Summary Information
Mexican Border Veterans Records
1949-1957
Mss 307; PH 1330
2.4 c.f. (6 archives boxes and 1 flat box) and 4 photographs (1 folder)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of the Mexican Border Veterans, an organization of men who served in the U.S. military Mexican Border incident in 1916-1917. Included are correspondence, scrapbooks, and other materials, mainly concerning efforts to secure Congressional recognition of its members as veterans of a foreign war. Photographs show members of the organization, 1954-1956.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00307 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Mexican Border Veterans Association was organized in November, 1929, at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Membership was extended to all surviving veterans of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and National Guard who served from January 1, 1916 to April 6, 1917. Its stated purpose was to “promote true comradeship and mutual helpfulness; (and) to keep alive that spirit of patriotism, which prompted service...in 1916 and 1917.” (Constitution, Article II) The national headquarters was located in Hartford, Connecticut until 1946, when it was moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1948 the name was changed to United Mexican Border Veterans, and changed a second time in 1958, to Mexican Border Veterans (MBV).
The organization expended a great deal of effort attempting to secure for its members Congressional recognition as veterans of a foreign war. The MBV obtained the right to flag-draped caskets in 1961 (Public Law 87-240) and to VA medical treatment in 1969 (Public Law 91-500), but did not gain full pension rights until December 1970 (Public Law 91-588).
Scope and Content Note
The collection is organized in three series: a history and miscellany file; correspondence; and scrapbooks. The history and miscellany file contains documents pertaining to the Mexican Border Campaign and the history of the MBV, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other related material.
Incoming and outgoing letters in the correspondence series are arranged in four files: the correspondence of the National Commander, the correspondence of the National Adjutant, correspondence dealing with the MBV's attempt to secure the passage of legislation, and general correspondence of the MBV. The first three files are arranged chronologically. General correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
The scrapbooks in the collection consist of a personal scrapbook of officer Roy R. Fredrickson, and a scrapbook containing material pertaining to the MBV's 50th Anniversary celebration in 1966.
The strength of the collection is in the material relating to the efforts of the Mexican Border Veterans (1954-1971) to secure recognition from the United States Congress as a legitimate veterans' organization. There are many letters between the national officers and various congressmen, principally Gardner R. Withrow of Wisconsin (3rd District) and Olin Teague of Texas, as well as a series of letters from the governors of many states whose National Guard units were activated for border service.
Of special note is the correspondence of the National Commander's office (1954-1963); the correspondence of the National Adjutant's office (1955-1971); and a file of the MBV bulletin, The Buglar (1957-1973).
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Roy R. Frederickson, La Crosse, Wisconsin, December 1957 and H. P. Donovan, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, June 1973. Accession Number: M9; M73-163
Processed by F. Signoriello and J. Robarts (Interns) and Joanne Hohler, July 23, 1974.
Contents List
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Series: History and Miscellany
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Mss 307
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Documents
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Mexican Border Campaign
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Mexican Border Veterans Organization
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Box
1
Folder
3
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MBV conventions and resolutions, 1953-1972
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Box
1
Folder
4
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The Buglar, MBV bulletin, 1957-1973; MBV Auxiliary Bulletin, , 1953-1957
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Newspaper clippings, 1954-1971
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Mexican Border Veterans, miscellaneous circulars, pamphlets, etc.
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Resolutions of the U.S. House of Representatives (veterans' benefits), 1951-1969
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PH 1330
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Photographs, 1954-1956
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Mss 307
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Series: Correspondence
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Box
2
Folder
1-6
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National Commander, 1954-1963, 1971
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Box
3
Folder
1-10
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National Adjutant, 1955-1970
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Re: Proposed legislation
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Box
4
Folder
1-9
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1952-1962
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Box
5
Folder
1-8
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1963-1972
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General, 1954-1971
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Box
6
Folder
1
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A-F
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Box
6
Folder
2
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G-L
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Box
6
Folder
3
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M-R
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Box
6
Folder
4
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S-Z
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Box
6
Folder
5
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Stordock, Gilbert H., 1956-1970
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Box
6
Folder
6
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Fredrickson, Roy - to unidentified individuals
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Box
6
Folder
7
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Auxiliary, MBV, 1961-1962
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Box
6
Folder
8
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Re: 50th Anniversary Celebration, Texas, 1966
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Box
6
Folder
9
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State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1957-1971
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Series: Scrapbooks
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Box
7
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Of Roy R. Fredrickson
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Box
7
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Pertaining to 50th Anniversary Celebration, 1966
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