Provenance

These records were created and kept by a variety of officers of Bancroft Camp 16 in the

normal course of administering the organization. They were donated by the Racine County

Historical Society and Museum in 1984. From whom the records came to the county historical

society is unknown.

Organization History

The United Spanish War Veterans were an organization of veterans of the Spanish-

American War and related conflicts that functioned throughout the 1900s and was particularly

active throughout 1900-1950. At the turn of the 20th century, there were several societies for

veterans which eventually came together to consolidate a single union; founding the USWV on

April 18th, 1904. The following year, Wm. A. Bancroft Camp, No. 16, Wisconsin received its

charter and became an active member of the USWV. Adjacent organizations also arose such as

the Sons of Spanish War Veterans—whose chapter in Racine, Wisconsin received its charter in

October 1935—with the purpose of carrying out the ideals and visions of their forebears.

This organization—and for this collection specifically, its Wisconsin chapter—would,

throughout the following years, help veterans and their families navigate pensions and benefits,

arrange regular meetings and reunions, and produce a variety of publications and pamphlets for

the USWV, Bancroft Camp, etc. and its events; in addition to keeping thorough records and

reports of details such as finances, regulations, proceedings, and membership. Collection

documentation is thus an amalgamation of items detailing the organization’s structure,

 correspondence, gatherings, and affiliates; spanning Bancroft Camp’s most enterprising years as

a part of the USWV.

General Description of Records

The Bancroft Camp records as part of the United Spanish War Veterans organization covers

a range of items, publications, and documentation ranging from 1899 to 1955. One of the most

notable aspects of the collection is the extensive array of preserved correspondence, taking the

form of communication both within the organization as well as between the organization and

related individuals. There are also numerous financial records both specific and broad, detailing

receipts, acquisitions, disbursements, and the like. A comprehensive amount of publications from

the USWV and Bancroft Camp are also included, ranging from bulletins and brochures to

encampment proceedings and rulebooks; many of such documents are comprised of several

volumes and may include numerous copies. Other such documentation within the collection

includes several books of records and minutes, and various forms both that have been filled in

and have not. Other miscellaneous items include stray photographs, newspaper clippings, copies

of stationery, etc., in addition to several books on the Spanish-American War.

One of the collection’s weaknesses are the notable gaps and somewhat haphazard nature of

several of the included records. Although some of the documentation is quite substantial, most

records only span a few years here and there, or will include information for one period of time

but not another, with little indication as to why certain dates for certain records are more

prevalent and exhaustive than others. Additionally, while many of the documents are printed,

 there is a significant amount of manuscript used for records such as the minute books and

completed forms that could prove difficult for some researchers to read.

With that said, the sheer extent and detail of several of the records are a great boon to the

collection, and the outstanding variety of content—letters, circulars, books, articles, pamphlets—

allows for an impressive amount of cross-referencing and context to be drawn from collection

materials; even when taking some of the aforementioned gaps into consideration. Furthermore,

the collection is generally in good condition and is already partially organized, with some

documents having been alphabetized and the majority of the records clearly dated. Depending on

the particular subject matter in question, a researcher interested in the USWV could have a

wealth of information to work with. As a result, I recommend the acquisition of this collection,

both for the sake of some of the more salient and significant records (notably the included

correspondence) that could serve as useful references and primary sources for researchers, but

also for the preservation of documents such as the pamphlets and scrapbook, which provide a

more conventional and quotidian look into both organization’s workings and members, as well as

the historical and cultural context of the time. However, some of the numerous duplicates and

copied records do not need to be kept, and could be safely donated or discarded as necessary; and

the books in the collection can certainly be transferred to the library.

Series Description

• Correspondence

1905-1945. Series contains typescript and manuscript letters and notes sent within the

organization, and between the organization and relevant parties. Examples of correspondence

 include cover letters; declarations and acknowledgements for receipts, medical exams, etc.;

Second Annual Convention and Reunion letters; announcements and memoranda; handwritten

memos; and miscellaneous exchanges. Much of the correspondence includes organizational

insignia and illustrations in the letterhead. Correspondence represents an extensive and

substantial part of the collection, is dated, and some items have been alphabetized; much of the

correspondence is typescript and easy to read, and could be useful for researchers. However,

there are large gaps between years of correspondence, or in some cases only a partial sampling of

letters/memos exists from a particular time frame. Handwritten letters may require transcription

to improve legibility.

Disposition: Preserve

• Financial Documents

1906-1954. Series chronicles the financial history of the organization in the form of

records, reports, logbooks, and so forth, with records handwritten and typed. Records include

bankbooks and account books; quartermaster accounts covering records for cash, memorial

funds, and individual accounts; bank and financial statements; cancelled checks (complete with

illustrations of organization insignia); receipts and disbursements; and the like. Documents

constitute a thorough and expansive part of the collection, exemplifying many of the expenses

and transactions of the organization. Some records are dated and in a few cases alphabetized, and

as relevant include transaction amounts, ingoing and outgoing recipients, and/or descriptions and

details of financial exchanges. But there are numerous gaps in the types of records kept from

different periods of time, and many documents are handwritten and may utilize abbreviation and

 shorthand that could impede legibility. A few bound volumes are showing signs of staining and

deterioration.

Disposition: Preserve

• Publications

1910-1946. Series covers official printed documentation published and distributed by and

for organizational functions and members. These publications include items such as department

orders; 3 volumes of rules and regulations 1910, 1920, and 1930; 5 volumes of books of

ceremonies 1913-1924, 1913-1926, and 1913-1939; and ritual books 1912, 1918, and 1935.

Publications may include illustrations of organizational insignia; diagrams; and some

handwritten annotations. These records can aid in providing context (both historical as well as

specific to the United Spanish War Veterans) and organizational information, with some

publications available as multiple copies. All publications are dated.

Disposition: Preserve, but surplus copies may be discarded/donated

• Pamphlets

1905-1955. Series comprises brief publications distributed throughout the organization and

its members such as pamphlets, circulars, booklets, and bulletins. Items in this series include a

memorial booklet complete with printed photographs and map diagram; national headquarters

circulars 1905-1912; a prayer booklet; souvenir booklet; legislative bulletins; anniversary

announcements (including 100 copies of the 25th anniversary message); miscellaneous

paraphernalia such as annual program guide complete with illustrated diagrams; and so forth.

 Many items include illustrated organizational insignia in the header, and some records have

multiple copies within the collection. Pamphlets et al. represent less formal documentation and

provide historical information and context about specific organizational meetings and

conventions. That being said, which specific pamphlets, booklets, and bulletins are included in

the collection are random and the selection is rather sparse despite covering 50 years of

organizational functions.

Disposition: Preserve, but surplus copies may be discarded/donated

• Forms

1906-1918. Series contains standardized forms to be filled in or that have already been

filled in. Documents include membership applications; widow’s pension forms; requisitions for

supplies; housing reservation applications; etc. Some forms serve as organizational records while

others are multiple copies of unused blanks.

All documents are dated. Forms are a small part of the collection; although they can provide

some organizational and historical context, their information is largely superfluous. Completed

forms are handwritten and could contain errors.

Disposition: Donate or discard

• Minutes

1899-1923. Series chronicles minute books which detail items such as roll call,

membership, communications, nominations, and the like, as well as separate roll call and records

books. Records include minute books 1905-1912 and 1913-1923, records book 1899-1902, and

 roll call book 1912-1917. Books are dated and appear in good physical shape apart from some

wear to their covers, and can provide anecdotal organization information, but the records are

largely handwritten (with a few examples of type), which subsequently might hinder legibility.

Disposition: Preserve

• Encampment Proceedings

1917-1955. Series covers national and Wisconsin encampment proceeding publications.

Records included are the Wisconsin Encampment Proceedings for 1917 and 1929-1948; and the

National Encampment Proceedings volumes 1927-1955. Proceedings provide thorough

information about members; general and special orders; copies of telegrams and reports;

transcripts of public addresses; and a variety of other minutiae in addition to photographs and

illustrated organization insignia. Proceedings are thorough and can provide a wealth of historical

and cultural information for researchers; however, there are some missing issues and duplicates

within the collection.

Disposition: Preserve, but surplus copies may be discarded/donated

• Scrapbook

Series contains one large scrapbook and several related, miscellaneous documents

pertaining to the organization and Spanish-American War as a whole. Scrapbook is 152 pages

and contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, etc. Other newspaper clippings and

photographs in the collection are also kept with this series, including a copy of the Stars and

Stripes newspaper. Some of the documents are dated, but not all. Records serve to provide

 information about the organization and members not always covered by other parts of the

collection, but may be incomplete or lacking in context.

Disposition: Preserve

• Books

1898-1926. Series includes five books pertaining to the history of the Spanish-American

War and the United Spanish War Veterans. The books are James Rankin Young and J. Hampton

Moore’s History of War with Spain, which includes engravings; a two-in-one of Henry Beck’s

Cuba’s Fight for Freedom and War with Spain, which is illustrated; Trumbull White’s Pictorial

History of Our War with Spain for Cuba’s Freedom, including photographs and drawings; a

government publication titled Notes on the Spanish-American War; and History of Wisconsin

Veteran’s Home 1886-1926 as compiled by Hosea Rood and Chaplain Earle. These works can

have historical, artistic, and cultural relevance, but do not need to be kept in the archive

collection.

Disposition: Transfer to library

Processing and Conservation Note

Collection is clean and generally in good condition. Clippings should be replaced with

photocopies.