University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections3242Silver Shirt Legion of America. Washington State DivisionSilver Shirt Legion of America, Washington
State Division records1931-19970.73 cubic feet (1 box and 4
microfilm reels)Collection materials are in
English.Documents and
materials related to the right-wing political organization, The Silver Shirt
Legion of America.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
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
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.
Access restricted on some materials: For terms of access, contact
Special Collections.
Request at
UW
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of
Washington Libraries on some materials.
Filmed from originals loaned by Mr. and Mrs. Orville Roundtree,
5/1/1965.
Donated by Ronald S. Green Jr.
Silver Shirt
Legion of America, Washington State Division photograph collection,
PH1521
Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)Bauer, RuthClark, Frank WHusby, PeterAmerican Monetary Reform AssociationPelley PublishersCrow, Isaac RHillis, Ruth CoffeeKling, Jesse BTalpey, Alfred H. ETowner, Elwood AZachary, Thompson RoyRoundtree, Orville WPelley, William Dudley, 1890-1965Christian Party (Wash.)Christian Party (U.S.)Liberty Party (Wash. : 1932-1933)American Gentile Protective AssociationSilver Legion of America. Washington State DivisionSilver Shirts of America (Organization). Washington State DivisionUnited States--Politics and government--20th centuryWashington (State)--Politics and government--1889-1950Political parties--United StatesPolitical parties--Washington (State)Fascism--United StatesFascism--Washington (State)Socialist parties--United StatesAntisemitism--United StatesAntisemitism--Washington (State)NewslettersPolitics and PoliticiansWashington (State)
Accession No. 3242-004: Silver Shirt Legion of America, Washington State Division records, 1933-1940.37 cu. ft. (1 reel positive microfilm, 1 reel
negative microfilm, duplicate positive reel)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, 1931-19970.36 Cubic Feet (2 boxes) plus 1 microfilm
reelScope 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
13242-005News clippings and Microfilm Printouts1932-196513242-005Newsletter: Silver Ranger193413242-005Newsletter: The New Liberation1937-193813242-005Newsletter: News Research Service1939-194013242-005Newsletter: Community Relations Committee196413242-005Correspondence (Ron Green)196313242-005Thesis Notesundated13242-005Thesis Correspondence1965-196613242-005Thesis: "The Aftermath of Seven Minutes in Eternity:
William Dudley Pelley and the Silver Shirts" by Ronald S. Green Jr.196513242-005Thesis: "Piety and Patriotism: The Silver Shirt Legion
of America in Washington State, 1935-1940" by Karen E. Hoppes199713242-005Silver Shirts Flagundated13242-005Microfilm of all issues of the "Silver Shirt
Weekly"1934-193623242-005Silver Shirt Legion of America flag