This series contains copies of state public records that Governor Thompson requested from his executive departments before leaving office. These records were intended to document the significant achievements of his administration. Twelve executive departments are represented in the collection. The amount and kinds of material submitted by the departments in 2001 varied widely. The original public records reside with state government as required by Wisconsin law. Wherever possible, records have been maintained in the arrangement schemes received from the departments.

Series 7.1, Department of Health & Family Services, 1985-2001, (27.7 cubic ft), is the largest of the state agency collections and has been divided into fourteen sub-series, according to topic headings created by department personnel who filled the governor's request. A separate scope and content note exists for this series.

Series 7.2, Department of Workforce Development, 1987-2001, (5.6 cubic ft.), consists of subject files that have been arranged alphabetically by title. A majority of files pertain to welfare reform, a responsibility assumed by this department after the creation of Wisconsin Works (W2). Many of these welfare files arrived under the rubric of "Hudson Institute Materials," referring to the Indianapolis-based think tank that helped devise and administer W2. For more information on the Hudson Institute, see Series 8. Also described in this series is Thompson's Youth Apprenticeship Program, a school-to-work initiative that provided high school students with hands-on job training prior to graduation.

Series 7.3, Department of Corrections, 1987-2001, (1.0 cubic ft), contains records summarizing achievements of two separate divisions within the department: (1) Adult Institutions and (2) Community Corrections.  Among these records are reports from investigatory task forces and committees established by Governor Thompson. The series also contains a 4-volume assemblage of documents on Juvenile Justice Reform. An item-level index for these four volumes appears in a folder labeled "Table of Contents."

Series 7.4, Dept. of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, 1987-2001, (0.3 cubic ft), provides an overview of the department's accomplishments during the Thompson years as well as more detailed information about two specific topics: (1) consolidation of the Justice Department's consumer protection function into DATCP, and (2) the Governor's efforts to promote fair cheese pricing. The series also contains departmental reports on aquaculture, prescription drug pricing, and dairy plant security.

Series 7.5, Department of Commerce, 1987-2001, (1.3 cubic ft), documents the programs and activities of this department under the Thompson administration. The series is arranged alphabetically by subject. Among the topics covered are the Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund (PECFA) program, the Dairy 2020 program, and the various economic development awards given out by the department.

Series 7.6, Department of Administration, 1989-2001, (1.6 cubic ft), contains subject files, arranged alphabetically, on several topics, most of them related to technology. Of note are multiple files on the drafting of Reliability 2000 (R2K) legislation, designed to increase the reliability of the state's electricity supply while fostering economic growth.

Series 7.7, Department of Tourism, 1987-2001, (1.0 cubic ft), contains records, mostly reports, documenting the Thompson administration's role in fostering the growth of tourism in Wisconsin. The files are arranged alphabetically by folder title. Among the topics addressed in this series are the impact of tourism dollars on Wisconsin's economy, the creation of a cabinet-level tourism department, and strategic planning.

Series 7.8, Department of Employment Relations, 1992-2000, (0.6 cubic ft), contains records describing two of Thompson's initiatives: Civil Service Reform, and the Labor-Management Cooperation project. The reform papers are arranged chronologically; the cooperation project files are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series 7.9, Department of Natural Resources, 1987-2001, (7.0 cubic ft), contains subject files, arranged alphabetically, on a variety of topics, such as land acquisitions, recycling, clean air and water initiatives, and the Great Lakes Protection Fund. Among the types of documents in this series are memoranda, reports, studies, and publications.

Series 7.10, Department of Revenue, 1987-2001, (1.3 cubic ft), contains records assembled in 2001 by David Blaska, director of the department's Office of Communications. Most folders appear to be subject files assembled to fill the governor's request for documentation of his administration's achievements. The files are grouped under five general headings: Economic Prosperity, Income Tax Relief, Property Tax Relief, Wisconsin Lottery, and Miscellaneous Topics. The files contain a variety of documents, including memoranda, correspondence, reports, press releases, and newspaper clippings. Files are arranged alphabetically under each general heading, except for the Wisconsin Lottery folders which are arranged chronologically.

Series 7.11, Department of Transportation, 1987-2001, (4.0 cubic ft), contains briefing materials about Governor Thompson's foreign trade missions and travels outside the continental United States. The trade mission materials are arranged chronologically by trip. The series also includes files on individual Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grants awarded by the department. TEA grant files are arranged alphabetically by the community receiving the grant.

Series 7.12, Office of Commissioner of Insurance, 1993-2000, (1.0 cubic ft), contains subject files detailing creation of the Wisconsin Healthcare Partnership Plan (WHCPP), an initiative designed to integrate health and long term care into a single program.  They are arranged alphabetically by subject.