KATZ, MYER (1910-1993). PAPERS, 1980-1985.   2.2 cubic feet (6 archives boxes)

Abstract

The papers consist of research materials, notes, and drafts generated by Katz during preparation of his book, Echoes of Our Past, a collection of vignettes about La Crosse history.

Acc. No. 1985-12
Donated by Myer Katz, October 1985
Processed by Amy Groskopf, February 1986

Biography

Myer Katz was born in 1910, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He was educated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and at George Washington University, Washington D. C. Further graduate studies were pursued at the University of Minnesota, University of Chicago, and American University. Katz worked as an educator and research biologist before joining the family business, W. U. Katz, an industrial metals firm located in La Crosse.

A longtime student of La Crosse history, Katz did a great deal of lecturing and writing on the subject, including writing regular features on local history for the La Crosse Tribune. In 1985 he published Echoes of Our Past, which contains a selection of the articles he wrote on local history. One of Katz’s interests was Jewish history and La Crosse’s Jewish community. Katz died in 1993 in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

For further biographical information see the La Crosse area clipping file in the Archives Room at the La Crosse Public Library.

Scope and Content

The Myer Katz papers consist of research materials used and drafts of articles written for Echoes of Our Past, a book containing vignettes on La Crosse history. The papers have been divided into two main sections. The first contains materials generated in preparation of the book called BUSINESS ASPECTS. This included notes on general organization, drafts of the preface and introductory notes, a bibliography, publicity blurbs, and proofs.

The SUBJECT FILES contain notes, newspaper clippings, and preliminary and final drafts of the vignettes that make up Echoes of Our Past. Each story was published originally in the La Crosse Tribune as part of Katz’s local history column, which also bore the title, “Echoes of Our Past”. Clippings of each article as it appeared in the Tribune are included in the files. A number of the vignettes cover similar topics. The stories about Frank Burton, Mamie Cummings and David Darst, for example, all involve murders, while major La Crosse fires are covered in the essays about the Cameron Hotel, Gund Brewery, Park Store, Third Street, and paddle wheeler War Eagle. There is a large file on the Mississippi River as well as individual files on the river boat War Eagle, Wagon Bridge, and river pirates. In addition many stories cover more than one specific topic. The Copeland Avenue and Cameron Park files contain biographical material on Frederick Copeland and Peter Cameron, respectively, while the Mons Anderson file contains information on business and home, as do the Easton family and Albert Hirshheimer files.

The papers conclude with a section entitled “Chronological history of La Crosse”. It contains notes for, and drafts of the chronology that makes up the last chapter of Echoes of Our Past.

The photographs included in the papers have been photocopied and the copies placed in the files. The prints themselves have been added to the Archives Room picture file.