Title: Ralph M. Immell Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1908-1960

Creator:

• Immell, Ralph M., 1894-1969

Call Number: Mss 667; Micro 1073; Audio 118A; Audio 1124A; Disc 173A; Disc 52A; AC 110; NGA 005; PH 3795

Quantity: 1.0 cubic foot (1 records center carton), 3 reels of microfilm (35 mm), 7 tape recordings, and 7 disc recordings; plus additions of 23 photographs and 2 films

Repository:

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

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

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

Abstract:

Papers of Ralph Immell, a state adjutant general and Wisconsin political leader, including correspondence, speeches and writings, biographical information and clippings, and subject files on his administrative involvement with the Wisconsin National Guard and the 1933 Milk Strike, the Wisconsin Conservation Commission and his leadership in the soil conservation and reforestation programs of the Wisconsin Conservation Department, and his service in World War II. Sound recordings in the collection include radio speeches and spot advertisements from Immell's 1946 gubernatorial campaign and speeches made by Immell, Philip F. La Follette, Jim Dan Hill, and others in support of the 1952 presidential candidacy of Dwight Eisenhower. Correspondents include Charles King, Immell's predecessor as adjutant general.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00667

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Former Adjutant-General and Progressive political leader Ralph Maxwell Immell (pronounced m'l) was born in Blair, Wisconsin, on September 11, 1894. He graduated from the local high school in 1911 and received a two-year teaching certificate from La Crosse State Teachers College in 1915. After teaching in rural schools he enrolled at the University of Wyoming in 1916 and received an A.B. in 1918. While a student at the University he enlisted in the Reserve Officers Training Corps and with the commission of lieutenant served 19 months overseas during World War I.

After his discharge Immell entered law school at the University of Wisconsin and graduated in 1921. Immell's father had been a leader in the Trempealeau County Progressive movement and in 1922 the younger Immell campaigned actively in behalf of Robert M. La Follette Sr. That association was, no doubt, partly responsible for his appointment as secretary to Governor James G. Blaine following a brief employment as assistant to the Dane County district attorney. In 1923 Blaine appointed Immell as state adjutant general. Because of his youth, Immell's appointment was a controversial one. However, despite limited financial appropriations, he was able to build the Wisconsin Guard into a unit with an admirable national reputation.

A man of prodigious energy and administrative abilities, Immell's talents were utilized by subsequent Wisconsin governors of widely divergent political views. During the 1930s he was a close political ally of Progressive Governor Philip La Follette, and Immell assumed responsibility for many areas of public administration traditionally regarded as outside the military sphere. Under La Follette he played a leading role in the bank stabilization program of the early 1930s. In 1931 the governor appointed him to the Conservation Commission, and until his resignation in 1937 Immell played a leading role in its soil conservation and reforestation programs. From 1932 until 1935 he was chairman of the commission and director of the Conservation Department. In 1934 La Follette asked Immell to head the W.P.A. in Wisconsin. During this period Immell's name appeared in the press as frequently as any civilian Wisconsin politician.

The close relationship with the La Follette Progressives continued with Immell's appointment as executive director of the abortive National Progressives of America in 1938. It was also widely rumored in 1938 that Immell was to succeed La Follette as the Progressives' gubernatorial candidate. Eventually, however, his Progressive association won Immell the enmity of La Follette's Republican successor, Julius P. Heil, and by 1940 Immell was left without a unit to command. Determined to serve in the field during World War II he took a demotion from his rank of brigadier general to colonel. However, he retained his rank as adjutant general on leave until 1945. Immell's service in North Africa, Italy, and France was distinguished, and by 1944 his earlier rank had been restored. In 1945 he was promoted to major general. A full description of his World War II service record and his numerous awards and decorations is included in the unofficial 201 file in the Immell Papers.

After his return to the United States, Immell was appointed commanding general of the 84th Infantry Division with headquarters in Madison from 1947 until 1954. Immell also resumed his political career. In 1946 and 1948 he was an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate on a slate of former Progressives on the Republican ticket. In 1952 he was a leading Wisconsin supporter for Dwight Eisenhower. Eventually he returned to his law practice as a partner in the Madison firm Immell, Herro, Buehner, & DeWitt. He also served as president of Television Wisconsin, licensee for WISC-TV.

Immell married Hazel Mary Gray in 1922 and the couple had two children, Robert Blaine and Mary Gray. After Mrs. Immell's death in 1962, Immell married the former Mrs. Joseph C. Dean. He died in Madison on August 28, 1969.

The wide-ranging career of former Adjutant-General Ralph Immell is suggested by the collection which he deposited at the Historical Society, but unfortunately the documentation contained in the collection is not complete on any of these activities. Included are correspondence, memoranda, speeches and writings, biographical information and memorabilia, and subject files on the National Guard, the Wisconsin Conservation Commission, and World War II. Because of its deteriorated physical condition much of the collection is available only on microfilm.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION includes undated biographical sketches, correspondence concerning awards and commendations, a copy of an unofficial Army 201 file, and several clipping scrapbooks. The scrapbooks, which comprise the most complete documentary form in the collection, demonstrate clearly the degree to which Inmell was a major news figure of the 1930s.

The CORRESPONDENCE is arranged chronologically, although there are many gaps. There are, for example, no references to his gubernatorial candidacy or to his advocacy of the Eisenhower presidential campaign in 1952.

SPEECHES AND WRITINGS include a large file of chronologically-arranged speeches and some supporting correspondence and reference material. The collection also includes recordings of several campaign speeches Immell made over the radio in 1946 and 1948. There is also a tape of a speech he made in support of Eisenhower in 1952, as well as those made by Philip La Follette, Jim Dan Hill, and other former Progressives.

The remainder of the collection consists of alphabetically arranged SUBJECT FILES. Because of their miscellaneous and often undated character the majority of these files have not been filmed. Here the researcher may variously find correspondence, memoranda, reports, and miscellaneous background information. Most extensive are the materials on the Wisconsin Conservation Commission, much of which is filed just as it was by Immell. These files do not represent, however, the totality of the files which must have once existed in his capacity as member of the commission and director of the Conservation Department. The National Guard files include miscellaneous material on the National Guard Association, of which Immell was the president for many years, and an extensive report on the guard's involvement in the 1933 Milk Strike.

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL at the end of the collection includes a file of speeches by others such as Albert G. Schmedeman and Herman Ekern.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Ralph M. Immell, Madison, Wisconsin, 1959-1966, with portions from David Adamany, 1977. King correspondence transferred from the State Archives, 1995. Accession Number: M59-169, M60-166, M66-195, M77-150, 1974/137, RDA 64/082-001

Processing Information

Processed and portions prepared for microfilming by Carolyn J. Mattern, 1986.

	Series: Biographical Information and Scrapbooks
Micro 1073	Scrapbooks Note: Filmed without a frame counter.
Reel   1	1933-1939
Reel   1	1935-1937
Reel   1	1938
Reel   1	1939-1941
Reel   1	1939-1942
Reel   1	1943-1954
Mss 667 Box   1 Folder   1	Memorabilia, circa 1918-1945
Micro 1073 Reel   2 Frame   1	Biographical information, 1908-1946
Reel   2 Frame   73	201 file, 1932-1946
Reel   2 Frame   333	Awards and decorations, 1943-1946
Reel   2 Frame   431	Commendations and testimonials, 1924-1954
Disc 52A	Recorded ceremonies marking Immell's retirement from the 84th Infantry Division, August 27, 1954
Micro 1073	Series: Correspondence	⇧
Reel   2 Frame   615	1924-1941
Reel   3 Frame   1	1942-1960
Mss 667 Box   1 Folder   23	Correspondence with General Charles King, 1923-1933 Scope and Content Note: Relating to personal matters and National Guard activities and operations, and two letters to Immell from King's children regarding his death.
	Series: Speeches and Writings	⇧
Micro 1073	Speeches Note: See also Campaign Material.
Reel   3 Frame   807	1928-1933
Reel   3 Frame   679	1933-1936
Reel   3 Frame   896	1937-1957
Reel   3 Frame   1349	Writings, 1927-1934
	Series: Subject Files	⇧
	Campaign material
Mss 667 Box   1 Folder   2	Campaign literature, 1946-1948
Disc 173A/Audio 1124A Disc No.   1 Tape No.   1	Nine campaign spots, 1946 Scope and Content Note: Recorded around the theme “There's a future for Wisconsin/Wisconsin's Man of Action.”
Disc No.   4-5 Tape No.   2	Twenty two-minute campaign spots, 1946
Disc No.   2 Tape No.   1	Campaign speech, June 20, 1946 Scope and Content Note: Concerning Immell's record of accomplishments, his program, and his views on labor.
Disc No.   3 Tape No.   1	Campaign speech, July 8, 1946 Scope and Content Note: Concerning Immell's accomplishments, his program, and his views of the financial condition of state government.
Audio 1118A	Campaign speeches, 1952 Scope and Content Note: Sponsored by the Eisenhower-Nixon Club of Wisconsin concerning the presidential campaign of Dwight Eisenhower.
Tape No.   1-2	Immell, Ralph (2 speeches)
Tape No.   4	Hill, Jim Dan
Tape No.   3	La Follette, Philip F.
Tape No.   5	O'Melia, John
Disc 173A Disc No.   6	Wendt, Francis H.
Mss 667	National Guard
Box   1 Folder   3	National Guard Association, 1927-1934
Box   1 Folder   4	Organized Reserve Corps, 1950
	Wisconsin National Guard
Box   1 Folder   5	General, 1928-1933
Box   1 Folder   6	Milk Strike, 1933-1944
	Wisconsin Conservation Commission
	Original office file
Box   1 Folder   7	Administrative, executive, and special orders
Box   1 Folder   7	Memoranda
Box   1 Folder   7	Monthly statements
Box   1 Folder   7	Commission orders
Box   1 Folder   8	R.B. Goodman file (Commission member)
Box   1 Folder   9	Miscellany
Box   1 Folder   9	Haskell Noyes file (Commission member)
Box   1 Folder   10	Minutes summary, 1931-1933
Box   1 Folder   11	Civilian Conservation Corps, 1931-1938
Box   1 Folder   12	Public works and industrial recovery, 1933
Box   1 Folder   13	Unemployment relief, 1931-1933
Box   1 Folder   14	Press releases, 1932-1938
	Works Progress Administration
Box   1 Folder   15	General, 1933-1938
Box   1 Folder   16	Palmer Lake fire lane, 1936-1938
	World War II
Box   1 Folder   17	General, 1943-1944
Box   1 Folder   18-19	Saar Mines operating report, 1945
	Series: Miscellaneous Material	⇧
Box   1 Folder   20-21	Reference material
Box   1 Folder   22	Speeches by others
	Series: Visual Materials	⇧
	Films
AC 110	General Ralph Immell
NGA 005	Ralph Immell Seeks Governorship of Wisconsin
PH 3795	Photographs Scope and Content Note: Photographs related to the career of Immell, including images with Charles King, from his service in World War I and World War II, and during his gubernatorial campaign.