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Term: Schmedeman, Albert George 1864 - 1946

Definition:

merchant, politician, diplomat, governor, b. Madison. He graduated from Northwestern Business College in Madison, and in 1884 began working in a local clothing store. By 1892 Schmedeman had become senior partner in the Madison clothing firm of Schmedeman and Baillie. A Democrat, he was a member of the Madison city council (1903-1907), and in 1910 was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress. He later served as treasurer of the Democratic state central committee, actively supported Woodrow Wilson for the presidency in 1912, and in 1913 received an appointment as U.S. minister to Norway, serving in this capacity from 1913 to 1921. After leaving the foreign service in 1921, Schmedeman returned to Madison, where for several years he was the leader of the Democratic party in the area. In 1932 he defeated Republican incumbent Walter J. Kohler (q.v.) in the gubernatorial election, and served one term (Jan. 1933-Jan. 1935). During his administration, he succeeded in cutting the state budget, but in 1934 was narrowly defeated in his bid for re-election by Progressive candidate Philip La Follette. From 1935 to 1942 Schmedeman served by appointment from President Franklin D. Roosevelt as state administrator of the Federal Housing Administration with headquarters in Milwaukee, but after retiring in 1942 returned to Madison, where he made his home until his death. Wis. Blue Book (1933); Madison Capital Times, Nov. 26, 1946; Madison Wis. State Journal, Nov. 26, 1946.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Albert G. Schmedeman Papers for details.