The records of the Woman's Relief Corps, Department of Wisconsin are divided into four series, Department of Wisconsin, Local Corps, National, and Photographs.
Department of Wisconsin (1884-1963), which makes up the bulk of the collection, is divided into three sub-series: Administrative, Conventions, and Financial. The Administrative sub-series includes the circular letters, correspondence, and general orders issued by the Department of Wisconsin and the minutes of departmental meetings. Researchers should note that this series lacks membership records, aside from 1904-1905. Registers of delegates and visitors to the W.R.C. National and Department of Wisconsin Conventions make up the majority of the Convention sub-series. Each individual register contains lists for state and national conventions; the container list has separated them for the convenience of the researcher. The cashbooks and ledgers in the Financial sub-series reveal some of the philanthropic concerns of the Department of Wisconsin. Collections of money were raised to aid in the construction of the Wisconsin Veterans Home in Waupaca County, to compensate a full-time nurse at the home, to assist widows of Civil War veterans, and to encourage the celebration of Memorial Day in the South.
Local Corps (1884-1950) contains the records of individual Corps within the Department of Wisconsin. Researchers should be aware that only sixteen of the 155 Wisconsin Corps are represented in this series, and that the records of those sixteen corps are far from complete. The original applications for charters for several corps can be found within this series, as well as twenty-three original corps charters; the latter contain the names of the charter members of the corps. Researchers may expect to find cashbooks, ledgers, meeting and membership rolls for most corps. The holdings for some corps include quarterly reports, which reveal the amount of charitable donations that a corps made during a three-month period. Photocopies of a Corps No. 145 (Wisconsin Rapids) scrapbook contain newspaper clippings announcing the meetings, elections, and other social events of the Corps.
National (1903-1945) consists of documents issued by and pertaining to the national organization. Included in this series are general orders, which report on the results of national elections and other special events, as well as materials relating to patriotic instruction. Of particular interest is a photocopied pamphlet establishing the identity of the author of the “Pledge of Allegiance,” one Francis Bellemy. The W.R.C., which strongly promoted the daily recital of the “Pledge” in schools, took great pride in their involvement. The circular letters in this series reveal the concerns of the W.R.C. and mostly deal with the teaching of patriotism. Researchers should be aware that this series is far from complete.
Photographs (circa 1988) depict the centennial celebration of Corps No. 71 (Richland Center) in 1988. Included are snapshots of Corps president Pluma Mayfield, the Corps collection of W.R.C. convention ribbons, the Corps banner, and eight Corps members.
