Archives West Finding Aid
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Silver Shirt Legion of America, Washington State Division records, 1931-1997
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Silver Shirt Legion of America. Washington State Division
- Title
- Silver Shirt Legion of America, Washington State Division records
- Dates
- 1931-1997 (inclusive)19311997
- Quantity
- 0.73 cubic feet (1 box and 4 microfilm reels)
- Collection Number
- 3242
- Summary
- Documents and materials related to the right-wing political organization, The Silver Shirt Legion of America.
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access restricted on some materials: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Silver Shirt Legion of America was a white supremacist organization founded by William Dudley Pelley (1890-1965) in 1933. The Silver Shirts operated in Oregon, California, and Washington during the 1930s. The parent organization began as Silver Shirts of America, was later renamed Silver Legion of America and, in 1934, became Silver Shirt Legion of America. State liaison office was Orville W. Roundtree. The organization portrayed themselves as a Protestant Christian Movement created to restore a new Christian led society and government. Their primary aim was to suppress the Jewish population and destroy Sovietism/Communism, which they claimed was being brought about by the Jewish people.
Information adapted from the American Jewish Committee Archives website, sourced on October 11, 2024
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Correspondence, notes, and other records of a liaison office for this right-wing political organization and of liaison officer Orville W. Roundtree. Silver Shirts flag, newsletters, news-clippings, correspondence, research notes, and microfilm with all issues of the Silver Shirt Weekly. Also includes two manuscript/thesis drafts.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries on some materials.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Organized into 2 accessions.
- Accession No. 3242-004, Silver Shirt Legion of America, Washington State Division records, 1933-1940
- Accession No. 3242-005, Silver Shirt Legion of America, Washington State Division records, 1931-1997
Acquisition Information
Filmed from originals loaned by Mr. and Mrs. Orville Roundtree, 5/1/1965.
Donated by Ronald S. Green Jr.
Separated Materials
Silver Shirt Legion of America, Washington State Division photograph collection, PH1521
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 3242-004: Silver Shirt Legion of America, Washington State Division records, 1933-1940Return to Top
Scope and Content: Correspondence, notes, and other records, relating to the division, its parent organization (founded 1933 as Silver Shirts of America; later renamed Silver Legion of America, and in 1934, Silver Shirt Legion of America), and founder, William Dudley Pelley (1890-1965). Includes copies of the organization's newsletter, Liberation, papers of state liaison officer, Orville W. Roundtree, and material relating to American Gentile Protective Association, Christian Party, and Liberty Party. Persons represented include Isaac R. Crow, Ruth Coffee Hillis, Jesse B. Kling, Alfred H.E. Talpey, Elwood A. Towner, and Thompson Roy Zachary.
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access. Microfilm can be used onsite or loaned through interlibrary borrowing.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Filmed from originals loaned by Mr. and Mrs. Orville Roundtree: 5/1965
Accession No. 3242-005: Silver Shirt Legion of America, Washington State Division records, 1931-1997Return to Top
Scope and Content: Additions to the Silver Shirt Legion - Washington State Division records: Materials collected by Ronald S. Green Jr. pertaining to the Silver Shirt Legion and William Dudley Pelley including Silver Shirts flag, newsletters, news-clippings, correspondence, research notes, and microfilm with all issues of the Silver Shirt Weekly. Also includes two manuscript/thesis drafts:"The Aftermath of Seven Minutes in Eternity: William Dudley Pelley and the Silver Shirts" by Ronald S. Green and "Piety and Patriotism: The Silver Shirt Legion of America in Washington State, 1935-1940" by Karen E. Hoppes.
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access. Microfilm can be used onsite or loaned through interlibrary loan.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Ronald S. Green Jr. , 2016-04-15 ; 2016-07-26
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Accession | ||
| 1 | 3242-005 | News clippings and Microfilm Printouts |
1932-1965 |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Newsletter: Silver Ranger |
1934 |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Newsletter: The New Liberation |
1937-1938 |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Newsletter: News Research Service |
1939-1940 |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Newsletter: Community Relations Committee |
1964 |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Correspondence (Ron Green) |
1963 |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Thesis Notes |
undated |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Thesis Correspondence |
1965-1966 |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Thesis: "The Aftermath of Seven Minutes in Eternity:
William Dudley Pelley and the Silver Shirts" by Ronald S. Green Jr. |
1965 |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Thesis: "Piety and Patriotism: The Silver Shirt Legion
of America in Washington State, 1935-1940" by Karen E. Hoppes |
1997 |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Silver Shirts Flag |
undated |
| 1 | 3242-005 | Microfilm of all issues of the "Silver Shirt
Weekly" |
1934-1936 |
| box:oversize | |||
| 2 | 3242-005 | Silver Shirt Legion of America flag |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Antisemitism--United States
- Antisemitism--Washington (State)
- Fascism--United States
- Fascism--Washington (State)
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
- Political parties--United States
- Political parties--Washington (State)
- Socialist parties--United States
Personal Names
- Bauer, Ruth
- Clark, Frank W
- Crow, Isaac R
- Hillis, Ruth Coffee
- Husby, Peter
- Kling, Jesse B
- Talpey, Alfred H. E
- Towner, Elwood A
- Zachary, Thompson Roy
Corporate Names
- American Gentile Protective Association
- American Monetary Reform Association
- Christian Party (U.S.)
- Christian Party (Wash.)
- Liberty Party (Wash. : 1932-1933)
- Pelley Publishers
Geographical Names
- United States--Politics and government--20th century
- Washington (State)--Politics and government--1889-1950
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Pelley, William Dudley, 1890-1965 (creator)
- Roundtree, Orville W (creator)
Corporate Names
- Silver Legion of America. Washington State Division (creator)
- Silver Shirts of America (Organization). Washington State Division (creator)
