The bulk of the papers cover the period 1932—1960 and document both personal and professional aspects of Von Spach's life. They have been divided into five series: correspondence, subject files, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, and a recorded interview.
The CORRESPONDENCE series constitutes the largest portion of the collection. It is arranged by general subject and thereunder chronologically. Incoming and outgoing letters are filed together; the former predominate. The General Correspondence contains letters from friends as well as business and political associates. It includes a series of letters written in 1932 by Charles A. Mills, then vice commander of the American Legion, regarding Mills' possible appointment by Franklin D. Roosevelt as assistant secretary of the Navy. Another group of letters, 1967-1968, documents Von Spach's attempt as commander of his local American Legion post to clear the record of Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, commander of the United States Pacific Fleet during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. There are also copies of several letters written by Von Spach to political friends in hope of their finding him government employment and two letters from entertainer Jack Benny, April 13, 1938 and May 6, 1939.
The content of the Family Correspondence is generally confined to personal matters, with the exception of a small group of letters written between February and April 1945 which include extensive descriptions of his experiences as an UNRRA field worker in Macedonia. The Political Correspondence primarily focuses on Von Spach's campaign efforts on behalf of Wisconsin Democratic candidates such as State Supreme Court Justice J.D. Wickem (1933), Senator F. Ryan Duffy (1932), and Governor Orland S. Loomis (1942), and Republican Presidential candidate Wendell L. Willkie (1943). Five letters from Willkie, March 11, 1940, October 29, 1943, October 31, 1943, November 4, 1943 and December 4, 1943, are filed here. Also found are a few letters describing his activities as regional director of the Young Democratic Clubs of America during 1935 and 1936, and some press releases. A second segment of that correspondence documents Von Spach's own Democratic primary campaign for the office of secretary of state of Wisconsin in 1934 and includes several candid letters analyzing the reasons for his defeat.
The correspondence regarding Blood Transfusions resulted from his appearance in August of 1939 on the national radio program “We the People,” during which he recounted his recovery from a rare blood disease in 1930 and his subsequent donation of blood to help a victim of the same disease. The Surplus Marketing Administration correspondence describes the implementation of federal food stamp programs in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Toledo from 1940 to 1941. The Greece-Related correspondence consists primarily of letters received from Greek and Greek-American friends, persons met while Von Spach served with UNRRA in Macedonia and toured the United States as a representative of the Greek War Relief Association. They document his continuing interest in Greece, as well as the conditions in Macedonia after his return to the United States in June of 1945. Some of the letters are written in Greek; a few of these have translations attached. There are also a number of letters from British military personnel stationed in Macedonia in 1945.
The SUBJECT FILES elaborate on Von Spach's military career, especially his service during World War I, his employment with UNRRA and the Greek War Relief Association, and his role in the special Flag Day ceremonies held in Fredonia, Wisconsin, in 1960 to honor Bernard J. Cigrand, founder of Flag Day. The journals included in the UNRRA files describe the training program in Maryland in which Von Spach participated prior to his departure for Macedonia in 1944, and his relief activities there. The European Field Personnel Training Information file and the Field Reports provide information similar to that contained in the journals but in an official format. The “Daily News Digest” and the “Daily Press Review,” published by the UNRRA Greek Mission and the Anglo-Greek Information Services, respectively, summarize daily news and comment on matters pertinent to the relief program in Greece. Many issues are missing. The Greek War Relief Association material is divided into three files: General, which includes lists of sponsors, a “digest” of a staff conference held in 1946, and a short history of the organization; Speaking Tour, which includes Von Spach's itinerary, lecture notes, speeches, programs, and publicity; and Association Prepared Speeches.
The MEMORABILIA include membership cards, proclamations, certificates of appreciation, announcements, and programs.
