Summary Information
Veterans of World War I of The U.S.A., Department of Wisconsin Records
1956-1986
- Veterans of World War I of The U.S.A., Department of Wisconsin
WVM Mss 56
1.6 linear ft. (3 archives boxes, 3 flat boxes, and 2 oversized folders) of papers and 0.2 linear ft. (1 archives box) of photographs.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)
Records and photographs of a voluntary fraternal association of World War I veterans and their auxiliary dedicated to ensuring proper recognition and benefits for their sacrifices. The records are very scattered, but include correspondence relating to the chartering of individual barracks in Wisconsin, departmental convention materials, and papers relating to the political activities of the group to ensure proper pensions and other benefits. Records from the auxiliary are similarly scattered, but include some financial records, a group history, several ephemeral scrapbooks, and a number of administrative reports. Photographs contain shots from several departmental conventions in the 1960's and the chartering of several local barracks.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss00056 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A. is a voluntary, fraternal organization of the men who served in the United States military during the First World War. Unlike many veterans organizations that formed immediately following a war, the Veterans of World War I took root more than thirty years after the conflict.
The major veterans organization to form following World War I was the American Legion. In addition, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) opened its membership to the men returning from France and Germany. These two organizations took the forefront in fighting for veterans' rights and benefits. The surviving Civil War veterans remained in the Grand Army of the Republic and the Spanish-American War veterans constituted a very small number compared to veterans of World War I. Thus the returned doughboys were able to control, to a large extent, the focus and aim of American Legion and VFW. After World War II, a fresh and large influx of new veterans joined these organizations and took an active role in their pursuits.
When the Korean War ended in 1953 and a new batch of veterans returned to take part in the veterans organizations, the veterans of World War I began to feel outnumbered and ignored. Many thought the younger veterans had forgotten them and their needs, and they began to look into forming a group of their own. As early as 1949, World War I veterans had begun forming their own small groups. In 1953, representatives from many of those small groups met in Baltimore to discuss forming a larger national organization. The Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A. were formed from that meeting and an official charter from Congress was granted in 1958. The group charged itself with protecting the rights of World War I veterans and in procuring proper benefits and pensions for them. Local groups called barracks were formed in cities with large numbers of barracks banding together to form departments.
In July 1958, five barracks in the state of Wisconsin formed the Department of Wisconsin. The group grew rapidly and the national organization reached a membership of over 200,000 in 1960. The Department of Wisconsin grew as well and had more than eighty barracks at its peak. However, the membership was in its late fifties and sixties at the birth of the organization and the number of deceased members increased dramatically in the 1960's. While the organization continued into the 1980's, its time of power and influence ended very soon after it began in the 1960's.
Scope and Content Note
The records of the Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Department of Wisconsin are divided into three series, Department of Wisconsin, Auxiliary, and Photographs.
Department of Wisconsin (1956-1982) contains scattered records relating to the operation and interests of the statewide organization. In addition to several charters for individual barracks, the charter packets contain correspondence and forms that document the process by which groups of World War I veterans applied for a barracks charter. Lists of deceased members show the rate at which veterans of the Great War were passing at mid-century. A brief history of the department includes some useful information. The materials on pensions and political activity show that the major aim of the organization was to secure better benefits and treatment for World War I veterans. A few documents from three local barracks do not go very far in relaying their activities or history.
Auxiliary (1963-1986) consists of reports and records documenting the role of the woman's group that formed to support the Veterans of World War I. The materials are scattered and provide a fragmented view of the group at best. An organizational history provides a glimpse of the auxiliary at mid-century. A small number of different reports give an idea about the organizational structure and activities. Three scrapbooks include newspaper clippings and other ephemeral items.
Photographs (1960-1965) contains shots from several departmental conventions in the 1960's. These photographs show aging veterans gathering to celebrate their organization and each other. Several unidentified group and individual shots show members wearing the official caps. Photographs from local barracks often highlight the offical acceptance of the barracks charter.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Veterans of World War I, Dept. of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac, WI, undated. The collection was previously known as Record Group 56.
This collection was organized as a result of the National Historic Publications and Records Commission project grant (2003-075).
Preliminary inventory by Mark Van Ells circa 1994; processed by Russell Horton in 2004.
Contents List
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Series: Department of Wisconsin
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
1
|
Bulletins, 1959
|
|
|
Ov
2
Folder
28
|
Charters, 1958-1960
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
2-7
|
Packets, 1956-1969
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
8
|
Commander's report, 1965
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
9
|
Conventions, 1960-1962
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
10
|
Correspondence, 1959-1962
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
11
|
Deceased members list, 1958-1962
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
12
|
Ephemera, 1960
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
13
|
History, circa 1960
|
|
|
Subseries: Local barracks
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
1
|
Fond du Lac Barracks 1354, Minutes, undated
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
2
|
Sheboygan Barracks 2091, History, 1972
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
3
|
Beaver Dam Barracks 2449, Ledger, 1973-1982
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
14
|
Membership reports, circa 1962
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
15
|
Midwinter conference, 1961
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
16
|
Minutes, 1958
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
17
|
Newsletters, 1961
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
18
|
Newspaper clippings, circa 1960
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
4
|
Officers, 1961-1962
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
5
|
Pensions, 1960
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
6
|
Political activity, 1959-1962
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
7
|
Programs, 1959-1968
|
|
|
Ov
15
Folder
16
|
Scrapbook, circa 1960-1965
|
|
|
Series: Auxiliary
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|
|
Box
2
Folder
8
|
Auxiliary, 1969, 1983-1985
|
|
|
Ov
2
Folder
29
|
Charters, 1966-1968
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
9
|
Conventions, 1980-1986
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
10
|
Financial reports, 1980-1986
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
11
|
History, 1972-1981
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
12
|
Inspection reports, 1982-1983
|
|
|
Subseries: Local barracks
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
1
|
Milwaukee Barracks 580, Scrapbook, 1963-1964
|
|
|
Waupaca/King Barracks 2335
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
2
|
Ledger, 1966-1977
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
3
|
Minutes, 1966-1975
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
4
|
Membership reports, 1983-1986
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
5
|
President's reports, 1980-1985
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
6
|
Rosters, 1982-1986
|
|
|
Subseries: Scrapbooks
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
1
|
1973-1974
|
|
|
Box
5
Folder
1
|
1982-1983
|
|
|
Box
6
Folder
1
|
1982-1983
|
|
|
Series: Photographs
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
1-6
|
Conventions [21] , 1960-1965
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
7
|
Midwinter conference [3] , 1962
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
8-9
|
Groups [10] , undated
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
10-11
|
Individuals [8] , undated
|
|
|
Subseries: Local Barracks
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
12
|
Milwaukee Barracks 580 [2] , 1961
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
13
|
La Crosse Barracks 1650 [2] , undated
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
14
|
Manitowoc Barracks 2565 [2] , 1961
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
15
|
Chippewa Falls Barracks 2905 [1] , 1962
|
|
|
Box
7
Folder
16
|
Ladysmith Barracks 2925 [1] , undated
|
|
Appendix I: Wisconsin Veterans of World War I Barracks by Number
|
No.
|
Location
|
Incorporated
|
| 580 |
Milwaukee |
June 1956 |
| 1199 |
Green Bay |
June 1959 |
| 1347 |
Merrill |
November 1959 |
| 1354 |
Fond du Lac |
June 1958 |
| 1472 |
Oshkosh |
April 1959 |
| 1650 |
La Crosse |
December 1958 |
| 1687 |
Platteville |
January 1959 |
| 1782 |
Stevens Point |
April 1959 |
| 1797 |
Spooner |
March 1959 |
| 1985 |
Milwaukee |
October 1959 |
| 2054 |
Wood |
January 1960 |
| 2086 |
Madison |
April 1960 |
| 2091 |
Sheboygan |
April 1960 |
| 2099 |
Fort Atkinson |
May 1960 |
| 2162 |
Hartland |
May 1960 |
| 2164 |
Burlington |
October 1965 |
| 2165 |
Saukville |
May 1960 |
| 2179 |
Shawano |
November 1960 |
| 2205 |
Chilton |
July 1960 |
| 2214 |
Columbus |
June 1960 |
| 2231 |
Milwaukee |
December 1961 |
| 2314 |
Janesville |
December 1960 |
| 2315 |
Monroe |
December 1960 |
| 2316 |
Rhinelander |
December 1960 |
| 2317 |
Antigo |
December 1960 |
| 2318 |
Neenah |
January 1962 |
| 2319 |
Marshfield |
December 1960 |
| 2320 |
Wisconsin Rapids |
December 1960 |
| 2321 |
Wausau |
December 1960 |
| 2335 |
Waupaca |
January 1962 |
| 2336 |
Appleton |
June 1961 |
| 2424 |
Wausaukee |
June 1961 |
| 2425 |
Waukesha |
May 1961 |
| 2449 |
Beaver Dam |
June 1961 |
| 2498 |
Milwaukee |
March 1962 |
| 2499 |
Three Lakes |
May 1961 |
| 2501 |
Waupun |
May 1961 |
| 2505 |
Eagle River |
March 1961 |
| 2517 |
Menasha |
December 1964 |
| 2522 |
Algoma |
June 1961 |
| 2523 |
Boscobel |
May 1962 |
| 2530 |
Wauwatosa |
December 1965 |
| 2546 |
Hartford |
March 1962 |
| 2564 |
Beloit |
June 1966 |
| 2565 |
Manitowoc |
July 1961 |
| 2575 |
Campbellsport |
June 1961 |
| 2576 |
Wautoma |
July 1961 |
| 2582 |
Kewaskum |
May 1961 |
| 2583 |
Juneau |
October 1965 |
| 2584 |
Cascade |
May 1961 |
| 2585 |
New London |
May 1964 |
| 2617 |
West Bend |
January 1962 |
| 2618 |
Racine |
December 1961 |
| 2635 |
Berlin |
August 1961 |
| 2647 |
Plymouth |
June 1962 |
| 2648 |
Mineral Point |
November 1961 |
| 2729 |
Menomonie |
April 1962 |
| 2782 |
Prentice |
June 1962 |
| 2796 |
Stoughton |
March 1962 |
| 2821 |
New Richmond |
September 1962 |
| 2827 |
Tigerton |
November 1962 |
| 2848 |
Oconto Falls |
March 1962 |
| 2849 |
Eau Claire |
June 1962 |
| 2857 |
Mosinee |
February 1964 |
| 2905 |
Chippewa Falls |
July 1962 |
| 2917 |
Milwaukee |
August 1964 |
| 2925 |
Ladysmith |
January 1963 |
| 2954 |
Luck |
November 1962 |
| 2958 |
Ashland |
November 1962 |
| 3017 |
Loyal |
October 1962 |
| 3053 |
Watertown |
Februray 1965 |
| 3078 |
Barron |
April 1963 |
| 3087 |
Reedsburg |
March 1963 |
| 3101 |
Superior |
May 1963 |
| 3114 |
Portage |
August 1963 |
| 3119 |
Adams-Friendship |
January 1964 |
| 3126 |
Abbotsford |
May 1963 |
| 3127 |
Sauk City |
May 1964 |
| 3133 |
Marinette |
January 1964 |
| 3135 |
Ellsworth |
February 1964 |
| 3158 |
Sturgeon Bay |
November 1963 |
| 3230 |
Durand |
May 1963 |
| 3240 |
Kewaunee |
July 1965 |
| 3241 |
Delevan |
July 1963 |
| 3466 |
Medford |
May 1967 |
| 3486 |
Cudahy |
April 1968 |
| 3487 |
Black River Falls |
January 1969 |
| 3488 |
Tomah |
May 1968 |
| 3499 |
Spooner |
December 1968 |
Appendix II: Wisconsin Veterans of World War I Barracks by City
|
Location
|
Post No.
|
| Abbotsford |
3126 |
| Adams-Friendship |
3119 |
| Algoma |
2522 |
| Antigo |
2317 |
| Appleton |
2336 |
| Ashland |
2958 |
| Barron |
3078 |
| Beaver Dam |
2449 |
| Beloit |
2564 |
| Berlin |
2635 |
| Black River Falls |
3487 |
| Boscobel |
2523 |
| Burlington |
2164 |
| Campbellsport |
2575 |
| Cascade |
2584 |
| Chilton |
2205 |
| Chippewa Falls |
2905 |
| Columbus |
2214 |
| Cudahy |
3486 |
| Delevan |
3241 |
| Durand |
3230 |
| Eagle River |
2505 |
| Eau Claire |
2849 |
| Ellsworth |
3135 |
| Fond du Lac |
1354 |
| Fort Atkinson |
2099 |
| Green Bay |
1199 |
| Hartford |
2546 |
| Hartland |
2162 |
| Janesville |
2314 |
| Juneau |
2583 |
| Kewaskum |
2582 |
| Kewaunee |
3240 |
| La Crosse |
1650 |
| Ladysmith |
2925 |
| Loyal |
3017 |
| Luck |
2954 |
| Madison |
2086 |
| Manitowoc |
2565 |
| Marinette |
3133 |
| Marshfield |
2319 |
| Medford |
3466 |
| Menasha |
2517 |
| Menomonie |
2729 |
| Merrill |
1347 |
| Milwaukee |
580, 1985, 2231, 2498, 2917 |
| Mineral Point |
2648 |
| Monroe |
2315 |
| Mosinee |
2857 |
| Neenah |
2318 |
| New London |
2585 |
| New Richmond |
2821 |
| Oconto Falls |
2848 |
| Oshkosh |
1472 |
| Platteville |
1687 |
| Plymouth |
2647 |
| Portage |
3114 |
| Prentice |
2782 |
| Racine |
2618 |
| Reedsburg |
3087 |
| Rhinelander |
2316 |
| Sauk City |
3127 |
| Saukville |
2165 |
| Shawano |
2179 |
| Sheboygan |
2091 |
| Spooner |
1797, 3499 |
| Stevens Point |
1782 |
| Stoughton |
2796 |
| Sturgeon Bay |
3158 |
| Superior |
3101 |
| Three Lakes |
2499 |
| Tigerton |
2827 |
| Tomah |
3488 |
| Watertown |
3053 |
| Waukesha |
2425 |
| Waupaca |
2335 |
| Waupun |
2501 |
| Wausau |
2321 |
| Wausaukee |
2424 |
| Wautoma |
2576 |
| Wauwatosa |
2530 |
| West Bend |
2617 |
| Wisconsin Rapids |
2320 |
Appendix III: Wisconsin Veterans of World War I Barracks by County
- 580
- 1985
- 2231
- 2498
- 2530
- 2917
- 3486
|
