Putnam Park Records, 1896-2022
Content Description
Includes meeting minutes of Putnam Park committee and Putnam Park Commission, newspaper articles, correspondence from university officials and staff, minor publications related to park, and maps. In addition, the series includes a 1967 legal opinion on Putnam Park land use, several brochures relating to the park and a mimeographed copy of the 1909 deed. Also includes land development documents, highway 37 bridge documents, Putnam Park surveys, scientific and natural area reports, erosion and restoration documents, encroachment documents, Putnam Park Trail documents, invasive species and diseases documents, general concerns and maintenance documents, beaver control documents, memorials and signs documents, and Putnam Park photographs.
Dates
- Creation: 1896-2022
Creator
- University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire. Putnam Park Commission. (Organization)
- University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire. Putnam Park Committee. (Organization)
- Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire. Office of the President (Organization)
- University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire. Putnam Park Management Committee. (Organization)
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to the public.
Use Restrictions
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright owned, in part, by the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.
Biographical/Historical Note
Henry C. Putnam was born in New York in 1832. As a young man he studied engineering and spent much of the 1850s working for railroads in several states, including Wisconsin. He came to Eau Claire in May of 1857 with a capital of $2,000, and soon thereafter began surveying and investing in nearby pine lands. In 1876, he started the Chippewa Valley bank as an auxiliary of his large timber business. Like many large business owners of his day, Putnam engaged in various other business ventures, including the Eau Claire Railroad Company. By 1880 he was worth over half a million dollars. In 1885 he visited several European countries to learn their reforestation methods. Putnam died in 1912.
Putnam Park is a 230-acre natural area owned by UW-Eau Claire. Most of the park is forested, although there is a small marsh area at the eastern end of the park and a small prairie area at the western end. Most of the park's land was donated to the city of Eau Claire in 1909 by Henry C. Putnam, who wished to see the land remain in its natural state and serve as a botanical laboratory and park in perpetuity. Over the years smaller tracts of land have been added to the original tract donated by Mr. Putnam. Ownership of the park was transferred from the city to the university in 1957. About half of Putnam Park is designated a Wisconsin State Natural Area.
Extent
1.0 Linear Feet (2 1/2 archives boxes)
225 Kilobytes (1 file)
Language of Materials
English
Summary
Principally minutes of the Putnam Park Commission and its predecessors which advise University officials on the use of Putnam Park, a local nature preserve. Originally the property of lumberman Henry C. Putnam, Putnam Park was donated to the City of Eau Claire in 1909, and to the University in 1957. Shortly thereafter William R. Davies established the Putnam Park Management Committee to advise the President and the Long-Range Planning Committee on the use of the nature preserve. It has undergone several name changes over the years, but the duties remain unchanged to the present. Includes digital materials.
Acquisition Information
Transferred to the University Archives by the Office of the Chancellor in or before October 1986. .017 linear feet of additional material added in October 1986. .04 linear feet of additional material added in March 2012. Additional materials aquired from Terry Classen in November 2017.
Accession Number
87-62; 12-028; 20-008
Reference Code
AS117
Processing Note
Processed by Alex Snyder in March 2012. Additional material added by Erin Hall in November 2019.
Subject
- University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire. Putnam Park Commission. (Organization)
- University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire. Putnam Park Committee. (Organization)
- Engel, A. James (Person)
- Olson, Chester (Person)
- Weber, Cornelius (Person)
- Rosenau, D. L. (Person)
- Crowe, David (Person)
- Donnellan, David (Person)
- Weiford, Douglas (Person)
- Vuicich, George (Person)
- Putnam, Henry C. (Person)
- Carter, Hilda (Person)
- Bollinger, James (Person)
- Haas, Leonard C. (Person)
- Emans, Lester (Person)
- Hunt, Lester (Person)
- Owen, Ralph W. (Person)
- Hibbard, Richard E. (Person)
- Davies, William R. (Person)
- Dr. Foote (Person)
- Dr. Klink (Person)
- Kolka, Henry (Person)
- Fisher, James (Person)
- Reidinger, Jocelyn (Person)
- Gergereich, John (Person)
- Fay, Marcus (Person)
- Mr. Benson (Person)
- Evans, Marie (Person)
- Mr. Haight (Person)
- Hanshus, N.E. (Person)
- Blanchard, Paul (Person)
- Fossland, R.G. (Person)
- Jann, Richard (Person)
- Lee, Robert (Person)
- Wahl, Ted (Person)
- Barland, Thomas, 1809-1896 (Person)
- Hoehn, Thomas (Person)
- Fante, Will (Person)
- Wahl, Victor (Person)
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Greg Kocken
- Date
- October 26, 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives, McIntyre Library, UW-Eau Claire Repository
Special Collections and Archives, McIntyre Library
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
103 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54701 United States
715-836-2739
library.archives@uwec.edu