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

25. District 1, 1943-1945 (W.C. Fraser & Sam W. Reynolds, Chairmen)
26. District 2, 1943-1945 (Reuben A. Johnson, Chairman)
27. District 3, 1943-1945 (John T. Bressler, Jr. & A.D. Raun, Chairmen)
28. District 4, 1943-1945 (John F. LeRoy, Chairman)
29. District 5, 1943-1945 (Donald T. Swaim & Judge I.J. Nisley, Chairmen)
30. District 6, 1943-1945 (Harold A. Prince & H.P. Zieg, Chairmen)
31. District 7, 1943-1945 (Marion A. Shaw & E.S. Schiefelbein, Chairmen)
32. 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

6. Adams County, District 10
7. Antelope County, District 2
8. Arthur County, District 5
9. Banner County, District 4
10. Blaine County, District 6
11. Boone County, District 2
12. Box Butte County, District 4
13. Boyd County, District 2
14. Brown County, District 8
15. Buffalo County, District 6
16. Burt County, District 3
17. Butler County, District 7
18. Cass County, District 1
19. Cedar County, District 3
20. Chase County, District 9
21. Cherry County, District 8
22. Cheyenne County, District 4
23. Clay County, District 10
24. Colfax County, District 7
25. Cuming County, District 3
26. Custer County, District 6
27. Dakota County, District 3
28. Dawes County, District 8
29. Dawson County, District 5
30. Deuel County, District 4
31. Dixon County, District 3
32. Dodge County, District 7
33. Douglas County, District 1
34. Franklin County, District 10
35. Dundy County, District 9
36. Filmore County, District 11
37. Frontier County, District 9
38. 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

27. Adams County – Howard County, 1943
28. Jefferson County – York County, 1943
29. Adams County – Howard County, 1944
30. 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

3. Accounts with National War Fund, 1944-1945
4. County ledger sheets, 1943-1946
5. General ledger sheets, 1943-1946
6. Cash receipts and disbursements ledger sheets, 1943-1946 (see oversize)
7. Accounts paid, 1943
8. Accounts paid, 1943
9. Accounts paid, 1943
10. Accounts paid, 1943
11. Accounts paid, 1943
12. Accounts paid, 1943
13. Accounts paid, 1944
14. Accounts paid, 1944
15. Accounts paid, 1945
16. Accounts paid, 1945
17. Accounts paid, 1945
18. Accounts paid, 1945
19. Accounts paid, 1946
20. Accounts paid and misc., 1947
21. 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

9. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943
10. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943
11. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943
12. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943-1944
13. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
14. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
15. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
16. Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
17. 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

9. National War Fund memoranda, 1943
10. National War Fund memoranda, 1943
11. National War Fund memoranda, 1943
12. National War Fund memoranda, 1944
13. National War Fund memoranda, 1944
14. 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

3. 1943, v. 1
4. 1943, v. 2
5. 1943, v. 3
6. 1943-1944
7. 1944
8. Adams County, 1944
9. Antelope County, 1944
10. Arthur County, 1944
11. Banner County, 1944
12. Blaine County, 1944
13. Boone County, 1944
14. Box Butte County, 1944
15. Boyd County, 1944
16. Brown County, 1944
17. Buffalo County, 1944
18. Burt County, 1944
19. Butler County, 1944
20. Cass County, 1944
21. Cedar County, 1944
22. Chase County, 1944
23. Cherry County, 1944
24. Cheyenne County, 1944
25. Clay County, 1944
26. Colfax County, 1944
27. Cuming County, 1944
28. Custer County, 1944
29. Dakota County, 1944
30. Dawes County, 1944
31. Dawson County, 1944
32. Deuel County, 1944
33. Dixon County, 1944
34. Dodge County, 1944
35. Douglas County, 1944
36. Dundy County, 1944
37. Fillmore County, 1944
38. Franklin County, 1944
39. Frontier County, 1944
40. Furnas County, 1944
41. Gage County, 1944
42. Garden County, 1944
43. Garfield County, 1944
44. Gosper County, 1944
45. Grant County, 1944
46. Greeley County, 1944
47. Hall County, 1944
48. Hamilton County, 1944
49. Harlan County, 1944
50. Hayes County, 1944
51. Hitchcock County, 1944
52. Holt County, 1944
53. Hooker County, 1944
54. Howard County, 1944
55. Jefferson County, 1944
56. Johnson County, 1944
57. Kearney County, 1944
58. Keith County, 1944
59. Keya Paha County, 1944
60. Kimball County, 1944
61. 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