Summary Information
Harry E. Ransom Scrapbook
1881-1942
Local History Manuscript Collection 104
2.0 cubic ft. (4 boxes)
Milwaukee Public Library (Map)
This collection consists of one large scrapbook created
by Milwaukee native Harry E. Ransom, focused on his involvement with and activities
of the American Legion.
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English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0104 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Milwaukee native Harry E. Ransom (1888-1942) was a Lt. Colonel in the Army Infantry
Reserve and a National Commander of the American Legion’s 40 and 8 Society. In 1905,
he joined the National Guard and in 1910 he joined the Army. He joined the Legion in
1919 was very active holding many positions within the organization nationally and
in his home state of Wisconsin. His funeral was organized by the American Legion
Voiture 85, Milwaukee Post 1.
The 40 and 8 Society was founded in 1920 by American veterans returning from France.
It is an honor society for American veterans and service persons focused on charity
work. Members are added by invitation only. Originally it was part of the American
Legion but in 1960 split off to become its own organization.
Scope and Content Note
This scrapbook is titled on the front cover “The Glory Road, Harry E. Ransom, Chef De
Chemin De Fer 1937”. This collection contains photographs, correspondence, ephemera,
publications, newspaper and magazine clippings. The earliest materials (Box 3,
Folders 1-16) are autobiographical about Ransom’s early life including his
childhood, his family and the beginning of his military career. It includes early
photographs of family members and friends. The remainder focuses on his later
military career and his work with the American Legion’s 40 and 8 Society. It also
includes just general information or events involving the Society.
Scrapbook has been deconstructed due to condition. Page contents are mostly loose in
folders and each folder has been assigned page numbers in order of their original
arrangement. The original arrangement appears to be roughly chronological by
date.
Arrangement of the Materials
Folders are arranged by box size required and then chronologically by page number
within each box.
Preferred Citation
Ransom, Harry E., Scrapbook, 1881-1942 Collection 104. Local History Manuscript
Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Related Material in the Milwaukee Public Library
The American Legion : an official history, 1919-1989
The Wisconsin American Legion : a history 1919-1992
A history of the American Legion
The American Legion story
Administrative/Restriction Information
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.
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).
No acquisition information is available at this time. Materials were accessioned
as Local History Manuscripts.
Processed by Casey Lapworth, Processing Archivist, 2022.
Contents List
|
Box
4
Folder
1
|
Cover, undated
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
1
|
Loose Materials, 1927-1942, undated
|
|
|
Pages
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
2-16
|
1-15 (Ransom’s Early Life), 1881-1923,
undated
|
|
|
Box
3
Folder
17-25
|
16-18, 49-50, 56-57, 64-65, 73-74, 83-86, 97-98,
1926-1937, undated
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
1-40
|
19-35, 38-40, 45—46, 51-55, 58-72, 75-82, 87-96, 101-112,
1917-1937, undated
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
1-47
|
113-120, 124-127,130-133, 138-139, 142-143, 164-173, 178-183,
186-193, 196-197, 202-203, 210-213, 222-225, 230-233, 240-245, 248-249,
262-263, 266-271, 274-285, 288-291, 296-301, 308-309,
1919-1937, undated
|
|
|
Box
4
Folder
2-53
|
36-37, 41-44, 47-48, 99-100, 120-123, 128-129, 134-137, 140-141,
144-163, 174-177, 184-185, 194-195, 198-201, 204-209, 214-221, 226-229,
234-239, 246-247, 250-261, 264-265, 272-273, 280-283, 286-287, 292-295,
302-307, 1936-1938, undated
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