Organized efforts in Madison, Wisconsin to aid the Russian war effort during World War II date to December, 1941, when a small group of women volunteered to knit articles of military and civilian clothing. Interest in humanitarian aid for the Soviet Union increased when a representative of the Russian War Relief, Inc., the national organization devoted to that purpose, visited Madison, in January 1942, and in March a Madison chapter was organized with Dr. Helen C. White as chairman and Elizabeth Link as executive director. Because of her numerous responsibilities Dr. White functioned chiefly in a figurehead capacity, and Mrs. Link became its most prominent member. In 1943 Dr. White formally resigned and was replaced by Judge John D. Wickham.
In 1943 a Wisconsin RWR Committee was formed. There is also reference in the records to a Dane County organization, but its relation with the Madison committee is unclear.
The Madison committee devoted itself to fundraising efforts such as concerts and cookbook sales, to solicitations of clothing and other in-kind contributions, and to publicity and public education. Although the national organization continued after the end of the war under the name American Society of Russian Relief, both the Madison and the Wisconsin RWR committees closed their offices in April, 1946.
