Title: Harold J. Homann Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1915-1964

Creator:

• Homann, Harold J., 1903-1964

Call Number: Mss 393; Micro 798

Quantity: 3.6 c.f. (9 archives boxes) and 3 reels of microfilm (35mm)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Papers of Homann, an Alton and Rockford, Illinois, executive of the Boy Scouts of America documenting his personal life and his youth activities. Included are family correspondence; financial, educational, and medical data; mementos; Boy Scout papers such as memoranda, articles and speeches, and jamboree programs and scripts; files on Youth Day programs Homann staged for the Illinois and Wisconsin state fairs; and many microfilmed scrapbooks of clippings, primarily on scouting. The collection reveals the emphasis on scouting as character building and a means of training youth for future good citizenship.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00393

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Harold Joseph Homann was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 23, 1903, to Walter Lewis and Wilhelmina (Laupp) Homann. After commencement at North Division High School in 1923, young Homann attended Marquette University where he earned both a B.A. and a B.S. He later received an M.A. in Educational Psychology at Columbia University in New York City, and began doctoral work in Character Education at the University of Chicago.

Homann commenced a life-long involvement with the Boy Scouts of America in 1915 when he joined Troop 75 (Milwaukee). In 1928, after completing the 15th National Training School for Scout Executives, he was hired by the Piasa Bird Council (Alton, Illinois) as a Field Executive. Four years later, he became Scout Executive for the Council. In 1942, he resigned to become head of the Blackhawk Area Council (Rockford, Illinois), a position he held until June 15, 1961, when he retired for health reasons.

As well as planning numerous scouting jamborees at the local and national levels, Homann directed special programs for groups both in Illinois and Wisconsin. In 1939, 1940, and 1941, Homann served as director of the Illinois State Fair Youth Day programs. From 1941 through 1943, he fulfilled similar duties for the Wisconsin State Fair.

Homann was also actively involved in the Red Cross, Big Brothers of America, Alton Community Health Council, Rockford Council of Social Agencies, and the Unitarian Church. He was a parole agent while in Alton, handling 376 cases of which only three were “lost.”

On September 1, 1962, Homann was appointed administrator of the Winnebago County Medical Society. During his service, Homann helped organize a successful Salk polio vaccine campaign in 1962-1963.

Harold Homann married Faye G. Rhoades on September 1, 1931. On May 28, 1935, their son, Harold William Homann, was born.

Harold J. Homann died January 9, 1964, at the age of 60.

The Homann papers consist primarily of correspondence and documents relating to his career as a professional Scouter, plus letters and memorabilia pertinent to his family life. These papers are divided into three series: Personal Files, Professional Files and Scrapbooks. Those interested in the history of scouting and education as well as social and cultural history of the mid-twentieth century will find the Professional series particularly useful. Homann's belief that scouting served to build character and prepare youth for a future as citizens and leaders is reflected in his speeches, scripts, and articles.

PERSONAL FILES contain information on Harold J., his wife Faye, and their son Harold W. A few papers, primarily letters, involve Homann's parents and grandmothers and Faye's siblings. Financial, real estate, and medical data, educational records, obituaries, the log of Homann's boat, and other papers are included. Mementos from college and courtship, and various other items will be found in Family Miscellany. Correspondence to Faye after Harold's death (excepting condolence correspondence) is included in Faye Homann Correspondence.

Most of the PROFESSIONAL FILES deal specifically with Homann's scout executive work and his state fair projects. The first portion of the series, designated “Administrative Records,” consists of memoranda, notices, and bulletins. Articles by Homann and extensive files of speeches reflect his emphasis on scouting as a character builder. Materials which could not be readily identified as a speech or an article may be found under Miscellaneous Writings. Speech Materials by Others is a collection of speeches, articles, and quotes used by Homann in developing his own material. Soliloquys were year-end thoughts distributed to friends and members of the Blackhawk Area Council. Materials filed under Clippings primarily concern the Boy Scouts; however, the few clippings that might have been filed in the Personal Files are included here to avoid duplication. Materials such as programs, scripts, instructions, and correspondence related to the numerous jamborees and festivals in which Homann participated are filed by name of event and express Homann's optimism for the future of youth.

SCRAPBOOKS are on microfilm. They document the scouting movement in Milwaukee, in the Alton Area Council, and in the Rockford Area Council, and contain clippings and memorabilia. The books are arranged in a roughly chronological order.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Harold W. Homann, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 1968. Accession Number: M68-390

Processing Information

Processed by Philip C. Boutin, Vivian Laflamme, and Karen Baumann, 1979-1980.

	Series: Personal Files
Box   1 Folder   1	Biographical Materials, 1941-1961, undated
	Community Activities and Service Organizations
Box   1 Folder   2	Non-Boy Scouts, 1915-1962
Box   1 Folder   3	Boy Scouts of America, 1915-1928
Box   9 Folder   3	Ephemera - Troop 75 (Milwaukee)
Box   1 Folder   4	Parole and Probation Cases, 1935-1942
Box   1 Folder   5	Speaking Engagements (excluding BSA), 1943-1957
Box   1 Folder   6	Education: Grade reports, assignments, and essays, 1916-1925
	Family Records
Box   1 Folder   7-8	Financial, 1952-1963
Box   2 Folder   1	Medical, 1955-1962
Box   2 Folder   2	Real Estate, 1946-1950, undated
Box   2 Folder   3	Obituaries, 1954-1964
Box   2 Folder   4	Correspondence, 1923-1964
Box   2 Folder   5	Fay Homann Correspondence, 1964-1965
Box   2 Folder   6	Condolence Correspondence, 1964
Box   2 Folder   7	Signature Book, January 10-11, 1964
	Family Miscellany
Box   2 Folder   8-10	1915-1950
Box   3 Folder   1-3	1951-1964, undated
Box   3 Folder   4	Log of the Fay Anne, 1960-1961
Box   3 Folder   5	Retirement Party Guest Book, 1961
	Series: Professional Files	⇧
	Boy Scouts of America
	Administrative Records
Box   3 Folder   6-9	1928-1959
Box   4 Folder   1-2	1960-1962, undated
Box   4 Folder   3-7	Correspondence, 1928-1964, undated
Box   5 Folder   1	“Pat and Paddle,” 1943-1946
Box   5 Folder   2	Membership and Merit Cards, 1920-1962
Box   5 Folder   3	Homann Articles, 1933-1961
Box   5 Folder   4	Drafts of Homann Articles, undated
Box   5 Folder   5	Clippings, 1915-1964, undated
Box   5 Folder   6	Soliloquys, 1943-1961
	Speeches
Box   5 Folder   7-10	1920-1959
Box   6 Folder   1-2	1960-1961, undated
Box   6 Folder   3	Notes for Speeches, undated
Box   6 Folder   4-6	Speech Material by Others, A-Z, author unknown
Box   6 Folder   7	Miscellaneous Writings, undated
Box   6 Folder   8	National Jamboree, Washington, D.C., 1937
Box   6 Folder   9	National Jamboree Arena Show, Valley Forge, 1950
Box   7 Folder   1-2	National Jamboree, Santa Ana, California, 1953
Box   7 Folder   3	World Jamboree, Bad Ischl, Austria, 1951
Box   7 Folder   4-6	Illinois State Fair Youth Days, 1939-1941
	Wisconsin State Fair Youth Days
Box   7 Folder   7	1941
Box   8 Folder   1	1942
Box   8 Folder   2	1943
Box   8 Folder   3	Chicago American Legion Fourth of July Celebration, 1944
Box   8 Folder   4	Rockford, Illinois, Pageant of Flags Celebration, 1954
Box   8 Folder   5	Winnebago County Medical Society, 1962-1964
Box   9 Folder   1	Nomination Papers for Greater Rockford Man of the Year Award, 1962
Box   9 Folder   2	Awards, 1924-1962
Micro 798	Series: Scrapbooks Note: Available only on microfilm.	⇧
Reel   1 Volume   1	1915-1937 Scope and Content Note: Primarily English essays from school days and materials from the National Jamboree in Washington, D.C., 1937.
Reel   1 Volume   2	1927-1931 Scope and Content Note: Papers from the National Training School for Scout Executives in Ithaca, and clippings from his Scout work in Alton, Illinois.
Reel   1 Volume   3	1930-1934 Scope and Content Note: Clippings from Alton Boy Scout camping.
Reel   1 Volume   4	1934, July-Aug Scope and Content Note: Boy Scout camping in Alton.
Reel   1 Volume   5	1931-1942 Scope and Content Note: Deals primarily with Alton Scouts, 1936-1938, the 1937 tornado in Alton, the Kiwanis drive in 1938, and Homann's departure for Rockford in 1942.
Reel   1 Volume   6	1934-1936 Scope and Content Note: Concerns Alton Scout activities and former Representative Rainey's funeral.
Reel   1 Volume   7	1938-1941 Scope and Content Note: BSA activities in Alton, particularly camping.
Reel   1 Volume   8	1934-1941 Scope and Content Note: BSA camping in Alton.
Reel   2 Volume   9	1939-1942 Scope and Content Note: Camps and Homann's community activities in Alton.
Reel   2 Volume   10	1940-1941 Scope and Content Note: Concerns the March 1940 Alton tornado and some unrelated BSA activities.
Reel   2 Volume   11	1937-1942 Scope and Content Note: BSA activities, 1942 scrap drives, and Homann's announcement of his departure for Rockford.
Reel   2 Volume   12	1932-1953 Scope and Content Note: Deals primarily with camping, 1932-1942, and with departure from Alton.
Reel   2 Volume   13	1942-1945 Scope and Content Note: Concerns the wartime activities of Rockford Boy Scouts.
Reel   2 Volume   14	1943-1947 Scope and Content Note: Primarily concerns 1946-1947 general BSA activities, and includes some poems, personal recollections, and calligraphy.
Reel   2 Volume   15	1945-1950 Scope and Content Note: Concerns Blackhawk area council activities.
Reel   3 Volume   16	1947-1949 Scope and Content Note: BSA minutes and notes; letters of congratulation on Homann's fifth year at Rockford.
Reel   3 Volume   17	1948-1952 Scope and Content Note: BSA activities in Alton, Robert Davidson's death, and BSA camping activities.
Reel   3 Volume   18	1951-1953 Scope and Content Note: Concerns Blackhawk Council activities and camping.
Reel   3 Volume   19	1960, April-July Scope and Content Note: Concerns Northwoods development drive and Blackhawk Council camping.
Reel   3 Volume   20	1960, April-Aug Scope and Content Note: Papers and letters concerning the BSA camp development program.
Reel   3 Volume   21	1961, May-June Scope and Content Note: re: Retirement from Blackhawk Council.