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
- History of the United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc.
- Advertising Solicitation, 1944
- Advertising & Publicity, 1944
- Advertising & Publicity, 1945
- Agencies committee chairmen in Nebraska, 1944
- Agencies included in National War Fund, 1943-1945
- Annual meeting, 1944, Apr. 4
- Annual meeting, 1945, Apr. 3
- Annual report, 1944, Apr. 1 to 1945, Apr. 1
- Auditor’s reports (Lester M. Buckley), 1943-1945
- Bulletins of the United War Fund of Nebraska, 1945
- Bulletins (Weekly) of the United War Fund, 1943
- Bulletins of the United War Fund of Nebraska, 1944
- Census Publications (Housing and Population)
- Church Cooperation, 1944
- Church Cooperation, 1945
- Community Chest Correspondence (except Omaha and Lincoln), 1943-1945
- Community Chest Correspondence, 1945
- Omaha Community Chest Correspondence, 1943
- Omaha Community Chest Correspondence, 1944-1945
- Lincoln Community Chest Correspondence, 1943-1945
- Correspondence, 1943, July-Aug.
- Correspondence, 1943, Sept.-Oct.
- Correspondence with other state war funds, 1943
- Correspondence with other state war funds, 1944
- Correspondence with other state war funds, 1945
Box 2
Folder
- County Chairmen, 1943
- County Chairmen, 1944
- County Chairmen, 1944
- County Chairmen, 1945
- County Chairmen, 1945
- County organization for United War Fund, 1945
- District chairmen (General File), 1943-1945
- Elsworth F. DuTeau (State publicity director), 1943
- Elsworth F. DuTeau (State publicity director), 1944
- Endorsements and proclamations, 1943-1945
- Executive committee, 1943-1945
- Films (motion pictures), 1944
- Films (motion pictures), 1945
- Income tax, 1943-1945
- Financial reports, 1943-1945
- Labor (A.F. of L. and CIO), 1943-1944
- Labor (A.F. of L. and CIO), 1945
- Trustees and Executive Committee Meeting, 1943, June 18
- Publicity Handbook – Labor League for Human Rights
- Literature & Supplies, 1943-1944
- Literature & Supplies, 1945
- Martin Bomber Plant & Mead Ordnance Plant, 1943
- Martin Bomber Plant & Mead Ordnance Plant, 1944
- Memoranda of agreement
- National credits, 1943
- National credits, 1944-1945
- National headquarters correspondence, 1943
Box 3
Folder
- National headquarters correspondence, 1943
- National headquarters correspondence, 1944
- National headquarters correspondence, 1945
- National Hospital Service, 1943
- National War Fund, board of directors, 1943, 1945
- National War Fund Bulletins (Special Services), 1943
- National War Fund Bulletins (Special Services), 1944, pt. 1
- National War Fund Bulletins (Special Services), 1944, pt. 2
- National War Fund Bulletins (Special Services), 1945, pt. 1
- National War Fund Bulletins (Special Services), 1945, pt. 2
- National War Fund conference, 1943, May 24-28
- National War Fund conference, 1944, Feb. 7-11
- National War Fund conference, 1945, Jan. 29-Feb. 2
- Newspapers, 1943
- Newspapers (correspondence, lists, etc.), 1944
- Newspapers, 1945
- Omaha-Lincoln correspondence, 1943
- Pre-organizational correspondence, 1943
- Outdoor advertising (companies), 1944
- Outdoor advertising, 1945
- Press releases (state), 1943
- Press releases (state), 1944
- Publicity campaign, 1945 (All Directives, Bulletins, Press Releases, & Material Released Regarding Publicity Campaign)
- Publicity chairmen, 1943
- Publicity chairmen, 1944
- Publicity chairmen, 1945
- Publicity material, 1943
- Publicity reports from counties, 1943
- Quotas (county, state, and national) and Quota Committee, 1943
- Quota remittances to National War Fund, 1943-1945
- Radio, 1943
Box 4
Folder
- Radio, 1944
- Radio, 1945
- Red Cross, 1944-1945
- Speeches, 1943
- Speeches, 1944
- Speaking engagements and tours, 1943-1944
- Speaking engagements and tours, 1944
- Speaking engagements and tours (Edward Serle and Adele Longmire), 1945
- Speaking engagements and tours (Paula Bane & Miscellaneous), 1945
- State office bulletins of information, 1943
- State tour (stories, schedules, etc.), 1944
- Treasurer’s reports to National War Fund (from state office), 1943-1945
- Trustees, 1943-1945
- United War Fund Treasurers (answers to Mr. R.E. Campbell’s letter)
- United War Fund Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, & Surety Bond
- Victory speakers, 1943
- Victory speakers, 1945
- Thomas C. Woods, state chairman, 1943-1945
- Miscellaneous, 1944
- Miscellaneous, 1943-1945
- Procedures, manuals, publicity aids, etc.
- Procedures, manuals, publicity aids, etc.
- Publicity kit
- National War Fund radio kit
Series 2 – District Correspondence, 1943-1945
- District 1, 1943-1945 (W.C. Fraser & Sam W. Reynolds, Chairmen)
- District 2, 1943-1945 (Reuben A. Johnson, Chairman)
- District 3, 1943-1945 (John T. Bressler, Jr. & A.D. Raun, Chairmen)
- District 4, 1943-1945 (John F. LeRoy, Chairman)
- District 5, 1943-1945 (Donald T. Swaim & Judge I.J. Nisley, Chairmen)
- District 6, 1943-1945 (Harold A. Prince & H.P. Zieg, Chairmen)
- District 7, 1943-1945 (Marion A. Shaw & E.S. Schiefelbein, Chairmen)
- District 8, 1943-1945 (Ralph A. Baker, Chairman)
Box 5
Folder
- District 9, 1943-1945 (Ray C. Murphy, Chairman)
- District 10, 1943-1945 (L.T. Waterman, Chairman)
- District 11, 1943-1945 (F.J. Kobes, Chairman)
- District 12, 1943-1945 (Fay Wood, Chairman)
- District 13, 1943-1945 (Joseph C. Reavis, Chairman)
Series 3 – County Correspondence, 1943-1945
- Adams County, District 10
- Antelope County, District 2
- Arthur County, District 5
- Banner County, District 4
- Blaine County, District 6
- Boone County, District 2
- Box Butte County, District 4
- Boyd County, District 2
- Brown County, District 8
- Buffalo County, District 6
- Burt County, District 3
- Butler County, District 7
- Cass County, District 1
- Cedar County, District 3
- Chase County, District 9
- Cherry County, District 8
- Cheyenne County, District 4
- Clay County, District 10
- Colfax County, District 7
- Cuming County, District 3
- Custer County, District 6
- Dakota County, District 3
- Dawes County, District 8
- Dawson County, District 5
- Deuel County, District 4
- Dixon County, District 3
- Dodge County, District 7
- Douglas County, District 1
- Franklin County, District 10
- Dundy County, District 9
- Filmore County, District 11
- Frontier County, District 9
- Furnas County, District 9
Box 6
Folder
- Gage County, District 11
- Garden County, District 4
- Garfield County, District 6
- Gosper County, District 9
- Grant County, District 4
- Greeley County, District 6
- Hamilton County, District 6
- Hall County, District 6
- Harlan County, District 10
- Hayes County, District 9
- Hitchcock County, District 9
- Holt County, District 2
- Hooker County, District 5
- Howard County, District 6
- Jefferson County, District 11
- Johnson County, District 13
- Kearney County, District 10
- Keith County, District 5
- Keya Paha County, District 8
- Kimball County, District 4
- Knox County, District 2
- Lancaster County, District 12
- Lincoln County, District 5
- Logan County, District 5
- Loup County, District 6
- Madison County, District 2
- McPherson County, District 5
- Merrick County, District 6
- Morrill County, District 4
- Nemaha County, District 13
- Nuckolls County, District 10
- Otoe County, District 12
- Pawnee County, District 13
Box 7
Folder
- Perkins County, District 5
- Phelps County, District 10
- Pierce County, District 2
- Platte County, District 2
- Polk County, District 7
- Red Willow County, District 9
- Richardson County, District 13
- Rock County, District 8
- Saline County, District 11
- Sarpy County, District 1
- Saunders County, District 7
- Scotts Bluff County, District 4
- Seward County, District 12
- Sheridan County, District 8
- Sherman County, District 6
- Sioux County, District 8
- Stanton County, District 2
- Thomas County, District 5
- Thurston County, District 3
- Thayer County, District 11
- Valley County, District 6
- Washington County, District 1
- Wayne County, District 3
- Webster County, District 10
- Wheeler County, District 6
- York County, District 11
Series 4 – Treasurers’ Reports, 1943-1945
- Adams County – Howard County, 1943
- Jefferson County – York County, 1943
- Adams County – Howard County, 1944
- Jefferson County – York County, 1944
Box 8
Folder
- Adams County – Howard County, 1945
- Jefferson County – York County, 1945
Series 5 – Financial Records, 1943-1947
- Accounts with National War Fund, 1944-1945
- County ledger sheets, 1943-1946
- General ledger sheets, 1943-1946
- Cash receipts and disbursements ledger sheets, 1943-1946 (see oversize)
- Accounts paid, 1943
- Accounts paid, 1943
- Accounts paid, 1943
- Accounts paid, 1943
- Accounts paid, 1943
- Accounts paid, 1943
- Accounts paid, 1944
- Accounts paid, 1944
- Accounts paid, 1945
- Accounts paid, 1945
- Accounts paid, 1945
- Accounts paid, 1945
- Accounts paid, 1946
- Accounts paid and misc., 1947
- Pledges, paid
Box 9
Folder
- Pledges, unpaid
- Bank account books
- Check stubs
- Check stubs
- Cancelled checks
- Cancelled checks
- Cancelled checks
- Cancelled checks
Series 6 – Bulletins of other State War Funds, 1943-1946
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1943-1944
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944
Box 10
Folder
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1944-1945
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1945
- Bulletins from other State War Funds, 1946
Series 7 – National War Fund memoranda, 1943-1946
- National War Fund memoranda, 1943
- National War Fund memoranda, 1943
- National War Fund memoranda, 1943
- National War Fund memoranda, 1944
- National War Fund memoranda, 1944
- National War Fund memoranda, 1945
Box 11
Folder
- National War Fund memoranda, 1945
- National War Fund memoranda, 1946
Series 8 – United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc. campaign publicity, 1943-1945
- 1943, v. 1
- 1943, v. 2
- 1943, v. 3
- 1943-1944
- 1944
- Adams County, 1944
- Antelope County, 1944
- Arthur County, 1944
- Banner County, 1944
- Blaine County, 1944
- Boone County, 1944
- Box Butte County, 1944
- Boyd County, 1944
- Brown County, 1944
- Buffalo County, 1944
- Burt County, 1944
- Butler County, 1944
- Cass County, 1944
- Cedar County, 1944
- Chase County, 1944
- Cherry County, 1944
- Cheyenne County, 1944
- Clay County, 1944
- Colfax County, 1944
- Cuming County, 1944
- Custer County, 1944
- Dakota County, 1944
- Dawes County, 1944
- Dawson County, 1944
- Deuel County, 1944
- Dixon County, 1944
- Dodge County, 1944
- Douglas County, 1944
- Dundy County, 1944
- Fillmore County, 1944
- Franklin County, 1944
- Frontier County, 1944
- Furnas County, 1944
- Gage County, 1944
- Garden County, 1944
- Garfield County, 1944
- Gosper County, 1944
- Grant County, 1944
- Greeley County, 1944
- Hall County, 1944
- Hamilton County, 1944
- Harlan County, 1944
- Hayes County, 1944
- Hitchcock County, 1944
- Holt County, 1944
- Hooker County, 1944
- Howard County, 1944
- Jefferson County, 1944
- Johnson County, 1944
- Kearney County, 1944
- Keith County, 1944
- Keya Paha County, 1944
- Kimball County, 1944
- Knox County, 1944
Box 12
Folder
- Lancaster County, 1944
- Lincoln (City), 1944
- Lincoln County, 1944
- Logan County, 1944
- Loup County, 1944
- Madison County, 1944
- McPherson County, 1944
- Merrick County, 1944
- Morrill County, 1944
- Nance County, 1944
- Nemaha County, 1944
- Nuckolls County, 1944
- Omaha (City), 1944
- Otoe County, 1944
- Pawnee County, 1944
- Perkins County, 1944
- Phelps County, 1944
- Pierce County, 1944
- Platte County, 1944
- Polk County, 1944
- Richardson County, 1944
- Red Willow County, 1944
- Rock County, 1944
- Saline County, 1944
- Sarpy County, 1944
- Saunders County, 1944
- Scotts Bluff County, 1944
- Seward County, 1944
- Sheridan County, 1944
- Sherman County, 1944
- Sioux County, 1944
- Stanton County, 1944
- Thayer County, 1944
- Thomas County, 1944
- Thurston County, 1944
- Valley County, 1944
- Washington County, 1944
- Wayne County, 1944
- Webster County, 1944
- Wheeler County, 1944
- York County, 1944
- Miscellaneous, 1944
- United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc., 1944
- United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, 1944
- Adams County, 1945
- Antelope County, 1945
- Arthur County, 1945
- Banner County, 1945
- Blaine County, 1945
- Boone County, 1945
- Box Butte County, 1945
- Boyd County, 1945
- Brown County, 1945
- Buffalo County, 1945
- Burt County, 1945
- Butler County, 1945
- Cass County, 1945
- Cedar County, 1945
- Chase County, 1945
- Cherry County, 1945
- Cheyenne County, 1945
- Clay County, 1945
- Colfax County, 1945
Box 13
Folder
- Cuming County, 1945
- Custer County, 1945
- Dakota County, 1945
- Dawes County, 1945
- Dawson County, 1945
- Deuel County, 1945
- Dixon County, 1945
- Dodge County, 1945
- Douglas County, 1945
- Dundy County, 1945
- Fillmore County, 1945
- Franklin County, 1945
- Frontier County, 1945
- Furnas County, 1945
- Gage County, 1945
- Garden County, 1945
- Garfield County, 1945
- Gosper County, 1945
- Grant County, 1945
- Greeley County, 1945
- Hall County, 1945
- Hamilton County, 1945
- Harlan County, 1945
- Hayes County, 1945
- Hitchcock County, 1945
- Holt County, 1945
- Hooker County, 1945
- Howard County, 1945
- Jefferson County, 1945
- Johnson County, 1945
- Kearney County, 1945
- Keith County, 1945
- Keya Paha County, 1945
- Kimball County, 1945
- Knox County, 1945
- Lancaster County, 1945
- Lincoln (City)
- Lincoln County, 1945
- Logan County, 1945
- Loup County, 1945
- Madison County, 1945
- McPherson County, 1945
- Merrick County, 1945
- Morrill County, 1945
- Nance County, 1945
- Nemaha County, 1945
- Nuckolls County, 1945
- Omaha (City)
- Otoe County, 1945
- Pawnee County, 1945
- Perkins County, 1945
- Phelps County, 1945
- Pierce County, 1945
- Platte County, 1945
- Polk County, 1945
- Red Willow County, 1945
- Richardson County, 1945
- Rock County, 1945
- Saline County, 1945
- Sarpy County, 1945
- Saunders County, 1945
- Scotts Bluff County, 1945
- Seward County, 1945
- Sheridan County, 1945
- Sherman County, 1945
- Sioux County, 1945
- Stanton County, 1945
- Thayer County, 1945
- Thomas County, 1945
- Thurston County, 1945
- Valley County, 1945
- Washington County, 1945
- Wayne County, 1945
- Webster County, 1945
- Wheeler County, 1945
- York County, 1945
- Miscellaneous, 1945
- United War Fund of Nebraska, Inc., 1945
- United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, 1945
- 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