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Guilford M. Sr. and Beulah (Arnold) Wiley Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 084

Scope and Contents

The collection consists primarily of records generated or accumulated during the educational and political (1949-1954) careers of Guilford M. Wiley, Sr. Those materials include correspondence (1931-1933; 1945-1954), scattered issues of the La Crosse Central High Tribune (1922; 1928), miscellaneous materials (circa 1938-1954), materials from the National Council of Presbyterian Men (1943-1954), and loose newspaper clippings grouped by topic (1939-1954). Many of the newspaper clippings pertain to information about the La Crosse School District, although other topics are covered as well.

Materials relating to other members of the Wiley family include a folder of family history and lineage of both the Wiley and Arnold families; photographs of Guilford M. Wiley, Sr. as a young man, photographs and a photo album of him and his wife Beulah (1944-1954), photographs of Wiley relatives, and an additional set of scanned photographs on a compact disk. In addtion, there are some materials which relate to Beulah Arnold Wiley, these include a diary (1972), a scrapbook from her time at Rockford (Illinois) College (1907-1908), and a scrapbook of her La Crosse friends (1942-1972). Lastly, there are some materials relating to Mary Esther Wiley Runnestrand: one photograph (ca. 1970s) and a teacher evaluation (1973).

Other materials include twenty photographic postcards depicting the evangelist Reverend Billy Sunday (1908), an indexed newspaper clipping scrapbook (1938-1939) containing articles pertaining to the La Crosse public schools.

Dates

  • 1908-1973

Creator

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

Biographical Note

Guilford M. Wiley, Sr. was born on July 10, 1880, in Whiteland, Indiana. He studied at Franklin College in Indiana, Indiana University, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He met and married Beulah Arnold from Galesville, Wisconsin, in 1911. Beulah Arnold Wiley attended Rockford College in Illinois beginning in 1907. Together they had four children: Arnold Wiley, Mary Esther Wiley Runnestrand, Beaulah Bernice Wiley Hodge, and Guilford M. Wiley, Jr.

Wiley Sr. was principal of Central High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin, from 1921-1926, and then served as superintendent of the La Crosse schools until 1942. Other community involvement included serving as president of the La Crosse Kiwanis Club, as a member of the board of directors of the La Crosse YMCA, and as president and secretary of the Western Wisconsin Teachers' Association. He also served as field secretary for the National Council of Presbyterian Men.

Wiley Sr. became involved in politics and served from 1946-1950 in the Wisconsin State Legislature as a Republican member of the Assembly from Trempealeau County. In 1952, he was an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor. Wiley passed away in 1955 and his widow, Beulah, in 1972.

Extent

1.6 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Professional and personal papers of a La Crosse school administrator who later held two-terms in the Wisconsin Assembly as a Republican from Trempealeau County, and personal papers of his family. Materials in the collection include a family history and lineage of both the Wiley and Arnold families, correspondence, photographs, materials from the National Council of Presbyterian Men, newspaper clippings and a scrapbook, materials from Wiley's political career (1949-1954). Also included are real picture postcards depicting the evangelist Reverend Billy Sunday (circa 1908), as well as Beulah Arnold Wiley's diary (1972), and a scrapbook of her time at Rockford (Illinois) College (1907-1908).

Related materials associated with Wiley's political career can be found with Beulah (Arnold) Wiley's correspondence to her husband, all in the Guilford M. Wiley Papters at the Wisconsin Historical Society's Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Murphy Library. Another collection related to Beulah is the Alexander Ahab Arnold Papers, which are also owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society. This collection includes photographic materials as well as paper documents.

Additional resources may also be available at the Garden of Eden Preservation Society headquartered at the Eastside Farm (A. A. Arnold Farmstead) in Galesville, Wisconsin.

Acquisitions Information

(Accession no. 2005.044b) Donated by the La Crosse County Historical Society, May 2005; these materials include Wiley Sr. correspondence, scattered issues of the La Crosse Central High Tribune, miscellaneous materials, materials from the National Council of Presbyterian Men and loose newspaper clippings grouped by topic. Many of the newspaper clippings pertained to informaton about the La Crosse School District. (Accession no. 2015.073) Donated by Doug Wiley, Aug. 10, 2015; these materials include family history, family photographs, and materials related to Wiley Sr.'s youth, including some yearbooks. (Accession no. 2016.046) Donated by Besty Hodge Flack, May 24, 2016; these materials include Beulah Arnold Wiley materials of Rockford College 1907-1908 and postcards; a church program and a diary 1972; also a photograph and teacher evaluation of Mary Esther Wiley Runnestrand 1973

Related Materials

Related materials associated with Wiley's political career can be found with Beulah (Arnold) Wiley's correspondence to her husband, all in the Guilford M. Wiley Papters at the Wisconsin Historical Society's Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Murphy Library. Another collection related to Beulah is the Alexander Ahab Arnold Papers, which are also owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society. This collection includes photographic materials as well as paper documents.

Additional resources may also be available at the Garden of Eden Preservation Society headquartered at the Eastside Farm (A. A. Arnold Farmstead) in Galesville, Wisconsin.

Physical Description

5 archives boxes and 1 flat box

Processing Information

Processed by Christine Stolz, 2005; additions processed by Anita Taylor Doering, May 2016 and Hannah L. Weber, October 2016

Title
Guide to the Guilford M. Sr. and Beulah (Arnold) Wiley Family Papers, 1908-1973
Status
Completed
Author
Christine Stolz, Hannah L. Weber
Date
2005
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the La Crosse Public Library Archives Repository

Contact:
800 Main St.
La Crosse Wisconsin 54601
(608) 789-7136