Title: Loyal Temperance Legion of Wisconsin Records
Inclusive Dates: 1890-1964

Creator:

• Loyal Temperance Legion of Wisconsin

Call Number: Mss 42

Quantity: 2.0 c.f. (5 archives boxes)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Records of a group founded in the 1880s and devoted to the encouragement of temperance among children and young adults. The collection consists primarily of records created and kept by long-time state officer Mary Money Eggert. Records include scrapbooks of clippings, photographs, convention programs, and information on activities such as essay contests and day camps; annual reports from local chapters; minute books; and other records. A few files pertain to the Wisconsin Legion's parent body, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Wisconsin.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00042

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The Loyal Temperance Legion of Wisconsin is a branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Wisconsin, which in turn is affiliated with the national organization. The L.T.L. is concerned primarily with the ages of 6 to 12, the Youth Temperance Council with the ages 13 to 29 and the W.C.T.U. itself with the adults.

First founded in 1874 by Frances E. Willard as a result of the Woman's Temperance Crusade of 1873-1874, the Union's motto is “For God and Home and Every Land.” It considers itself an “organization of Christian women for the protection of the home, the abolition of liquor traffic, and the triumph of the golden rule in custom and law.”

The Wisconsin L.T.L. was founded in the late 1880's by Miss Annie J. Bradbury. The Legion is devoted to the education of children and young people along the lines of scientific, economic, and moral temperance. The Legion sponsors day camps and essay contests; and the annual convention held in various cities throughout Wisconsin forms the highlight of the L.T.L. year.

Mrs. Mary Money Eggert, from whose estate this collection was presented, served as state L.T.L. general secretary of children's work for thirty-nine years, retiring from this position in 1962. Born June 12, 1875, Mary (Money) Eggert devoted much of her eighty-nine years to work in the organization, first becoming a member when only nine years old. Having served in every office in the state L.T.L., Mrs. Eggert's last term of service was as state director of parliamentary law for the state W.C.T.U., a position she held for the fifteen years prior to her death on April 23, 1964. Knowledge of parliamentary law is considered to be a vital tool to be used in achieving the goals of the W.C.T.U., and members are urged to study it in detail.

These records are organized in two parts: the Original Collection, put in order in the Archives in 1969, and Additions, put in order in 1979. Each part is described below.

Original Collection

The materials in the Original Collection consist of four volumes relating almost exclusively to the Loyal Temperance Legion of Wisconsin; and unbound manuscripts limited both in scope and quantity which are concerned chiefly with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the state.

Volumes 1 and 2 contain a history of the L.T.L. in Wisconsin, 1890-1959, as described in mounted clippings, photographs, convention programs, and a few postcards and letters. Volume 3, 1909-1933, deals with records of the medal contests and winners and treats subjects such as liquor, drugs, and religion. Volume 4 is Mrs. Eggert's 1922 notebook at a time when she was general secretary for the state L.T.L.

Among the folders of loose manuscripts are Mrs. Eggert's correspondence, 1954-1963, as director of parliamentary law for the Wisconsin W.C.T.U., with study guides and quizzes on that subject. Folder 3 contains two manuscripts written by Mrs. Eggert, “Prohibition and the Child,” 1910, and “Alcohol Education,” 1934. The fourth folder consists of mimeographed and printed materials, including news bulletins from the national office of the W.C.T.U., 1944-1949, and the program for the 70th Convention, 1944.

Additions

Included in the Additions are annual reports sent from local chapters to the state officers, draft constitutions (undated), and two folders of Mrs. Eggert's correspondence, primarily with chapter and national WCTU officers. The dues and expense records and minute books contain summaries of L.T.L. activities and work, and are some of the earliest records. A small file of National L.T.L. Bulletins is also present. The postage records list the names of officers and members who requested reimbursement for postage. A folder of temperance education lessons includes copies of examination questions given to members of the junior and children's Legions. Two volumes of chapter records provide information on the activities of and dues paid by local chapters to the state office. The second volume appears to have been a “work” book, as it is very incomplete and fragmentary in places.

Acquisition Information

Both portions presented by Mrs. Ralph Del Camp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from the estate of Mrs. Mary Money Eggert, September 1, 1964.

Processing Information

Processed by archives students, summer 1968, and by Margaret Hafstad, March 18, 1969; and by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, 1979.

	Series: Original Collection, 1890-1964
Box   1 Folder   1	Mary M. Eggert's correspondence on W.C.T.U. parliamentary law, 1954-1963
Box   1 Folder   2	W.C.T.U. study guides and quizzes on parliamentary law, 1956-1964
Box   1 Folder   3	Manuscripts by Mary Money Eggert:“Prohibition and the Child,” 1910, and “Alcohol Education,” , 1934
Box   1 Folder   4	Mimeographed news bulletins from W.C.T.U., 1944-1949; national convention program, , 1944; miscellany
	Scrapbook history, clippings and photographs
Box   2 Folder   1	, 1890-1906 (Vol. 1)
Box   2 Folder   2	, 1907-1959 (Vol. 2)
Box   1 Folder   5	Medal Contest records, 1909-1933 (Vol. 3)
Box   1 Folder   6	Notebook kept by general secretary, 1922 (Vol. 4)
	Series: Additions, 1891-1963	⇧
Box   3 Folder   1-3	Annual Reports, 1925-1927, 1931-1934, 1955-1959
Box   3 Folder   4	Constitutions
Box   3 Folder   5-6	Correspondence of Mary Money Eggert, 1955-1959
Box   3 Folder   7	Dues Book, 1911-1917 (Vol. 1)
Box   3 Folder   8	Dues and Expense Records, 1931-1962
	Minute Books
Box   3 Folder   9-10	, 1891-1903 (Vol. 2-3)
Box   4 Folder   1-3	1904-1909, 1912-1916 (Vol. 4-6)
Box   4 Folder   4	National L.T.L. Bulletins, 1962-1963
Box   4 Folder   5	Postage Records, 1924-1931 (Vol. 7)
Box   4 Folder   6	Postage Records, 1941-1959
Box   4 Folder   7	Temperance Education Lessons
Box   4 Folder   8	Miscellany
Box   5 Folder   1-2	Chapter Records, 1902-1937 (Vol. 8-9)