To celebrate its 75th anniversary, throughout 2003 the Wisconsin Lawyer will include "From the Archives," a monthly column devoted to lively snippets from past issues. Material is quoted directly and attributed when the contributor is known. More in-depth coverage of the magazine's publishing history will appear in September, as part of the State Bar's 125th anniversary celebration this year.
Encouraging more women in the legal profession
Nov. 1941, at 231: "Doris Lehner, assistant city attorney of Madison, gave a talk before the Madison College Girls Club on Oct. 14, on the subject 'The Legal Profession for Women.'"
Bar resolutions support members of U.S. armed services
May 1941, Convention Supplement, Reports, at 11: The Board of Governors authorized the appointment of a committee to study a plan to allow Bar members to vote by mail to elect officers and to draft an amendment to the constitution to put that plan into effect. The Bar also entertained a resolution to amend the constitution, exempting members from paying dues while in the U.S. military or naval service.
Holding 'debt' court on Saturday mornings
Feb. 1942, at 27: "Judge Francis J. Jennings of the Milwaukee Civil Court will devote Saturday mornings to informal hearings on debt matters. ... He pointed out that with increased employment, garnishment actions had risen to about 200 a month in Milwaukee County, and suggested that before starting a garnishment action the lawyer should invite the debtor to appear before the judge in an informal hearing ... in which ... the validity of the debt may be determined and provision made for payment. He believed this would save many garnishment actions and would also save each debtor court costs."
Protecting the practice and clientele of attorneys in service
May 1942, at 140: The Dane County Bar Association resolved to protect the practice and clientele of attorneys in service. The Committee on Legal Aid, Legislation and Economic Affairs sent to all the lawyers in the county a placard that reads: "It is the policy of the Dane County Bar Association that so far as possible the practice and clientele of the members of the bar in the armed forces be preserved for them upon their return. It is hoped that any client whose attorney is in service will resume his former relationship with such attorney after the war."
U.W. Law School depleted
Feb. 1943, at 50: "More than three-fourths of the students at the U.W. Law School have left for the armed forces or essential war industry. The enrollment is now 90 compared with some 400 before the war began. Education in law is not recognized by Selective Service as essential."
He ain't no Dan'l, but he'll do
Nov. 1944, at 213: "S.J. Auringer, Grantsburg, has the distinction of being the first person in Wisconsin to kill a bear with a bow and arrow. The bear weighed 150 pounds, and was killed within 12 miles of [Auringer's] home."
State Historical Library has large collection of enemy-owned patents
May 1943, at 79: "Certified copies of approximately 25,000 enemy-owned U.S. patents are on file in the document division of the Wisconsin Historical Society. These patents ... are available under simple licensing agreements to any American manufacturer who can use them productively. The catalog was sent to the document division from the U.S. Alien Property Custodian."
That's a horse of a different color
Nov. 1942, at 197: "Sverre O. Braathan, Madison, was named equestrian director of the Wallenda tent, local chapter of the Circus Fans Association of America. ... He has one of the nation's largest private collections of circus materials, letters, photographs, route books, etc."
All for the war effort
May 1943, at 82: "Russell J. Greb of Waukesha is now dividing his time between his law practice and his work in a war plant. He works at the Waukesha Motor Company from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., and is in his law office from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for five days a week, and all day Saturday."
Cameras! Lights! Action!
Aug. 1944, at 173: "Lt. Leonard M. Bessman, Milwaukee, has been called by Hollywood as technical adviser for the film 'G.I. Joe,' adapted from Ernie Pyle's book, Here is Your War."
Milwaukee mayor missing at sea
Aug. 1944, at 180: "A 'Carl Zeidler night' dedicated to the belief that the former mayor of Milwaukee is still alive, was held at the Milwaukee Art Institute on June 22, in connection with the United Seamen's Service art exhibition. Lt. Zeidler was reported missing at sea on Sept. 26, 1942. There is a possibility that he is a Japanese prisoner of war."
Building toward a nation
Aug. 1944, at 179: "Arthur Shutkin of Milwaukee addressed the Zionist organization of Green Bay on June 27, on the subject 'Jewish Life in Central and South America.' He has spent the last six months in Central America, visiting Mexico, Nicaragua, the Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and other points as a representative of the Zionist movement."
DAs urge uniform tavern closing time
Feb. 1943, at 34: "The Wisconsin District Attorneys Association ... went on record as favoring legislation placing a definite closing time for taverns by establishing a curfew on beer sales. Present laws prohibit the sale of liquors after 1 a.m., but there is no provision compelling taverns to close and beer may be sold all night. ... The association also approved a bill that would allow courts to admit scientific evidence of tests of the alcoholic content of a person's body as evidence in drunken driving cases. A similar provision was killed at the 1941 legislative session."
Federal income tax returns debut
Feb. 1943, at 22: "The Grant County Bar Association ... inserted in the local newspapers a notice recommending immediate attention to preparation of income tax returns. ... In 1942 many citizens were required for the first time to make federal income tax returns, and many delayed doing so until shortly before March 15 when they found advisers to whom they went for assistance too busy to serve them. ... This year many more will be obliged to make returns and the tax will be much higher, increasing the importance of careful attention to the preparation of returns, thus increasing the demands which will be made upon attorneys for assistance in preparing the returns."
