Included in this collection are surveys of 1721 Brown County men who served in World War I. Each two-page questionnaire was assigned a consecutive number and an index of names and numbers is located at the beginning of each folder. No other type of arrangement, for example, alphabetically by name, or by ward or township of interviewee, is evident.
Each interviewee, usually the soldier or member of his immediate family, was asked to provide personal and family information, including his employment, the dates of his military service, the name and location of his unit, names of battles in which he participated, and a listing of any injuries or disabilities he received. The form also included space to list the names of relatives who served in World War I or previous wars, and any other pertinent information. Apparently the data were gathered by committee members who canvassed either city wards or townships. In addition to this information, the precinct or school district number, signature of the Captain of Rural School District, and date are given. Many of the answers are incomplete or missing.
Also included in this collection are photographs and original letters collected from interviewees. These are filed separately from the forms, in numerical order corresponding to the number assigned to each soldier. Xeroxed copies of letters are to be found with the forms.
Apparently this information was gathered to form the basis of a proposed book or other record. Similar organizations, among them the Wisconsin War History Commission, gathered material and produced histories of the World Wars. These include the Kewaunee County Honor Roll and War History, and material gathered in Oconto County for an unpublished history of county soldiers in World War II. It is not known that such a volume for Brown County was ever published.
