The records of the Ladies of the 32nd Division Veterans Association are divided into two series, Records and Photographs.
Records (1950-2001) contains materials documenting the history of the organization from its founding through the beginning of the twenty-first century, including a list of charter members. Three historical scrapbooks provide a great deal of information about the group, its functions, and its officers. The first two scrapbooks were photocopied and dismantled due to their advanced state of deterioration. Relevant original materials from them can be found in the scrapbook materials folder. The original third scrapbook, in a much better state of preservation, was kept in the collection. Additional information about the organization's officers, particularly the presidents, can be found in this series including the years of their terms and often the name of their husband, who had to be a 32nd Division veteran. The president's reports and meeting agendas provide information about the aims and activities of the group, which generally consisted of supporting the men's organization and promoting patriotism. Reunion materials, including registers and guestbooks, reveal that the Ladies reunions were always tied to the men's and also give an idea of attendance numbers. Other materials in this series relate to the Wisconsin National Guard and were likely collected and maintained by the Ladies. Two newspaper scrapbooks document the role of the 32nd Division in World War II from basic training in Louisiana through service in the Pacific. Both scrapbooks were photocopied for preservation purposes; the originals are only available through prior arrangement with the reference archivist. A program and letter relate some information about the first annual Wisconsin National Guard military ball, a unique social activity.
Photographs (1953-1998) consist almost entirely of candid shots from over forty years worth of reunions. The reunion photographs show men (likely 32nd Division veterans) and Ladies eating and drinking, socializing, and dancing. There are photographs of the installation of officers, a reunion memorial service, and guest speakers. Some of the photographs are identified, often with first or last names only, but many are unidentified. Many of the photographs came out of the historical scrapbooks mentioned in the Records series; any identifying captions were transferred to the back of the photographs. There are also identified photographs of many prominent organizational leaders who helped produce a Ladies cookbook and bust shots of Ladies presidents. Other photographs relate to the men's organization and include shots of Joe E. Brown, a guest speaker at the 1951 reunion, some division memorials at cemeteries, a member's funeral, and a group trip to the home of General Edwin F. Harding, who led the 32nd Division during part of World War II. Two photos from the military ball show a ceremony in which the new 32nd Infantry Battalion inherited the honors of the 32nd Division.
