Title: United Spanish War Veterans, Hugh J. McGrath Camp #4 Records
Inclusive Dates: 1896-1968

Creator:

• United Spanish War Veterans. Dept. of Wisconsin.

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 83

Quantity: 2.4 cubic ft. (5 boxes)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Records from the United Spanish War Veterans, a voluntary organization made up of American military veterans of the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, and the Chinese Relief Expedition. This collection consists of financial records, by-laws, charter papers, membership records, officer reports, memos, discharge papers, pension documents, and dues receipt books.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0083

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The United Spanish War Veterans (USWV) was a voluntary organization made up of American military veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898), the Philippine-American War (1898-1902) and the Chinese Relief Expedition (1900-1901). The USWV was formed when three smaller veterans’ groups – the National Army and Navy Spanish War Veterans, the National Association of Spanish-American War Veterans and the Service Men of the Spanish War – united in April 1904. Later several other groups joined the USWV, including the Legion of Spanish War Veterans in 1906 and the Veteran Army of the Philippines in 1908. Veterans of the Chinese Relief Expedition (commonly known as the Boxer Rebellion) were able to join the USWV in the early 1920s.

Each state formed its own Department, which was further divided into several camps. The Wisconsin Department of the USWV was formed in April 1904, one of the earliest states to do so. The Wisconsin Department had 48 camps, including 6 in Milwaukee County: Charles G. Juneau (Camp #48) in Wauwatosa; Hugh J. McGrath (Camp #4) in Milwaukee; Richard J. Dawson (Camp #5) in Milwaukee; Robley D. Evans (Camp #33) in Milwaukee; and Col. Charles Young (Camp #47) at the Soldier’s Home. The USWV held annual encampments at both the Department and national level. These events included social and memorial events. The national encampment of the USWV was held in Milwaukee four times, in 1905, 1932, 1946, and 1960.

The goals of the USWV included uniting veterans; memorializing those fallen during war; assisting widows, orphans, and other relatives of soldiers; and promoting patriotism among Americans. In order to gain membership in the USWV, individuals were required to be certifiable veterans of the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War or Chinese Relief Expedition. Membership was not passed down to children or relatives; thus, the organization ceased to exist when the final veteran passed away. When the final Philippine-American War veteran died in 1992, the USWV officially ended. (Source: Wisconsin in the Spanish-American War: The United Spanish War Veterans, Wisconsin Veterans Museum.)

This collection consists of materials relating to the administration and membership of Hugh J. McGrath Camp No. 4 in the Department of Wisconsin of the United Spanish War Veterans. Unbound materials include financial records, by-laws, charter papers, membership records, officer reports, memos, discharge papers, pension documents, and dues receipt books. Bound materials include financial records, a book of ceremonies, membership records, member’s military information, minutes, and a book on the Spanish-American war.

The collection is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

United Spanish War Veterans, Hugh J. McGrath Camp #4 Records, 1896-1968, Collection 83. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Archival Collections

• Horace Seaman Wisconsin Infantry Photograph Collection. Milwaukee Historic Photo Collection 16.

• War Information Center Collection. Local History Manuscript Collection 256.

• World War I Military Portraits Collection. Milwaukee Historic Photo Collection 21.

Publications and Other Items

Annual Encampment of the United Spanish War Veterans, Department of Wisconsin [program]

Official Roster of the United Spanish War Veterans, Department of Wisconsin

Proceedings of the ... Department Encampment

Wisconsin Troops in the Spanish American War

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated by Marian Held in November 2011. The materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Inventory by Gayle Ecklund, Archives Technician, 2014. Processed by Bob Jaeger, 2018.

Box   1 Folder   1	Agreement Between U.S.W.V. and the Legion of Spanish War Veterans, 1906
Box   1 Folder   2	Book of Ceremonies, undated
Box   1 Folder   3	By-Laws of Hugh J. McGrath Camp No. 4, Department of Wisconsin U.S.W.V., 1916-1933
Box   1 Folder   4	Detailed Expenditures of Postage, etc. for the Milwaukee County Council, 1950
Box   1 Folder   5	Discharge Papers and Affidavits, 1904-1928
Box   3	Financial Records, ledger, 1948-1968 Physical Description: 1 volume
Box   5	Major Hugh J. McGrath, copper etching plate, undated
Box   1 Folder   6	Marine National Exchange Bank, canceled checks and treasurer’s request for funds, 1949-1950
Box   3	Member Accounts, 1922-1949 Physical Description: 1 volume
Box   2	Members Died and Dropped, 1940-1949 Physical Description: 1 volume
Box   4	Military and U.S.W.V. Membership History, circa 1901-1950 Physical Description: 2 volumes
Box   5	Military and U.S.W.V. Membership History, circa 1908-1956 Physical Description: 1 volume
Box   1 Folder   7	Minutes, Milwaukee County of Camps, Department of Wisconsin U.S.W.V., 1965
Box   1 Folder   8	National Encampment of U.S.W.V., resolutions, 1957-1961
Box   1 Folder   9	National Encampment of U.S.W.V., semi-annual reports of adjutant and quartermaster, 1904-1905
Box   1 Folder   10	Official Roster of the United Spanish War Veterans, Department of Wisconsin, 1949-1950
Box   1 Folder   11	Reception to Our New Elected Dept. Commander George P. Lohmaier, 1950
Box   1 Folder   12	Report of Auditing Committee, Milwaukee County Council, U.S.W.V., Department of Wisconsin, 1949-1951
Box   1 Folder   13	Rosters, 1937-1955
Box   1 Folder   14	Statements of Account with Layton Park State Bank, 1954-1973
Box   1 Folder   15	Subscription Plaque Presented to VA Officials at Wood, Wisconsin, undated
Box   1 Folder   16	U.S.W.V. Camp #4 Flag Ceremony, funerals, undated
Box   1 Folder   17	U.S.W.V. Dues Receipt Books, 1966-1967
Box   1 Folder   18	U.S.W.V. General Orders (bulletins), 1927-1956
Box   1 Folder   19	Veterans Administration, pension documents, 1922-1933
Box   3	War in Cuba: Or The Great Struggle For Freedom by Gonzalo de Quesada and Henry Davenport Northrop, 1896 Physical Description: 1 volume