Shortly after the United States declared war on Germany, the Milwaukee County Council
of Defense was created by the authority of the Wisconsin State Council of Defense on
30 April 1917. It began with 15 members, but that number grew as the war continued.
Milwaukee Mayor Daniel Hoan served as its first Chairman. The Council of Defense was
organized into five departments: the Department of Administration, Department of
Commerce and Finance, Department of Manufactures, Department of Public Affairs, and
Department of Public Welfare. Each department focused on a different aspect of
supporting the war effort and an Executive Committee oversaw all work being
done.
The departments all had various bureaus, boards, and committees that were given the
task of working with local groups, organizations, and businesses that fell within
their area of expertise and would seek their cooperation as needed. Citizens were
recruited to volunteer and assist with the war effort not only by working for the
Milwaukee County Council of Defense, but also in the Men and Women's District
Organizations, which generated support for campaigns such as Liberty Loan
subscriptions and Red Cross membership drives. As the war drew to a close, the
Milwaukee County Council of Defense slowly reduced its workload and officially ended
its operations on 1 February 1919.
In March of 1918, the Wisconsin State Council of Defense created the Wisconsin War
History Commission to gather and preserve materials relating to Wisconsin's effort
during the war. Information and materials were collected during, and particularly
after, the war including ephemera, histories, and the records of the Milwaukee
County Council of Defense. A joint effort with the American War Mothers also
produced photographs and information on most of the Milwaukee County soldiers. A
state law formally created the Wisconsin War History Commission in 1919, but by
1923, it had ceased to exist and its duties were transferred to the Wisconsin
Historical Society.
