Appraisal Report Bancroft Camp 16, United Spanish War Veterans Nikki Christen October 16, 2012 Provenance

These records were created and kept by a variety of officers of Bancroft Camp16 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 (USWV) organization was created for individuals that fought in the Spanish-American War to free Cuba from Spain in 1898. The Bancroft #16 organization was the USWV section for Racine, Wisconsin, which is a sub-section of the national USWV organization. The organizations held their friendships and comrades in high regard and felt this would be an excellent way to communicate and support them. The organization created several avenues to support its members and affiliates. Encampments, programs, and conventions were created to maintain contact and sustain its members. The encampments were basically bands of comrades within a defined geographic area. These would be the main contacts for the members in that area. Elected officers and commanders would be responsible for the everyday workings and finances in the encampments. A negligible amount was required to become a member, but the funds were allocated to appropriate locations. One such location was a pension fund for the veterans. If an individual could be confirmed as a veteran of the War and successfully applied to the USWV, they would be eligible for a pension for their duties. The pension was applied to the veterans widow after death. There was a process in which to apply for this pension and many times it required the certification of a medical doctor. The conventions and events were held to connect and aid USWV members. Local organizations would hold their own encampments where members would gather and regale each other. This would also include gatherings for memorials and parades celebrating their duty. In addition, the delegates from the local organizations would have the opportunity to attend the national USWV convention to assist in creating by-laws, supporting bills, and addressing other areas of interest. Bibliography of Related Records and Publications Alger, R. A. (1901). The spanish-american war. New York, NY; London, UK: Harper & Bros. Coston, W.H. (1899). The spanish-american war volunteer. Freeport, NY : Books for Libraries

Press. Foner, P.S. (1972). The spanish-cuban-american war and the birth of american imperialism, 1895-1902. New York, NY: Monthly Review Press. Keller, Allan. (1969). The spanish-american war: a compact history. New York, NY: Hawthorn Books. Kelly III, T. E. (1974). The us army and the spanish-american war era, 1895-1910. Carlisle Barracks, PA : US Army Military History Research Collection. Lee, F. (1899). Cubas struggle against spain with the causes of american intervention and a full account of the spanish-american war, including final peace negotiations. New York, NY: American Historical Press. Nebraska Office of the Secretary of State. (1925). Roster of soldiers, sailors and marines who served in the war of rebellion, spanish-american war and world war: names gathered by county and precinct assessors/compiled and issued by charles w. pool, secretary of state. Lincoln, NE : C.W. Pool. Pierce, F. E. (1900). Reminiscences of the experiences of company l. second regiment massachusetts infantry, u.s.v., the spanish-american war. Greenfield, MA: Press of E.A. Hall & co. United States Surgeon-Generals Office. (1900). Abstract of report on the origin and spread of typhoid fever in the U.S. military camps during the Spanish War of 1898. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. General Description of Records The collection consists of materials of the United Spanish War Veterans Bancroft Camp #16 in Racine, Wisconsin from 1899-1956. The materials include governing guidelines, financial records, member roster lists, and pension records. The organizations commitment to the support and connection of members is represented by their regulations, rituals, member correspondence, and excellent financial records. Governing guidelines illustrate their need for order and an appreciative perspective to the military lifestyle and members. Their rituals and ceremonies provide key interactions between members and illustrate their heritage. The members correspondence shows both the brotherhood and the collegial expectations that the organization placed on their members. The organizations financial records illustrate the issues that arose within the organization, the decent financial support that members gave, accuracy in which they organized their accounts and organization. Overall, the collection is strong in the aspects of

description, content, and formats. However, there are large blocks of time periods missing that could provide excellent insight on members, events, and activities in local and national organization issues. I would recommend this collection for preservation. It provides a meaningful perspective about the veterans from the Spanish-American War. Many of their relationships, rituals, and ailments that were formed during the war are illustrated in the records. The materials provide an impression of the activities and programs that veterans turned to deal with issues from the war and their effort to maintain the personal connections that were formed. The collection would accentuate the items already held within archives and the library by adding the personal background information on members and illustrating their life after the war ended. Series Description Governance Records The series will include the Rules & Regulations from the organizations years of 1910, 1920, and 1930. These records document the organizations governing guidelines and illustrates their progression through the decades. The Ceremonies and Ritual records provide information on the personal side of USWV. It includes ceremonial information from 1913-1929 and ritual information from 1912-1935. The Legislative Bulletin from 1955 represents the organizations strive for more benefits for its members and a memorialization. These aspects of the series provide a strong foundation of understanding about the functions of the organization. The General Orders and Circulars from1909-1912 provides information on member and encampment violations and sanctions and resolutions passed to modify the governing laws. There are few of these and a better portion would better represent the organizations progression. The series should be preserved. Historical Records - The set of materials included in the historical records are compiled from archival records that were maintained by the organization. There are numerous minutes from meetings that provide the personal perspectives of the members on the organizations issues. To accompany the minutes, many of the meetings proceedings are available as well. To give a broader viewpoint of the organizations activities, a selection of USWV pamphlets, convention programs, and souvenir books are available. This promotes a strong representation of the USWV. Included in this are five books that provide historical information on the Spanish-American War. While these are relevant to the collection, they are weak in the direct involvement to the USWV materials. Various newspaper clippings allow the collection to illustrate the public persona of the organization. There are additional materials that provide information on medals awarded by the USWV, but there is a limited number. Overall, the collection should be preserved. However, the set of five books should be transferred to the library. Member Papers Member applications are available from the years 1906-1917. The member materials also include roster lists and roll calls from 1912-1917. There are pension papers that have pension applications, denials, medical requests and statements, widows filing, and

confirmations for members. One photograph is included and provides faces to a few of the names of the members. The collection strongly connects the members to the organization through the records. There are additional papers that do not fit the collection, such as random notes, that have little relevant meaning. These items can be discarded, but the rest of the collection should be preserved in its entirety. Financial Records The organizations financial materials vary, but provide a thorough background on the assets. Bank and account statements, semi-annual reports, quartermaster requisitions, financial record books and ledgers are available across a wide variety of years. In addition, receipts to member and invoices through businesses are available to accompany those records. The collection is consistent and provides a strong representation of the organizations fiscal processes. Preservation is highly recommended for this collection. Processing and Conservation Collection is clean and generally in good condition. Clippings should be replaced with photocopies.

Arrangement & Description Bancroft Camp 16, United Spanish War Veterans 1898 - 1958 Nikki Christen November 13, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract 3 Organization History 4 Scope and Content 5 Container List ... 7

Abstract The United Spanish War Veterans (USWV) organization was created for individuals that fought in the Spanish-American War to free Cuba from Spain in 1898 and later the PhilippineAmerican War from 1898 to 1902. There were various large organizations before the Amalgamation Agreement was signed in 1904 and created one institution. The Bancroft #16 organization was the USWV section for Racine, Wisconsin, which is a sub-section of the national USWV organization. The collection consists of materials of the United Spanish War Veterans Bancroft Camp #16 in Racine, Wisconsin from 1899-1956. The materials include governing rules & regulations, ceremonies & rituals, convention proceedings, financial records, member roster lists, and pension records.

Organization History The United Spanish War Veterans (USWV) organization was created for individuals that fought in the Spanish-American War to free Cuba from Spain in 1898 and later the PhilippineAmerican War from 1898 to 1902. Following the wars, veterans created organizations to maintain and support their brotherhood. There were various large organizations before the Amalgamation Agreement was signed in 1904 and created one institution. These primarily included the large sections from the Spanish War Veterans, the Spanish- American War Veterans, and the Service Men of the Spanish War. The Bancroft #16 organization was the USWV section for Racine, Wisconsin, which is a sub-section of the national USWV organization. While the organization held patriotism and nationalism in highest regards, fraternal friendships and comrades were also a priority. They felt the fraternal orders would be an excellent way to communicate and support them. The organization created several national and state avenues for its members and affiliates. Encampments, programs, and conventions were created to maintain contact and sustain its members. The encampments were bands of comrades within a defined geographic area. These would be the main contacts for the members in that area. Elected officers and commanders would be responsible for the everyday workings and finances in the encampments. Several Commanders from Wisconsin actually served as Commander-inChief of the national organization. A negligible amount and thorough military background check was required to become a member. However, the necessary effort and funds were worth the benefits provided by appropriately allocated fund locations. Locations such as pension and convention funds for the veterans were essentials for the USWV. If an individual could be confirmed as a veteran of the War and successfully applied to the USWV, they would be eligible for a pension for their duties. The pension was applied to the veterans widow after death. There was a process in which to apply for this pension and many times it required the certification of a medical doctor. The conventions and events were held to connect and aid USWV members. Local organizations would hold their own encampments where members would gather and regale each other. This would also include gatherings for memorials and parades celebrating their duty. In addition, the delegates from the local organizations would have the opportunity to attend the national USWV convention to assist in creating by-laws, supporting bills, and addressing other areas of interest.

Scope and Content The collection consists of materials of the United Spanish War Veterans Bancroft Camp #16 in Racine, Wisconsin from 1899-1956. The materials include governing guidelines, financial records, member roster lists, and pension records. Their regulations, rituals, member correspondence, and excellent financial records illustrate the organizations commitment to the support and connection of members. Governing guidelines illustrate their need for order and an appreciative perspective to the military lifestyle and members. Their rituals and ceremonies provide key interactions between members and illustrate their heritage. The members correspondence shows both the brotherhood and the collegial expectations that the organization placed on their members. The organizations financial records illustrate the issues that arose within the organization, the decent financial support that members gave, accuracy in which they organized their accounts and organization. The collection is divided into four series. The GOVERNANCE RECORDS series includes three sub-series: Rules & Regulations, Ceremonies & Rituals, and General Orders & Circulars. The HISTORICAL RECORDS series has two sub-series: Meetings and Conventions. The MEMBER PAPERS series contains five sub-series: Member Applications, Roster Lists & Roll Calls, Pension Papers, and Photographs. The FINANCIAL RECORDS series includes three sub-series: Reports, Books, and Additional Papers. The Governance Records series will include the governing ordinances and traditions that fundamentally run the organization. Each sub-series is held within a folder and/or file in the collection box. Rules & Regulations from the organizations years of 1910, 1920, and 1930 document the organizations governing guidelines and illustrates their progression through the decades. The Ceremonies and Ritual records provide information on the personal side of USWV. It includes ceremonial information from 1913-1929 and ritual information from 1912-1935. These aspects of the series provide a strong foundation of understanding about the functions of the organization. The Legislative Bulletin from 1955 represents the organizations strive for more benefits for its members and a memorialization. The General Orders and Circulars from1909-1912 provides information on member and encampment violations and sanctions and resolutions passed to modify the governing laws. However, there are few of these particular documents and may not completely represent the organizations progression as the others would. The Historical Records are compiled from archival records that were maintained by the organization. Each sub-series is held within a folder and/or file in the collection box. There are numerous state meeting minutes from 1905-1923 that provide the personal perspectives of the members on the organizations issues. To accompany the minutes, many of the state and national meetings proceedings are available as well. To give a broader viewpoint of the organizations activities, a selection of USWV convention programs and souvenir books are available. There are also a limited number of unsorted newspaper clippings that allow the collection to touch

upon the public persona of the organization. The Member Papers series reflects the collections documents regarding the comrades themselves. The collection strongly connects the members to the organization through the records. Each sub-series is held within a folder and/or file in the collection box. Member applications are available from the years 1906-1917. The member materials also include roster lists and roll calls from 1912-1917. There are pension papers that have pension applications, denials, medical requests and statements, widows filing, and confirmations for members. Unfortunately, there is only one photograph from 1898, but it does provide faces to a few of the names of the members. There is also an abundance of correspondence between members and officers, but it is spread out amongst the records and it may be tedious to locate a specific name or event. Additional materials are available that provide information on medals and certificates awarded by the USWV, but they are limited in number. The Financial Records series covers the organizations fiscal statements and allocations of funds. The organizations financial materials vary, but provide a thorough background on the assets. The Reports file includes bank and account statements, semi-annual reports, quartermaster requisitions, financial record books and ledgers available across a wide variety of years. The Books section holds the Financial Record Book from 1907-1938 and Bank Book from 1914-1929. Additional papers include receipts to members and invoices through businesses are available, but the items will be unsorted.

Container List GOVERNANCE RECORDS RULES & REGULATIONS 1910, 1920, 1930. CEREMONIES & RITUALS Ceremonies CEREMONY BOOKS, 1913-1929. MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAMS, ORDERS, AND CORRESPONDENCE, 1913-1918. Rituals RITUAL BOOKS, 1912-1935. RITUAL BOOKLET, 1935. GENERAL ORDERS & CIRCULARS CIRCULARS, 1907-1913. LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN, 1955. HISTORICAL RECORDS STATE MEETING MINUTES, 1905-1923. STATE CONVENTION PAPERS, 1907-1948. Member Correspondence, 1907-1909. Program, 1918. Proceedings, 1917-1948. Souvenir Book, 1940. NATIONAL CONVENTION PAPERS, Member Correspondence, 1905-1955. Proceedings, 1927-1958. MEMBER PAPERS MEMBER APPLICATIONS, 1906-1917. ROSTER PAPERS, 1906-1943. Inquiry Correspondence, 1906 & 1910. Member Lists, 1942-1943. Roll Call, 1912-1917. PENSION Applications & Medical Exam Requests Correspondence, 1909-1945. PHOTOGRAPH, 1898. ADDITIONAL PAPERS, 1913-1946. Medal notification, 1918. Member Certificates, 1918. General Member-to-Member Correspondence, 1913-1946 FINANCIAL RECORDS REPORTS, 1906-1948. Convention Financial Reports, 1906-1908. Quarter Master Reports, 1947-1948. Semi-Annual Reports, 1906-1912.

BOOKS, 1907-1938. Financial Record Book, 1907-1938. Bank Book, 1914-1929. CANCELLED CHECKS, 1918-1922. RECEIPTS, 1906-1948. ADDITIONAL PAPERS, 1908. Delinquent Account Notifications, 1908.