United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc. [RG3262.AM]

NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG3262.AM:  United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc.

Records:  1943-1947
Nebraska:  War relief organization
Size:  13.5 cu.ft.; 14 boxes

BACKGROUND NOTE

A realization of earlier efforts by Governor Griswold and Thomas C. Woods, the United War Fund of Nebraska was incorporated on May 6, 1943. Its purpose was to represent the National War Fund in obtaining voluntary war relief contributions from Nebraska by uniting twenty-two separate service agencies. The United Service Organization (USO) was the largest participant in this fund-raising venture. The general plan of organization included the selection of not less than ninety-three trustees and of county organizations headed by a county chairman in each county. State officers included Governor Dwight Griswold, Honorary Chairman; Thomas C. Woods, State Chairman; Walter F. Roberts, Executive Director; Fred C. Williams, Assistant Director; Elsworth F. DuTeau, Publicity Director on a part-time basis; and Roberta Roberts, Office Secretary. All of the state staff remained intact during the life of the organization, May 6, 1943 – June 1, 1946.*

*United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc., “History and Final Report,” June 1, 1946.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The United War Fund of Nebraska collection contains some material dating prior to organization and after dissolution, but the bulk of records and correspondence span the years from the organizational meeting on May 6, 1943, to the final report of June 1, 1946. These records provide a comprehensive history of the volunteer efforts of the citizens of Nebraska during World War II. The collection deals particularly with the administration of this massive fund-raising campaign.

The collection is arranged into eight series: (1) General files, 1943-1945; (2) District Correspondence, 1943-1945; (3) County Correspondence, 1943-1945; (4) Treasurers’ Reports, 1943-1945; (5) Financial Records, 1943-1947; (6) Bulletins of other State War Funds, 1943-1946; (7) National War Fund memoranda, 1943-1946; and (8) United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc. campaign publicity, 1943-1945.

The general files in Series 1 contain correspondence, reports, and printed matter which are arranged alphabetically by topic. Series 2 consists of correspondence between district chairmen and the Executive Director, 1943-1945, and is arranged by district. Series 3 contains correspondence between county chairmen and the Executive Director, 1943-1946, and is arranged alphabetically by county. See also box 14 for note cards listing county chairmen and other officers. Series 4 consists of treasurers’ reports to the state headquarters, 1943-1945, and is arranged alphabetically by county.

The financial records of Series 5 consist of bank statements, ledger entries, accounts paid receipts, receipt books, check stubs, cancelled checks and other records covering the years 1943-1947. The remaining three series consist of printed matter received by the state offices. Series 6, Bulletins of other State War Funds, 1943-1946, and Series 7, National War Fund memoranda, 1943-1946, are arranged chronologically. Series 8 consists of extensive clipping files, which provide a record of the publicity of the three annual campaigns, 1943-1945. The series is arranged both chronologically by year and alphabetically by county.

INVENTORY

Series 1 – General files, 1943-1945
Box 1
Folder

  1. History of the United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc.
  2. Advertising Solicitation, 1944
  3. Advertising & Publicity, 1944
  4. Advertising & Publicity, 1945
  5. Agencies committee chairmen in Nebraska, 1944
  6. Agencies included in National War Fund, 1943-1945
  7. Annual meeting, 1944, Apr. 4
  8. Annual meeting, 1945, Apr. 3
  9. Annual report, 1944, Apr. 1 to 1945, Apr. 1
  10. Auditor’s reports (Lester M. Buckley), 1943-1945
  11. Bulletins of the United War Fund of Nebraska, 1945
  12. Bulletins (Weekly) of the United War Fund, 1943
  13. Bulletins of the United War Fund of Nebraska, 1944
  14. Census Publications (Housing and Population)
  15. Church Cooperation, 1944
  16. Church Cooperation, 1945
  17. Community Chest Correspondence (except Omaha and Lincoln), 1943-1945
  18. Community Chest Correspondence, 1945
  19. Omaha Community Chest Correspondence, 1943
  20. Omaha Community Chest Correspondence, 1944-1945
  21. Lincoln Community Chest Correspondence, 1943-1945
  22. Correspondence, 1943, July-Aug.
  23. Correspondence, 1943, Sept.-Oct.
  24. Correspondence with other state war funds, 1943
  25. Correspondence with other state war funds, 1944
  26. Correspondence with other state war funds, 1945

Box 2
Folder

  1. County Chairmen, 1943
  2. County Chairmen, 1944
  3. County Chairmen, 1944
  4. County Chairmen, 1945
  5. County Chairmen, 1945
  6. County organization for United War Fund, 1945
  7. District chairmen (General File), 1943-1945
  8. Elsworth F. DuTeau (State publicity director), 1943
  9. Elsworth F. DuTeau (State publicity director), 1944
  10. Endorsements and proclamations, 1943-1945
  11. Executive committee, 1943-1945
  12. Films (motion pictures), 1944
  13. Films (motion pictures), 1945
  14. Income tax, 1943-1945
  15. Financial reports, 1943-1945
  16. Labor (A.F. of L. and CIO), 1943-1944
  17. Labor (A.F. of L. and CIO), 1945
  18. Trustees and Executive Committee Meeting, 1943, June 18
  19. Publicity Handbook – Labor League for Human Rights
  20. Literature & Supplies, 1943-1944
  21. Literature & Supplies, 1945
  22. Martin Bomber Plant & Mead Ordnance Plant, 1943
  23. Martin Bomber Plant & Mead Ordnance Plant, 1944
  24. Memoranda of agreement
  25. National credits, 1943
  26. National credits, 1944-1945
  27. National headquarters correspondence, 1943

Box 3
Folder

  1. National headquarters correspondence, 1943
  2. National headquarters correspondence, 1944
  3. National headquarters correspondence, 1945
  4. National Hospital Service, 1943
  5. National War Fund, board of directors, 1943, 1945
  6. National War Fund Bulletins (Special Services), 1943
  7. National War Fund Bulletins (Special Services), 1944, pt. 1
  8. National War Fund Bulletins (Special Services), 1944, pt. 2
  9. National War Fund Bulletins (Special Services), 1945, pt. 1
  10. National War Fund Bulletins (Special Services), 1945, pt. 2
  11. National War Fund conference, 1943, May 24-28
  12. National War Fund conference, 1944, Feb. 7-11
  13. National War Fund conference, 1945, Jan. 29-Feb. 2
  14. Newspapers, 1943
  15. Newspapers (correspondence, lists, etc.), 1944
  16. Newspapers, 1945
  17. Omaha-Lincoln correspondence, 1943
  18. Pre-organizational correspondence, 1943
  19. Outdoor advertising (companies), 1944
  20. Outdoor advertising, 1945
  21. Press releases (state), 1943
  22. Press releases (state), 1944
  23. Publicity campaign, 1945 (All Directives, Bulletins, Press Releases, & Material Released Regarding Publicity Campaign)
  24. Publicity chairmen, 1943
  25. Publicity chairmen, 1944
  26. Publicity chairmen, 1945
  27. Publicity material, 1943
  28. Publicity reports from counties, 1943
  29. Quotas (county, state, and national) and Quota Committee, 1943
  30. Quota remittances to National War Fund, 1943-1945
  31. Radio, 1943

Box 4
Folder

  1. Radio, 1944
  2. Radio, 1945
  3. Red Cross, 1944-1945
  4. Speeches, 1943
  5. Speeches, 1944
  6. Speaking engagements and tours, 1943-1944
  7. Speaking engagements and tours, 1944
  8. Speaking engagements and tours (Edward Serle and Adele Longmire), 1945
  9. Speaking engagements and tours (Paula Bane & Miscellaneous), 1945
  10. State office bulletins of information, 1943
  11. State tour (stories, schedules, etc.), 1944
  12. Treasurer’s reports to National War Fund (from state office), 1943-1945
  13. Trustees, 1943-1945
  14. United War Fund Treasurers (answers to Mr. R.E. Campbell’s letter)
  15. United War Fund Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, & Surety Bond
  16. Victory speakers, 1943
  17. Victory speakers, 1945
  18. Thomas C. Woods, state chairman, 1943-1945
  19. Miscellaneous, 1944
  20. Miscellaneous, 1943-1945
  21. Procedures, manuals, publicity aids, etc.
  22. Procedures, manuals, publicity aids, etc.
  23. Publicity kit
  24. National War Fund radio kit

Series 2 – District Correspondence, 1943-1945

  1. District 1, 1943-1945 (W.C. Fraser & Sam W. Reynolds, Chairmen)
  2. District 2, 1943-1945 (Reuben A. Johnson, Chairman)
  3. District 3, 1943-1945 (John T. Bressler, Jr. & A.D. Raun, Chairmen)
  4. District 4, 1943-1945 (John F. LeRoy, Chairman)
  5. District 5, 1943-1945 (Donald T. Swaim & Judge I.J. Nisley, Chairmen)
  6. District 6, 1943-1945 (Harold A. Prince & H.P. Zieg, Chairmen)
  7. District 7, 1943-1945 (Marion A. Shaw & E.S. Schiefelbein, Chairmen)
  8. District 8, 1943-1945 (Ralph A. Baker, Chairman)

Box 5
Folder

  1. District 9, 1943-1945 (Ray C. Murphy, Chairman)
  2. District 10, 1943-1945 (L.T. Waterman, Chairman)
  3. District 11, 1943-1945 (F.J. Kobes, Chairman)
  4. District 12, 1943-1945 (Fay Wood, Chairman)
  5. District 13, 1943-1945 (Joseph C. Reavis, Chairman)

Series 3 – County Correspondence, 1943-1945

  1. Adams County, District 10
  2. Antelope County, District 2
  3. Arthur County, District 5
  4. Banner County, District 4
  5. Blaine County, District 6
  6. Boone County, District 2
  7. Box Butte County, District 4
  8. Boyd County, District 2
  9. Brown County, District 8
  10. Buffalo County, District 6
  11. Burt County, District 3
  12. Butler County, District 7
  13. Cass County, District 1
  14. Cedar County, District 3
  15. Chase County, District 9
  16. Cherry County, District 8
  17. Cheyenne County, District 4
  18. Clay County, District 10
  19. Colfax County, District 7
  20. Cuming County, District 3
  21. Custer County, District 6
  22. Dakota County, District 3
  23. Dawes County, District 8
  24. Dawson County, District 5
  25. Deuel County, District 4
  26. Dixon County, District 3
  27. Dodge County, District 7
  28. Douglas County, District 1
  29. Franklin County, District 10
  30. Dundy County, District 9
  31. Filmore County, District 11
  32. Frontier County, District 9
  33. Furnas County, District 9

Box 6
Folder

  1. Gage County, District 11
  2. Garden County, District 4
  3. Garfield County, District 6
  4. Gosper County, District 9
  5. Grant County, District 4
  6. Greeley County, District 6
  7. Hamilton County, District 6
  8. Hall County, District 6
  9. Harlan County, District 10
  10. Hayes County, District 9
  11. Hitchcock County, District 9
  12. Holt County, District 2
  13. Hooker County, District 5
  14. Howard County, District 6
  15. Jefferson County, District 11
  16. Johnson County, District 13
  17. Kearney County, District 10
  18. Keith County, District 5
  19. Keya Paha County, District 8
  20. Kimball County, District 4
  21. Knox County, District 2
  22. Lancaster County, District 12
  23. Lincoln County, District 5
  24. Logan County, District 5
  25. Loup County, District 6
  26. Madison County, District 2
  27. McPherson County, District 5
  28. Merrick County, District 6
  29. Morrill County, District 4
  30. Nemaha County, District 13
  31. Nuckolls County, District 10
  32. Otoe County, District 12
  33. Pawnee County, District 13

Box 7
Folder

  1. Perkins County, District 5
  2. Phelps County, District 10
  3. Pierce County, District 2
  4. Platte County, District 2
  5. Polk County, District 7
  6. Red Willow County, District 9
  7. Richardson County, District 13
  8. Rock County, District 8
  9. Saline County, District 11
  10. Sarpy County, District 1
  11. Saunders County, District 7
  12. Scotts Bluff County, District 4
  13. Seward County, District 12
  14. Sheridan County, District 8
  15. Sherman County, District 6
  16. Sioux County, District 8
  17. Stanton County, District 2
  18. Thomas County, District 5
  19. Thurston County, District 3
  20. Thayer County, District 11
  21. Valley County, District 6
  22. Washington County, District 1
  23. Wayne County, District 3
  24. Webster County, District 10
  25. Wheeler County, District 6
  26. York County, District 11

Series 4 – Treasurers’ Reports, 1943-1945

  1. Adams County – Howard County, 1943
  2. Jefferson County – York County, 1943
  3. Adams County – Howard County, 1944
  4. Jefferson County – York County, 1944

Box 8
Folder

  1. Adams County – Howard County, 1945
  2. Jefferson County – York County, 1945

Series 5 – Financial Records, 1943-1947

  1. Accounts with National War Fund, 1944-1945
  2. County ledger sheets, 1943-1946
  3. General ledger sheets, 1943-1946
  4. Cash receipts and disbursements ledger sheets, 1943-1946 (see oversize)
  5. Accounts paid, 1943
  6. Accounts paid, 1943
  7. Accounts paid, 1943
  8. Accounts paid, 1943
  9. Accounts paid, 1943
  10. Accounts paid, 1943
  11. Accounts paid, 1944
  12. Accounts paid, 1944
  13. Accounts paid, 1945
  14. Accounts paid, 1945
  15. Accounts paid, 1945
  16. Accounts paid, 1945
  17. Accounts paid, 1946
  18. Accounts paid and misc., 1947
  19. Pledges, paid

Box 9
Folder

  1. Pledges, unpaid
  2. Bank account books
  3. Check stubs
  4. Check stubs
  5. Cancelled checks
  6. Cancelled checks
  7. Cancelled checks
  8. Cancelled checks

Series 6 – Bulletins of other State War Funds, 1943-1946

  1. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943
  2. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943
  3. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943
  4. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943-1944
  5. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
  6. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
  7. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
  8. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
  9. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944

Box 10
Folder

  1. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944-1945
  2. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
  3. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
  4. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
  5. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
  6. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
  7. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
  8. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1946

Series 7 – National War Fund memoranda, 1943-1946

  1. National War Fund memoranda, 1943
  2. National War Fund memoranda, 1943
  3. National War Fund memoranda, 1943
  4. National War Fund memoranda, 1944
  5. National War Fund memoranda, 1944
  6. National War Fund memoranda, 1945

Box 11
Folder

  1. National War Fund memoranda, 1945
  2. National War Fund memoranda, 1946

Series 8 – United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc. campaign publicity, 1943-1945

  1. 1943, v. 1
  2. 1943, v. 2
  3. 1943, v. 3
  4. 1943-1944
  5. 1944
  6. Adams County, 1944
  7. Antelope County, 1944
  8. Arthur County, 1944
  9. Banner County, 1944
  10. Blaine County, 1944
  11. Boone County, 1944
  12. Box Butte County, 1944
  13. Boyd County, 1944
  14. Brown County, 1944
  15. Buffalo County, 1944
  16. Burt County, 1944
  17. Butler County, 1944
  18. Cass County, 1944
  19. Cedar County, 1944
  20. Chase County, 1944
  21. Cherry County, 1944
  22. Cheyenne County, 1944
  23. Clay County, 1944
  24. Colfax County, 1944
  25. Cuming County, 1944
  26. Custer County, 1944
  27. Dakota County, 1944
  28. Dawes County, 1944
  29. Dawson County, 1944
  30. Deuel County, 1944
  31. Dixon County, 1944
  32. Dodge County, 1944
  33. Douglas County, 1944
  34. Dundy County, 1944
  35. Fillmore County, 1944
  36. Franklin County, 1944
  37. Frontier County, 1944
  38. Furnas County, 1944
  39. Gage County, 1944
  40. Garden County, 1944
  41. Garfield County, 1944
  42. Gosper County, 1944
  43. Grant County, 1944
  44. Greeley County, 1944
  45. Hall County, 1944
  46. Hamilton County, 1944
  47. Harlan County, 1944
  48. Hayes County, 1944
  49. Hitchcock County, 1944
  50. Holt County, 1944
  51. Hooker County, 1944
  52. Howard County, 1944
  53. Jefferson County, 1944
  54. Johnson County, 1944
  55. Kearney County, 1944
  56. Keith County, 1944
  57. Keya Paha County, 1944
  58. Kimball County, 1944
  59. Knox County, 1944

Box 12
Folder

  1. Lancaster County, 1944
  2. Lincoln (City), 1944
  3. Lincoln County, 1944
  4. Logan County, 1944
  5. Loup County, 1944
  6. Madison County, 1944
  7. McPherson County, 1944
  8. Merrick County, 1944
  9. Morrill County, 1944
  10. Nance County, 1944
  11. Nemaha County, 1944
  12. Nuckolls County, 1944
  13. Omaha (City), 1944
  14. Otoe County, 1944
  15. Pawnee County, 1944
  16. Perkins County, 1944
  17. Phelps County, 1944
  18. Pierce County, 1944
  19. Platte County, 1944
  20. Polk County, 1944
  21. Richardson County, 1944
  22. Red Willow County, 1944
  23. Rock County, 1944
  24. Saline County, 1944
  25. Sarpy County, 1944
  26. Saunders County, 1944
  27. Scotts Bluff County, 1944
  28. Seward County, 1944
  29. Sheridan County, 1944
  30. Sherman County, 1944
  31. Sioux County, 1944
  32. Stanton County, 1944
  33. Thayer County, 1944
  34. Thomas County, 1944
  35. Thurston County, 1944
  36. Valley County, 1944
  37. Washington County, 1944
  38. Wayne County, 1944
  39. Webster County, 1944
  40. Wheeler County, 1944
  41. York County, 1944
  42. Miscellaneous, 1944
  43. United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc., 1944
  44. United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, 1944
  45. Adams County, 1945
  46. Antelope County, 1945
  47. Arthur County, 1945
  48. Banner County, 1945
  49. Blaine County, 1945
  50. Boone County, 1945
  51. Box Butte County, 1945
  52. Boyd County, 1945
  53. Brown County, 1945
  54. Buffalo County, 1945
  55. Burt County, 1945
  56. Butler County, 1945
  57. Cass County, 1945
  58. Cedar County, 1945
  59. Chase County, 1945
  60. Cherry County, 1945
  61. Cheyenne County, 1945
  62. Clay County, 1945
  63. Colfax County, 1945

Box 13
Folder

  1. Cuming County, 1945
  2. Custer County, 1945
  3. Dakota County, 1945
  4. Dawes County, 1945
  5. Dawson County, 1945
  6. Deuel County, 1945
  7. Dixon County, 1945
  8. Dodge County, 1945
  9. Douglas County, 1945
  10. Dundy County, 1945
  11. Fillmore County, 1945
  12. Franklin County, 1945
  13. Frontier County, 1945
  14. Furnas County, 1945
  15. Gage County, 1945
  16. Garden County, 1945
  17. Garfield County, 1945
  18. Gosper County, 1945
  19. Grant County, 1945
  20. Greeley County, 1945
  21. Hall County, 1945
  22. Hamilton County, 1945
  23. Harlan County, 1945
  24. Hayes County, 1945
  25. Hitchcock County, 1945
  26. Holt County, 1945
  27. Hooker County, 1945
  28. Howard County, 1945
  29. Jefferson County, 1945
  30. Johnson County, 1945
  31. Kearney County, 1945
  32. Keith County, 1945
  33. Keya Paha County, 1945
  34. Kimball County, 1945
  35. Knox County, 1945
  36. Lancaster County, 1945
  37. Lincoln (City)
  38. Lincoln County, 1945
  39. Logan County, 1945
  40. Loup County, 1945
  41. Madison County, 1945
  42. McPherson County, 1945
  43. Merrick County, 1945
  44. Morrill County, 1945
  45. Nance County, 1945
  46. Nemaha County, 1945
  47. Nuckolls County, 1945
  48. Omaha (City)
  49. Otoe County, 1945
  50. Pawnee County, 1945
  51. Perkins County, 1945
  52. Phelps County, 1945
  53. Pierce County, 1945
  54. Platte County, 1945
  55. Polk County, 1945
  56. Red Willow County, 1945
  57. Richardson County, 1945
  58. Rock County, 1945
  59. Saline County, 1945
  60. Sarpy County, 1945
  61. Saunders County, 1945
  62. Scotts Bluff County, 1945
  63. Seward County, 1945
  64. Sheridan County, 1945
  65. Sherman County, 1945
  66. Sioux County, 1945
  67. Stanton County, 1945
  68. Thayer County, 1945
  69. Thomas County, 1945
  70. Thurston County, 1945
  71. Valley County, 1945
  72. Washington County, 1945
  73. Wayne County, 1945
  74. Webster County, 1945
  75. Wheeler County, 1945
  76. York County, 1945
  77. Miscellaneous, 1945
  78. United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc., 1945
  79. United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, 1945
  80. Eighth War Loan, 1945

Item: National War Fund printing block

Box 14 – County note cards listing chairmen, officers, etc. for each county


Subject headings:

National War Fund, Inc.
United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc.
World War, 1939-1945 — Civilian relief — Nebraska
World War, 1939-1945 — Civilian relief — United States
World War, 1939-1945 — War work


Revised TMM      03-06-2008

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