris Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church, First Methodist Episcopal Church and St. Paul’s Universalist Church.

Records pertaining to the CIVIL WAR offer information about the involvement of the La Crosse citizens in the War. Information about the La Crosse Light Guard (Iron Brigade) is particularly complete, containing materials about Captain Wilson Colwell, letters from soldiers about army conditions and reminiscences of former members.

GENEALOGICAL MATERIALS are somewhat represented on a few families. INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS includes advertising, banks, Board of Trade, breweries, Chamber of Commerce, directories, insurance, labor and the lumber industry.

LA CROSSE CITY includes description, elections, government and Water Works (Pump House). LA CROSSE COUNTY includes information on elections, government and taxes.

ORGANIZATIONS include information on social, charitable, professional and fraternal organizations that existed in La Crosse any time between 1867 and 1939. The records include programs, constitutions, by-laws, membership lists and financial records. Some of the more complete files are those of the La Crosse Bar Association and the La Crosse County Council of Defense Women’s Committee. There is also a file of programs and invitations to social activities sponsored by various La Crosse organizations.

Information on topics such as curriculum, and the Teacher’s Association can be found in the SCHOOLS series. Materials dealing with the State Normal School, and private and parochial elementary schools are also available. Of special interest is correspondence between Sanford and persons who were students at the First Ward School from 1880 through 1888. The enrollment records for this period were destroyed by fire so during the 1940’s Sanford attempted to reconstruct them relying on the memories of former students. The letters contain reminiscences and information about what former students did in their adult years.

Materials dealing with TRANSPORTATION have been divided into four main topics. They are roads, railroads, steamboats, and bridges and ferries. The records about roads include the La Crescent Plank Road Company of 1873, a road up Granddad Bluff, contracts for paving city streets and rules for automobiles from 1908-1909. Passes, stock certificates, correspondence by T. B. Stoddard and information on the Southern Minnesota Railroad Company is also included in the materials available on railroads. Materials on steamboats include a brief history on steam boating as well as the names and vital statistics of a number of boats operated locally.

The ADDITIONAL TOPICS file contains information on a wide variety of subjects that do not fall under the broad categories discussed above. There is a fair amount of information on newspapers and on local, state, and national politics. The remaining subjects generally have only a small amount of information available. The open file contains bits and pieces of information relating to La Crosse. The material is largely unorganized.

Unless otherwise noted all materials in the collection are arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within each subject.