Title: Paul B. Clemens Papers and Photographs
Inclusive Dates: 1904-1987

Creator:

• Clemens, Paul B.

Call Number: WVM Mss 985

Quantity: 2.0 linear ft. (2 archives boxes and 2 flat boxes) of papers and 0.2 linear ft. (1 archives box and 3 oversized folders) of photographs.

Repository:

Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Have questions? Contact the Reference Archivist

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)

See the catalog entry for current shelf locations and additions.

Abstract:

Papers and photographs of Paul B. Clemens, an officer in the Wisconsin National Guard whose forty-five years of service spanned both World Wars. The collection provides a look at his military life as well as his civilian life. Military papers include individual letters from Theodore Roosevelt and John Pershing, as well as more extensive correspondence from William Haan, and Charles King. Service records, certificates, and other military records document his time in the National Guard. Scores of letters congratulating Clemens on his retirement as assistant superintendent of Milwaukee schools show the regard in which he was held by personal and professional associates. Other materials include plans and programs for the opening of the Burns-Clemens Building at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, documents pertaining to Clemens's service in local civic organizations, and newspaper clippings about his son, Paul L. Clemens, a Hollywood portrait painter. Photographs include a signed portrait of William Haan and many photos of Clemens through the years.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss00985

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Paul Bernard Clemens was born on September 4, 1882 in Polk County, Wisconsin. He attended local schools in Superior and received a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard in 1901 as a private and quickly climbed the ranks, being promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1906 and Captain in 1910. He served along the Mexican border in 1916 and in Europe during World War I with the 32nd Division. His service in the latter earned him a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel as well as the Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre.

Following the war, Clemens served as executive officer and regimental commander of the 128th Infantry Regiment in the Wisconsin National Guard. In 1929 he was appointed commander of the 64th Infantry Brigade and promoted to Brigadier General. Still in the service at the beginning of World War II, Clemens remained stateside as the Director of Security and Intelligence for the 7th Service Command. He retired as a Major General in November 1946 following forty-five years of service in the Wisconsin National Guard.

As a civilian during that time, Clemens taught and served as principal at Carpenter School in Superior at the beginning of the twentieth century before moving to Milwaukee in 1922. There, he quickly became the assistant superintendent of Milwaukee schools and continued in that position until retiring in 1953. He also served on the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs. Clemens passed away on October 31, 1960 in Superior, Wisconsin.

The papers of the Paul B. Clemens are divided into two series, Papers and Photographs.

Papers (1904-1987) is divided into two subseries: Military and Public Life. These materials were originally stored in two scrapbooks, one for each of the subseries. Due to the deterioration of the scrapbook paper and adhesives used, the scrapbooks were dismantled. The scrapbook covers, both decorative, have been retained in the collection. The military subseries contains scattered documents relating to Clemens' forty-five years of service in the Wisconsin National Guard. Included are letters received from former president Theodore Roosevelt and prominent American generals John Pershing, William Haan, and Charles King. Roosevelt thanked Clemens for sending a photograph, likely of his son's grave in France, and Pershing declined an invitation to an American Legion function. The letters from Haan and King, who were both personally familiar with Clemens, are much more informal and personable. Haan asked for assistance in researching the history of the 32nd Division in World War I and King wrote about the operation and administration of the Wisconsin National Guard in the early 1920s. Personal military papers document Clemens' long and illustrious service in the Wisconsin National Guard including many certificates of promotion. Identification cards, one each from the two World Wars, also attest to his longevity of service. Papers relating to his public life consist mostly of congratulatory cards and letters Clemens received upon his retirement as assistant superintendent of Milwaukee schools in 1953. Written by co-workers, friends, and military personnel, these letters wish Clemens happiness in retirement. Letters, blueprints, and a program relate to the Burns-Clemens Building at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, Wisconsin. Dedicated in 1961 as a “domiciliary-infirmary,” it was named in part after Clemens due to his service on the state Board of Veterans Affairs. Other scattered materials detail other aspects of his life, including service in civic and veterans organizations like the Kiwanis Club and the American Legion. While most newspaper clippings relate to Clemens, some provide information about his son, Paul L. Clemens, a renowned Hollywood portrait painter.

Photographs (1914-1963) contains scattered pictures relating to Clemens' life and career in the military. Included are numerous shots of Clemens in uniform and an autographed photograph of General William Haan. There are also two pictures from Burns-Clemens Hall, several of the paintings of his son Paul L. Clemens, and others of an apparent vacation area called “Shore Acres.”

Acquisition Information

Presented by Richard Kastner, Gravois Mills, Missouri, 2006. Accession Number: Mss 2006.491.

Processing Information

Processed by Russell Horton in 2006.

	Series: Papers
	Subseries: Military
Box   1 Folder   1	Biographical information, [1927-1953]
	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   2	William Haan, 1920-1922, undated
Box   1 Folder   3	Charles King, 1923-1929
Box   1 Folder   4	John Pershing, 1926
Box   1 Folder   5	Theodore Roosevelt, 1921
Box   1 Folder   6	Identification cards, circa 1918, 1943
Box   1 Folder   7-8	Personal service records, 1903-1948
Box   1 Folder   9	Certificates, 1904-1953
Box   5 Folder   5	Oversized, 1906-1948
Box   4 Folder   1	Scrapbook cover, undated
	Subseries: Public Life	⇧
Box   1 Folder   10	Burns-Clemens Hall dedication, 1961, 1987
Box   5 Folder   2	Sketch, undated
Box   1 Folder   11	Civic organizations, 1928-1958
Box   5 Folder   3	Certificates, 1904-1953
Box   1 Folder   12	Condolences and memorials, 1959-1962
Box   1 Folder   13-14	Newspaper clippings, 1916-1959
Box   1 Folder   15-16	Paul L. Clemens (son) paintings, circa 1965
Box   1 Folder   17	Public school teacher/superintendent, [1904-1943]
Box   1 Folder   18	Retirement, 1953
Box   5 Folder   4	Certificates, 1953
Box   2 Folder   1-5	Correspondence, 1953
Box   2 Folder   6	Programs, 1953
Box   5 Folder   5	Scrapbook cover, undated
Box   5 Folder   7	Veterans organizations, 1928-1960
	Series: Photographs	⇧
PhOv   13 Folder   8	Military [2] , 1937-1940
Box   3 Folder   1-3	Paul Clemens [13] , [1918-1943], undated
PhOv   14 Folder   10	Oversized [2] , undated
Box   3 Folder   4	Generals [5] , 1914, 1927
PhOv   14 Folder   11	William Haan (autographed) [1] , 1924
Box   3 Folder   5	Soldiers [4] , undated
	Subseries: Public Life	⇧
Box   3 Folder   6	Burns-Clemens Hall [2] , 1961
Box   3 Folder   7	Civic organizations [2] , 1948
Box   3 Folder   8-9	Family [12] , 1962-1963, undated
PhOv   40 Folder   6	Family [1] , continued
Box   3 Folder   10	Paintings by Paul L. Clemens (son) [4] , undated
Box   3 Folder   11	Shore Acres [5] , 1946