Albert Hart Sanford Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS F

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

1783-1943
Majority of material found within 1850 - 1927

Creator

Sanford, Albert Hart (Person)

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

Biographical

Albert Hart Sanford, history professor and author, was born June 21, 1866, in Platteville, Wisconsin. He graduated from the Platteville Teachers College in 1886 and then taught for a few years. In 1891 he graduated from the University of Wisconsin and in 1894 from Harvard. He then accepted a position as head of the history department at the Stevens Point Teachers College. Remaining in this position until September 1909, he then transferred to the newly opened La Crosse State Teachers College to fill a similar post. He remained at La Crosse until he retired in 1937.

A prolific writer, Sanford collaborated with J. A. James in writing Our Government and History (1903), Government in State and Nation (1899), and American History (1907). He also authored the Sanford American History Maps (1907) and The Story of Agriculture in the U.S. (1916) and co-authored the Sanford-Gordy American History Maps (1925). In the field of La Crosse History, Professor Sanford wrote, guided research, and edited a series of pamphlets titled La Crosse County Historical Society Sketches, and with Harry Hirshheimer wrote The History of La Crosse, 1841-1900, which was published in 1951.

Sanford was active in many local, state and national organizations which promoted history and education. He served as president of the Wisconsin Association of Teacher’s Colleges and as a member of the Teacher’s College Retirement Board. He was a member of the North Central History Teacher’s Association, the National Council for Social Studies and the Wisconsin Education Association. He helped found and served as president of the La Crosse County Historical Society from 1925 when it was organized, until 1947.

He also served as president and curator of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin from 1939-1940, and was a member of the North Central History Teacher’s Association, the history sections of the Mississippi Valley Historical Society and the American Historical Association.

Sanford died on August 27, 1956, in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Extent

3.8 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The papers consist of materials collected by Sanford, a history professor at the State College at La Crosse (now called the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse), during his tenure as president of the La Crosse County Historical Society and while he researched his book, The History of La Crosse 1841-1900, written in collaboration with Harry J. Hirshheimer.

The collection is a subject file of La Crosse history and says nothing about Sanford’s life. 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, and miscellaneous.

Arrangement

Arranged in eleven series:

Series 1: Biographical Materials

Series 2: Churches

Series 3: Civil War

Series 4: Genealogical Materials

Series 5: Industry and Business

Series 6: City of La Crosse

Series 7: La Crosse County

Series 8: Organizations

Series 9: Schools

Series 10: Transportation

Series 11: Additional Topics

Acquisitions Information

(Accession No. x.006)

Related Materials

Missing Title

(MISC MSS 040): Albert Hart Sanford Correspondence

Separated Materials

Books and pamphlets have generally been separated from the rest of the collection. They were either cataloged for the vault collection or were placed in an ephemera file.

Eight oversize maps have been separated from other items in the collection. They have been added to the map file and can be found under the following call numbers: C1 D1 M51; C1 D3 M33; C1 D3 M34; C1 D3 M35; C1 D3 M36; C1 D5 M41; C1 D5 M42; and C1 D8 M32.

Oversize materials, including land certificates, advertisements, maps, plats, newspapers and posters are located in Box 11, kept on the Archives oversize shelves, and in a large folder located on the map case in the compact shelving area.