Summary Information
Service Star Legion. Wisconsin Division: Records
1919-1952
- Service Star Legion. Wisconsin Division
Mss 818; PH 3992
0.8 c.f. (2 archives boxes), 47 photographs, 1 drawing, and 7 pieces of ephemera
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records of the Wisconsin division of the Service Star Legion, a patriotic organization of women relatives of U.S. soldiers and veterans, originally formed in 1919 as the Wisconsin Division of War Mothers of America. Included are articles of incorporation, proceedings of annual state conventions, minutes of the Dane County branch (1919-1926), Xeroxed scrapbooks, a financial ledger, and miscellaneous photographs and ephemera.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00818 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Wisconsin Service Star Legion, Inc. was originally established in 1919 as the state division of War Mothers of America, a national organization that had been established in 1917 as a patriotic organization for women relatives of World War I servicemen. It was the first women's organization to come out of World War I.
The first SSL chapter was organized in Dane County under the sponsorship of the Dane County Council of Defense. The Dane County chapter then took up the organization of the state division.
Unlike many similar organizations, the Service Star Legion was not a women's auxiliary, and it was responsible for its own policy. The Legion was primarily devoted to the welfare of veterans and their families and to the placement of memorials and markers.
Scope and Content Note
This small collection provides an overview of the activities of this patriotic service organization from its inception in 1919 until 1955. Included are handwritten or mimeographed proceedings of the annual state conventions, a financial ledger (1933-1948), Xerox copies of historical scrapbooks compiled by various officers (circa 1926-circa 1956), miscellaneous reports of local chapters, minutes of the Dane County chapter (1919-1926), and original photographs removed from the scrapbooks after copying. Photographs and ephemera pertain to the activities of the organization and include images of memorials, meetings, and parades.
Related Material
The Wisconsin Historical Society Library holds state convention programs for 1919, 1921-1922, and 1926-1928 which are not duplicated in the archival records.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Mrs. Edward Altpeter, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, October 22, 1956.
Processed by Mary E. Greene-Cohen and Carolyn J. Mattern, 1992.
Contents List
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Mss 818
Box
1
Folder
1
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Articles of incorporation, 1919, 1941
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Proceedings of annual conventions
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Minute book, 1919-1938
: Includes convention calls, programs, and a brief history, and lists of officers and memorials.
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Box
1
Folder
3-7
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Minutes, 1939-1955
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Ledger, 1932-1948
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PH 3992
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Photographs, Drawing, Ephemera
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Mss 818
Box
2
Folder
2-8
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Scrapbooks, circa 1926-circa 1956
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Scrapbook of local reports, circa 1926-1948, undated
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Minutes of Dane County chapter, 1918-1926
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