The collection contains minutes, reports, correspondence, photographs and news clippings pertaining to the organization, administration and activities of the Auxiliary and the Post's financial records. Originally the collection was bound in loose-leaf folders, and this original organization has been retained. The collection is arranged in four series: Minutes, History and Activities, Scrapbooks and Post Financial Records.
The MINUTES, 1935-1939, 1947-1997, either typewritten or handwritten, contain administrative and financial information, as well as membership lists of the Auxiliary. In addition to the regular meeting minutes, this collection contains minutes from the Past Presidents Parley meetings from 1947-1951 and from its reorganization in 1963 through 1972. The Past Presidents Parley organized the Gold Star Mothers banquet, assisted in the membership drives, assisted needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas, sewed for the veterans hospital and gave money to the veterans Christmas gift shop.
The material contained in HISTORY AND ACTIVITIES, 1922-1965, 1983-1987, varies considerably in content. As nearly every volume included a history of the Post, there is much duplication, but all material was retained in order to preserve the continuity of the series. Membership and officer lists of the Auxiliary are found, as well as many photos. Also included are the reports of various Auxiliary committees such as child welfare, gold star women, civilian defense, rehabilitation and poppy drive. Such volumes contain a subject index. After 1955 the reports occur annually and are more regular in form.
The SCRAPBOOKS, 1923-1936, 1943-1945, 1965-1966, 1977-1979, 1982, undated consist of those compiled by the Auxiliary. One early scrapbook contains publications, some correspondence, news clippings, and information on the activities of the Post. Volumes entitled “In Memoriam” and “Husbands, Brothers and Sons in War” include photographs and news clippings largely about servicemen in World War II. Another scrapbook contains photographs and news clippings pertaining to the Post's 25th Anniversary. This collection also includes Publicity books (1965-1966, 1977-1979, 1982, undated) which contain news clippings [photocopied] about the Auxiliary taken from local newspapers and prayer books put together by the Auxiliary and the Junior Auxiliary (n.d.).
The FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1925-1928, document the raising of funds for the building of a Legion Hall through bond sales. Included are two account books, one being a voucher register that contains a record of all transactions made for building construction. In addition, the financial records include bond subscriber lists and copies of mortgage bonds. Of particular interest is a bank statement included with the voucher register from the First National Bank of River Falls with an illustration of the falls on the Kinnickinnic River in 1927.
