Title: American Legion. Post No. 76: Records
Inclusive Dates: 1919-1976

Creator:

• American Legion. Post No. 76 (Racine, Wis.)

Call Number: Parkside Mss 63; Parkside Micro 15; Micro 1023

Quantity: 2.9 c.f. (6 archives boxes, 1 flat box, 3 volumes) and 2 reels of microfilm (35mm)

Repository:

Housed at the Archives & Area Research Center, Library/Learning Center, University of Wisconsin-Parkside; owned by the 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.

UW-Parkside Library / Parkside Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Records created and compiled by the elected officers of the post, including minutes, membership records, financial records, scrapbooks and histories compiled by post historians, and other papers. They document community service projects, fund raising ventures, and sponsorship of patriotic, social, educational, and athletic activities and events. The records are incomplete.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-pks0063

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Post 76 was organized as an affiliate of the American Legion by Racine, Wisconsin area World War I veterans in the fall of 1919. Members of the William Weiss Post 79, composed exclusively of veterans of the 32nd (Red Arrow) Division, were incorporated into the membership of Post 76 upon its founding.

Promoting Americanism; safeguarding justice, freedom and democracy; and building civic pride and helpfulness were among the Post's purposes. To further these purposes, it sponsored Memorial Day and other patriotic events, purchased burial plots for and participated in the burial of veterans, adopted positions on government actions and political issues, established committees to assist needy veterans and to visit ailing members, and sponsored social events. The Post sponsored plays, speakers, an air show, and a visit to Racine by a Navy submarine; supported Post athletic teams, including the Racine Horlicks, a professional football team; maintained a cabin in the American Legion National Forest; sponsored a drum and bugle corps; established a Post clubhouse and held events for active duty servicemen; and held fund raising events. Later the Post sponsored youth baseball teams, sent teenagers to Badger Boys State and Girls State and purchased books and magazine and newspaper subscriptions for hospitalized members, schools, and libraries.

The Post was active at the district, state, and national levels, hosting the American Legion National Convention in 1941. A prominent Post leader was Vilas H. Whaley who served as state commander from 1923 to 1924; was Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the National Department of the American Legion in 1935; was a member of the Publications Commission of the national Department for 13 years, serving as Vice Chairman in 1943; and was nominated for National commander by the State Convention in 1943.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Post 76 via Robert J. Bohm, Racine, Wisconsin, 1981, and R. L. Jerstad, Racine, Wisconsin, 1984. Accession Number: M81-310, M85-031

Processing Information

Processed by John N. Wright, March 1985.

Box   1 Folder   1	Condensed History of the American Legion
Box   1 Folder   2	History of Post 76, 1919-1923
	Minutes
Box   1 Folder   3-7	1933-1968
Box   2 Folder   1	1969-1974
Box   2 Folder   2	Lists of board members and officers, 1919-1976
	Membership cards
Box   2 Folder   3	1919-1958
Box   2 Folder   4-5	1960-1974
	Membership lists
Box   2 Folder   6-7	1919, 1924-1926, 1942-1961
Box   3 Folder   1	1942-1950, undated
Box   3 Volume   1	Record of loans, 1928-1931
	Membership Rosters
Box   3 Volume   1	1943
Box   3 Volume   2-6	1944-1958
Box   4 Volume   7-10	1959-1967
	Financial records
Box   4 Folder   1	Budgets, 1926-1976
Box   4 Folder   2	Audit reports, 1938-1960
Box   4 Folder   3	Financial correspondence, Camp American Legion, 1956-1974, undated
Box   4 Folder   4	Miscellaneous financial correspondence, 1960-1962, 1970-1972
Box   5 Folder   1	Ledger sheets, 1958-1961
Box   6 Folder   1	Miscellaneous mailings, 1943
Box   6 Folder   2	American Legion Bugler (Post 76 Newsletter), 1943
Box   6 Folder   3	Newspaper clippings--American Legion National Convention, 1941
	Scrapbooks
Box-Folder   6/4-7 Reel   1	1923-1932
Box-Folder   7/1-2 Reel   2	1932-1935
Box-Volume   8/11-12 Reel   2	1940-1943
Box-Volume   9/13 Reel   2	1967-1968