A Guide to the Good War, Government Records

Local and State Government Records

335. Army Personnel Division (Wisconsin). Officer and Enlisted Service Card Records, 1870-1946. 23.4 c.f. (105 index card boxes and 2 archives boxes) and 14 reels of microfilm (16mm): Series 2246; Records of the Wisconsin National Guard and State Guard Service. Includes 3" x 5" cards with name, address, date and place of birth, physical characteristics, enlistment date, term years, organization, station, previous service, and date and cause of discharge. Yellow cards contain records relating to WWII. Restricted: Confidential under the Privacy Act of 1974 and Public Law 93-579. See written agreement with the State Historical Society.

336. Board of Health (Wisconsin), Sanitary Engineering Bureau. Gas Defense Records, 1942-45. 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box): Series 912; Correspondence of the gas reconnaissance agent. Also includes printed scientific reports.

337. Board of Health (Wisconsin), Preventable Diseases Section. Trailer and Cabin Registrations for Defense Areas, 1942-43. 1.2 c.f. (3 archives boxes): Series 903; Copies of registrations of automobile trailers and cabins located in national defense areas of Wisconsin showing the name, age, and sex of each occupant; date of arrival; trailer and automobile license numbers; date parking permit was issued by local health officer; name and jurisdiction of local health officer; and other data. Also includes monthly tallies of trailers by camps.

338. Brown County (Wisconsin), Council of Defense. Records, 1941-46. 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box), plus unprocessed additions of 0.2 c.f.: Brown Series 138; Records concerning eight WWII war bond drives conducted by the War Finance Committee of the Brown County Council of Defense. Records consist of correspondence, statistics, and reports of war bond sales for each drive.

339. Chippewa County (Wisconsin) Veterans Service Office. Service Records, 1918-73. 3210 sheets of microfiche: unprocessed; Records on Chippewa County veterans, including enlistment records, discharge papers, applications for grave markers, and other papers.

340. Council of Defense (Wisconsin), World War II. Records, 1940-45. 6.8 c.f. (17 archives boxes): Series 1652; Correspondence, manuals, minutes of the council and of other defense-related meetings, membership lists, defense handbooks, communications from the Office of Civilian Defense and the Office of Emergency Management, and surveys and reports including the Defense Resources Study, Solid Fuels Survey, Survey on Priority Unemployment, and the Wisconsin Industrial Survey. Also includes the records of the Wisconsin War Records Commission, consisting of correspondence of Dr. Edward P. Alexander, chairman, a bibliography of Wisconsin in the war effort, minutes, reports, and the War Records Manual.

341. Dane County (Wisconsin) Council of Defense. Miscellaneous Records, 1942-43. 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box): unprocessed; Correspondence, defense bulletins, zone air-raid warden lists, and other records relating to the council's activities under the supervision of the Dane County Fire Department.

342. Department of Taxation (Wisconsin). Newsletter to Staff Members in Military Service, 1942-45. 0.2 c.f. (1 archives box): Series 1923; Monthly newsletters sent to staff members in military service including lists of names, rank, and military addresses and news of Wisconsin and the department. Also includes descriptive information about military occupations, casualties, weather, food, entertainment, and recreation based on letters received by the department from servicemen.

343. Department of Veterans Affairs (Wisconsin). Minutes of the Board of Veterans Affairs, 1943-80, 1984-88. 5.2 c.f. (15 archives boxes): Series 1933; Minutes of meetings of the board and of various advisory committees concerning medical, educational, and economic assistance to veterans of the armed forces and their dependents.

344. Department of Veterans Affairs (Wisconsin), World War II and Korean Veterans Service. Wisconsin Veterans Housing Authority, General Correspondence, 1947-48. 11.2 c.f. (28 archives boxes): Series 1574; Correspondence with and about veterans' housing authorities of Wisconsin counties, cities, and villages and those of other states; and bulletins, brochures, pamphlets, newsletters, correspondence, surveys, and memoranda relating to housing and the administration of the Wisconsin Veterans' Housing Authority.

345. Dunn County (Wisconsin) School of Agriculture and Domestic Economy. Veterans Farm Training Programs Records, 1946-61. 6.0 c.f. (6 record center cartons): Dunn Series 4; Correspondence, financial records, teachers' materials, and student records of programs conducted under contract with the State Board of Vocational and Adult Education and the Veterans Administration. The bulk of the material consists of files for individual trainees, including dates of training, instructors' evaluations, and detailed records of trainees' own farm operations (e.g., monthly income and expense statements and records of improved practices adopted). Administrative records for the program include correspondence and memoranda to and from the Rural Division of the SBVAE and VA setting basic policies and financial arrangements; a 1954 audit report with a brief summary of the program's history; six quarterly reimbursement statements submitted to the SBVAE; teachers' course outlines and attendance records; and lists of students.

346. Governor (Wisconsin). Records, 1907-88. 22.4 c.f. (61 archives boxes and 1 card box) and 1 reel of microfilm (35mm): Series 5; Records from the governor's office consisting of papers, mainly 1944-50, of Republican governor, businessman, and philanthropist Oscar Rennebohm, primarily documenting his tenure as lieutenant governor (1945-47), acting governor (1947-49) following the death of Walter S. Goodland, and governor (1949-51). Includes subject files on a variety of issues, including housing for WWII veterans, and documentation regarding the Committee on the Resettlement of Displaced Persons, with which Rennebohm had contact.

347. Governor (Wisconsin). Wisconsin Silver Service Correspondence, 1943-45. 0.1 c.f. (1 folder): Series 144; Correspondence, invoices, presentation program, and memoranda relating to the reconditioning of the silver service presented to the battleship Wisconsin.

348. Governor's Committee on Resettlement of Displaced Persons (Wisconsin). Records, 1948-56. 11.4 c.f. (28 archives boxes and 6 index boxes): Series 2195; Records, mainly 1948-53, of the special committee appointed by Governor Oscar Rennebohm that was responsible for much of the resettlement of WWII refugees in Wisconsin. Includes case files and indexes for individuals, companies, and organizations that sponsored refugees; correspondence with social welfare agencies such as the Displaced Persons Commission, the International Relief Organization, the Church World Service, the National Catholic Welfare Conference, and the International Institute of Milwaukee; minutes and internal correspondence; reports; newsletters, radio scripts, and other publicity material; and biographical information about Wisconsin immigrants.; Related entry: 447

349. Industrial Commission (Wisconsin) Apprenticeship Division. G.I. Training Files, 1946-50. 2.8 c.f. (7 archives boxes): Series 1010; Records, alphabetical by municipality, relating to WWII veterans' training and apprenticeship for jobs that previously had no apprenticeship programs. Includes applications, correspondence, and inspection reports.

350. Oconto County (Wisconsin) War History Commission. Records. 4.7 c.f. (8 archives boxes and 2 vols.): unprocessed; Records concerning WWII soldiers from Oconto County.

351. Oregon (Wisconsin) Clerk. Correspondence of the Honor Roll Committee, 1942-45. 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box): Dane Series 256; Letters to the Honor Roll Committee of Oregon from servicemen, acknowledging receipt of letters, gifts, and lists of names and addresses. Includes a copy of one letter and a list of servicemen's names and addresses sent out by the committee, along with the names of committee members.

352. Outagamie County (Wisconsin) Veterans Service Office. Service Records, 1914-46. 26 reels of microfilm (16mm): unprocessed; Records pertaining to WWI and WWII servicemen from Outagamie County. Microfilm produced by Outagamie County.

353. Outagamie County (Wisconsin) Veterans Service Office. Veterans' Graves Registration Cards, 1938-85. 6 reels of microfilm (16mm): unprocessed; Index to veterans buried in county cemeteries, ca. 1870-1985. Compilation of the index appears to have begun in 1938. Reels A1 to A3 are alphabetical by veteran's name; reels C1 to C3 are arranged by cemetery.

354. Polk County (Wisconsin) Council of Defense. Records, 1942-43. 0.1 c.f. (1 folder): Polk Small Series 10; Scattered minutes and correspondence, December 1942-July 1943.

355. Racine County (Wisconsin) County Committee on World War II. Repatriation of World War II Dead Records, 1947-50. 0.1 c.f. (1 folder): Racine Small Series 38; Records concerning Racine County's program to honor war dead who were returned from temporary cemeteries in foreign countries for burial in the county. Consists of correspondence and papers of the County Service Officer and other members of the mayor of Racine's Memorial Committee. Also includes newspaper clippings with photographs of war dead and lists of soldiers killed in action, missing, or who died in service.

356. Racine County (Wisconsin) Veterans Service Office. Military Service Records and Reports of Separation, 1945-46. 1.2 c.f. (3 archives boxes): Racine Series 97; Records include name, date and place of birth, home address, physical description, military rank, branch of service, level of service, civilian occupation, date and place of induction, military occupation and special qualifications, battles and campaigns participated in, wounds received, medals and decorations awarded, dates of immunization, date of departure from United States, designation, and date of arrival.

357. Racine County (Wisconsin) Veterans Service Office. Veteran Deaths and Burials, 1941-72. 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box: Racine Series 98; Records of deaths and burials, primarily of WWI and WWII veterans but also including a few veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War, Korean War, and Vietnam War. Records include name, military rank, branch of service and unit, dates of enlistment and discharge, date and place of death, date of burial, name and location of cemetery, next of kin, and remarks.

358. Racine County (Wisconsin) War Records Committee. List of World War II Dead, undated. 0.1 c.f. (1 folder): Racine Series 121; Handwritten list of men from Racine County who died during WWII, including names of next of kin, their relationship to the deceased, and local addresses.

359. Racine County (Wisconsin) War Records Committee. World War II Military Service Record Envelopes, ca. 1934-45. 13.6 c.f. (34 archives boxes): Racine Series 120; Envelopes used to collect personal history and military service records for Racine County veterans. Most of the envelopes contain worksheets, newspaper clippings, and photographs of the individuals, most in military uniform. Although the information varies, the envelopes generally contain the following: name; draft and serial numbers; address; name, address, and relationship of nearest relative; date and place of birth; citizenship status; race; marital status; Racine County schools attended; occupation; last employer; date entered service; drafted or enlisted; branch of service; rank on entry; reception center; training camps and schools; and date and place of discharge.

360. Selective Service Commission (U.S.). Records of the Wisconsin Selective Service Commission (Madison), 1917-73. 10.8 c.f. (27 archives boxes) and 1 reel of microfilm (35mm): Series 1961; History files, memoranda, bulletins, personnel files, and microfilmed newspaper clippings from the state headquarters (Madison office) of the commission. (See box 1, folders 1-2, 6; boxes 2-5; box 6, folder 1; box 7, folder 4; boxes 8-16, folder 5; boxes 25-27, folder 4)

361. Shawano County (Wisconsin) Department of Public Welfare. Draft Board Investigations, 1941-53. 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box): unprocessed; Records, including the information-request form from the local Selective Service board questioning the dependency claim of the registrant, verification of dependency information, or request for a discharge because of dependency. Form includes registrant's name and address, father's and mother's names and addresses, names of dependents claimed, and other information. Also includes copies of responses from the Shawano County Welfare Department to the board. Restricted: Section 49.001, Wis. Stats. Contact the reference archivist for further information.

362. Washington County (Wisconsin) Council of Defense. Minutes, 1941-42. 0.2 c.f. (1 vol. in 1 envelope): Washington Small Series 1; Minutes of meetings and lists of members of committees, such as protection, aviation, bond and stamp sales, and planning.

363. Wisconsin Free Library Commission. Correspondence and Bulletins on World War II Library Activities, 1942-45. 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box): Series 1094; Correspondence, bulletins, circulars, and notices on civil defense, war bonds, war and postwar relief, and libraries' contribution to the war effort.

364. Wisconsin National Guard, Adjutant General's Office. Thirty-second Division Newsletters and Press Releases, 1940-42. 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box): Series 1890; Includes newsletters and press releases while unit was stationed in Louisiana; correspondence and bulletin mailing lists of the public relations office; and radio digests and feature newscasts.

365. Works Project Administration (U.S.), Office of the Wisconsin State Administrator. Aluminum Drive Records, 1941. 0.4 c.f. (2 vols.): Series 1686; Scrapbook of newspaper clippings dealing with a statewide aluminum drive and a summary record of the Milwaukee Aluminum for Defense Campaign consisting of correspondence, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, bulletins, meeting reports, directives, and memoranda.