00837.xml CHESTER S. WILSON: An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by J. Huebscher National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul, MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by J. HuebscherFebruary 2011 Finding aid written in English. OVERVIEW Minnesota Historical Society Wilson, Chester S. (Chester Sawyer), 1886-1983. Chester Wilson papers. 1912-1978 (bulk 1943-1978). Materials in English. Correspondence, minutes, reports, speeches, background files, photographs, and newspaper clippings related to the career of Minnesota lawyer and environmental activist primarily focused on soil conservation, water pollution, and outdoor recreation resources. 7.5 cubic feet (6 boxes). See Detailed Description for shelf locations. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Chester Wilson served as Minnesota's Commissioner of Conservation (1943-1955), as chairman of the Minnesota Water Pollution Control Commission (1945-1952), as president of the International Association of Game, Fish, and Conservation Commissioners (1953), and as a member of the United States Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission (1958-1962). While serving in these positions Wilson was instrumental in the enactment of several important pieces of environmental legislation and served as legal council and consultant for a number of state and national environmental commissions and boards.

 RELATED MATERIALS

Related materials: Oral history interviews of the Minnesota Water Resources Board and photographs in the sound and visual collections, both at the Minnesota Historical Society.

 CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Conservation of natural resources -- Law and legislation -- Minnesota. Conservation of natural resources -- United States. Environmental degradation -- Minnesota. Environmental law -- Minnesota. Outdoor recreation -- Minnesota. Outdoor recreation -- United States. Recreation areas -- Minnesota. Recreation areas -- United States. Soil conservation -- Minnesota. Water -- Pollution -- Law and legislation -- Minnesota. Water -- Pollution -- Minnesota. Organizations: Minnesota. Dept. of Conservation. Minnesota. Water Pollution Control Commission. Minnesota. Legislature. Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Resources Commission. Soil Conservation Society of America. Minnesota Chapter. United States. Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission. Places: Minnesota -- Politics and government -- 1945-1980. Document Types: Photographs. Occupations: Environmentalists. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Chester S. Wilson papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

 Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 12,335; 12,683

 Processing Information:

Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Catalog ID number: 001735127

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION 151.K.13.1B Chester Wilson, personal, 1953-1971. 3 folders. Big Stone Lake, 1957. B.W.C.A., 1962-1965. Herman Chapman's, "A historic record of development of Quetico-Superior Wilderness Area and of the Chippewa Wilderness Forest, Minnesota," 1957. Conservation education program, 1957. Conservation under Republican leadership, 1954. Dose St. Croix River Park project, 1968. Gabrielson reports, 1953-1954. Little Hoover Commission, 1952. Magney, C. R., 1944-1945. Minnesota Conservation Federation, 1957. Minnesota Department of Conservation, 1944-1957. 2 folders. Minnesota Legislative Research Committee, 1948, 1950. Minnesota Reorganization Bill, 1955. Minnesota State Parks, 1965. Minnesota Water Pollution Control Commission, 1962-1967. 3 folders. Northern States Power Plant project, 1964. Northern Suburban Sanitary Sewer District, 1965-1967. 4 folders. Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission, 1958-1972. 3 folders. Rabbit Lake, 1957-1966. 3 folders. Resources for the future, 1944-1958. 12 folders. 151.K.13.2F Resources for the future, 1956. 2 folders. St. Croix Riverway Bill, 1971-1972. Senior citizens, Washington County Association, 1956-1957. Soil Conservation Society of America, Minnesota Chapter, 1955-1958. 8 folders. Timber Contract Bills, 1947-1949. Tri-State Waters Commission, 1956-1957. United Conservation Fund, Inc., 1955. Water laws, 1954. 2 folders. Water pollution, 1963-1967. 5 folders. Water Resources Board, 1950-1963. 2 folders. Water rights. Watershed projects, 1954-1956. 6 folders. Watershed National Congresses, 1954-1956. 3 folders. Wetlands versus drainage, 1954-1956. 12 folders. Wolff, Julius, 1949.

Excerpts of thesis.

 151.K.13.3B County Park System, 1962-1967. Minnesota Parks Foundation, Afton Land Company, 1968-1969. Afton State Park, tax loss, 1970. Wilson, Chester, correspondence, 1976-1978. National Conference on Water Pollution, 1960. Miscellaneous, 1963-1967. Northern Suburban Sanitary District, 1965-1967. 6 folders. Mississippi River Hearing, 1962. Mississippi River classifications and standards, 1965. Memos. Governor Freeman's Reorganization Bill, 1956. Minneapolis - St. Paul sanitary districts, 1962-1967. Water Pollution Act, 1950, 1965. Water Pollution control bills, 1959. Water Pollution, old bills, 1959, 1963. Wilson, Chester, 1963-1965. Northern States Power Company plant on the St. Croix River, 1964.

Opponents' statements.

 Newspaper clippings. Speech regarding recreation and clean water, 1964. Arkansas water laws, 1954. 151.K.13.4F General conservation material, 1958. Soil conservation, 1953-1956. 11 folders. St. Croix River controversy and United State Senate Special Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution, 1964. 2 volumes. Investigation of Mississippi River from Rum River to St. Croix, 1960, 1961. Water pollution control, 1963. H.E.W. pollution and recreation publications. Water pollution control material from D.J. Thimson, 1966. Stillwater centennial brochure, 1948. Department of the Interior geological survey, 1964. C.S. Wilson speeches, 1948. 151.K.13.5B Republican Platform Committee Conservation Program, 1950-1953. Water law problems in Minnesota, 1953-1956. C.S. Wilson personal, 1951-1954. 2 folders. Miscellaneous correspondence, 1961-1972. C.S. Wilson Commissioner of Conservation, 1954. C.S. Wilson speeches, etc., 1952. Water pollution control, State, 1955-1958. Water pollution control, Federal Aid for Minnesota projects, 1956-1958. Water pollution control, Spring Lake report, 1956. Water pollution control, State Census data report, 1956. Water pollution control, Federal, 1955-1958. 5 folders. Water pollution control, activities, 1953-1957. Water pollution, miscellaneous, 1963-1967. Soil and Water Conservation Watershed Program, W.J. Coad, 1957. Water permits. Water laws, 1950-1957. 4 folders. Water resources, general, 1956-1957. Zoning, 1956. Water pollution control, Surgeon General's Conference, 1958. Water pollution control, State Reports, etc. Cincinnati program, 1959-1962. Water pollution control, Federal Bulletins, 1951-1955. U.S. Code, Bureau of Reclamation, 1955. 151.K.13.6F Groundwater contamination, 1960. Water pollution, Corney Drainage System, 1956-1957. 2 folders. Water pollution, 1959-1961. Water pollution notes. Water pollution control, Alaska. Pollution hearing in St. Joseph, Missouri, 1959.

C. S. Wilson, Chairman.

 Blatnik bill, 1959-1960. Wetlands, 1956-1958. 2 folders. Border lakes water levels, 1971. U.S. Public Health service accounts, 1961. Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Resources Commission minutes, 1964-1966. 4 folders. Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Resources Commission report, 1967. Apostle Islands Park Project, 1966-1967. Natural Resources Task Force, 1969-1970. Metropolitan Council development guides, 1970-1972. Miscellaneous printed material, 1961-1968. Photographs, 1912-1918.

Images relate to Wilson's time in Company K, Third Infantry of the Minnesota National Guard.