Indianapolis U.S.O. Council records
Collection
Identifier: L487
Scope and Contents
This collection documents the work of the Indianapolis U.S.O. Council. Records include the correspondence of the Indianapolis U.S.O. Council, administrative records, and publicity and historical pieces, as well as materials sent by the National U.S.O. The materials date from 1941 to 1947, with the bulk dating from 1942 to 1945. The collection documents the activities of the Indianapolis U.S.O. Council, its relationships with the national and regional headquarters of the U.S.O. as well as with local organizations involved in the war effort, and provide incidental materials related to the provision of recreational facilities for African American servicemen.
Principal correspondents include J. J. Kaiser, I. B. Rhodes, Clarence Goris, Frank Zoll, W. J. McLaughlin, and W. F. Goodell. There are also materials sent by government officials in Indiana.
The bulk of the collection is the correspondence sent and received by Kiser and other members of the council. This includes letters sent by the national and regional U.S.O. offices. Materials are arranged chronologically. Administrative records comprise minutes from the board of directors, reports, financial records, and membership lists of council members. The original arrangement of the collection appears to have the records of the Jewish U.S.O. pulled together. That system has been maintained. Other items include brochures and broadsides, press releases, radio scripts, and histories of the Indianapolis U.S.O. Council. Also included are programs and related publicity pieces, as well as some miscellaneous materials.
Principal correspondents include J. J. Kaiser, I. B. Rhodes, Clarence Goris, Frank Zoll, W. J. McLaughlin, and W. F. Goodell. There are also materials sent by government officials in Indiana.
The bulk of the collection is the correspondence sent and received by Kiser and other members of the council. This includes letters sent by the national and regional U.S.O. offices. Materials are arranged chronologically. Administrative records comprise minutes from the board of directors, reports, financial records, and membership lists of council members. The original arrangement of the collection appears to have the records of the Jewish U.S.O. pulled together. That system has been maintained. Other items include brochures and broadsides, press releases, radio scripts, and histories of the Indianapolis U.S.O. Council. Also included are programs and related publicity pieces, as well as some miscellaneous materials.
Dates
- 1941-1947
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Historical Note
The Indianapolis U.S.O. Council was formally organized on May 7, 1941. Originating as a fund-raising organization, the U.S.O. Council began providing support for recreational activities for military personnel stationed in and around Indianapolis throughout World War II. The principal local organizations involved in the U.S.O. Council were the Y.M.C.A., the Y.W.C.A., the National Catholic Community Service, the Jewish Welfare Federation, the Salvation Army, and the National Travelers Aid Association. The chair of the Indianapolis U.S.O. Council through most of this period was J. J. (Julian Jacob) Kiser. The Indianapolis U.S.O. Council was dissolved in 1946. For additional information on the history of the Indianapolis U.S.O. Council, see the "Histories" folder (Box 3, Folder 7) in the Publicity and Historical Materials Series.
Extent
0.9 Cubic Feet (2 manuscript boxes, 1 half manuscript box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed in 1998 by Andrea Bean Hough. EAD finding aid created in 1998 by Andrea Bean Hough. EAD finding aid revised 2015/11/06; 2022/03/11 by Brittany Kropf.
- Title
- Indianapolis U.S.O. Council records
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
