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Women in Military Service for American Foundation records, 1990-1996

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Women in Military Service for America Foundation (U.S.)
Title
Women in Military Service for American Foundation records
Dates
1990-1996 (inclusive)
Quantity
3.5 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 343
Summary
The Women in Military Service for American Memorial Foundation was founded to promote the building of a monument at the Arlington National Cemetery to honor all women who have served in the U. S. military. This collection documents Montana's participation in the foundation and includes military discharge records arranged by county.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The Women in Military Service for American Memorial Foundation (WIMSA) was founded to promote the building of a monument at the Arlington National Cemetery to honor all women who have served in the U. S. military. The site at the Ceremonial Entrance to the cemetery was approved in 1988. A design by Marion Gail Weiss and Michael Manfredi to restore and transform the gateway was approved in November 1989. Ground was broken in 1995 and the memorial was opened to the public in October 1997.

In January 1990 Doris Brander, a veteran from Avon, Montana, began the campaign for Montana participation in the work of the foundation. She got the Governor, the seven Indian Reservations, and the 56 counties to pass resolutions in support. She then recruited an army of volunteers to document as many of the estimated 4800 female veterans in Montana as possible. The volunteers copied discharge papers from county records, enlistment records from the Adjutant General's records at the Montana Historical Society, and appealed to friends and relatives of veterans to provide information.

Brander also encouraged Montana women veterans to submit their names for inclusion in the records at the monument in Washington.

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Content Description

Records (1990-1996) of the Montana affiliate of WIMSA, consist primarily of photocopies of military discharge papers and other records for Montana women's service in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the peacetime army. In addition there are correspondence of Doris Brander with volunteers around the state and with the national office of WIMSA; circular letters and news releases; lists of veterans compiled by the county volunteers; clippings; and other materials. [Enlistment cards are available in RS 223, Montana Adjutant General's Office.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

[item description and date]. Name of Collection. Collection Number. [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Archives. Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by series

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Processing Note

Processed in 2008. Portions of this collection were transferred from the Doris Brander Papers (unprocessed).

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Biographical Materials

    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Beaverhead County, A-Y
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Big Horn County, B-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Blaine County, A-Z
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Broadwater County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Carbon County, A-V
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Carter County, B-P
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Cascade County, A-S
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7-10
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Cascade County, T-Z
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Chouteau County, B-S
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Custer County, A-Z
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Extract only from county records: Daniels County, B-V
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Dawson County, B-S
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Deer Lodge County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Fallon County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Fergus County, B-Y
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Flathead County, A-Y
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9-10
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Gallatin County, A-Y
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11-12
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Garfield County, B-P; also extracts, B-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Glacier County, B-P; also extracts, B-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 14
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Golden Valley County, F-N; also extracts, B-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 15
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Granite County, L-W; also extracts, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Hill County, A-W; also OVERSIZE FOLDER
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Jefferson County, B-M; also extracts, B-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Judith Basin County, A-R; also extracts, A-T
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Lake County, A-Z
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 5
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Lewis and Clark County, A-W; also extracts, A-Z
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 6-7
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Liberty County, C-V
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Lincoln County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 9
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Madison County, B-R; also extracts, B-Y
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 10
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: McCone County, B-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 11
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Meagher County, B-M; also extracts, B-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 12
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Mineral County, C-Z
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 13
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Missoula County, A-Y
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 14-17
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Musselshell County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Park County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 2
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Petroleum County, C-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 3
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Phillips County, A-V
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 4
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Pondera County, B-Y; also extracts, A-Y
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 5
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Powder River County, M-S; also extracts, A-V
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 6
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Powell County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 7
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Prairie County, B-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 8
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Ravalli County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 9
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Richland County, A-T; also extracts, A-Z
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 10
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Roosevelt County, A-Y
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 11
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Rosebud County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 12
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Sanders County, A-W; also extracts, A-Z
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 13
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Sheridan County, A-Y
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 14
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Stillwater County, B-Y
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 15-16
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Sweetgrass County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Teton County, B-W; also extracts, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 2
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Toole County, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 3
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Treasure County, D-W, also extracts, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 4
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Valley County, B-W; also extracts, A-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 5
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Wheatland County, B-W
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 6
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Wibaux County, B-Z; also extracts, A-Z
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 7
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Discharge papers copied from county records: Yellowstone County, A-Z
      Dates: 1945-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 8-9
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: Pearl L. (Haugland Taylor) Bach autobiography
      Dates: 1992
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 10
      Location: Biographical Materials
    • Description: "In Tribute to Captain Octavia Bridgewater RN," by Mary D. Munger
      Dates: 1992
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 11
      Location: Biographical Materials

  • Incoming Correspondence

    • Description: Letters to Doris Brander from volunteers, and others, chronologically arranged
      Dates: 1990-1995, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 12-14
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Letters to Doris Brander from national office of Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation
      Dates: 1992-1995, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 15
      Location: Incoming Correspondence

  • Outgoing Correspondence

    • Description: Doris Brander circular letters and press releases
      Dates: 1990-1993, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 1
      Location: Outgoing Correspondence

  • Organizational Records

    • Description: Articles of incorporation [draft]
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 2
      Location: Organizational Records

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Field representative manual
      Dates: 1993
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 3
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Lists: WIMSA field representatives, by state
      Dates: 1990-1991
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 4
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Lists of World War I women, arranged alphabetically and by city
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 5
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Lists: Honor roll of women who have served and women who are now serving
      Dates: ca. 1990
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 6
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: List of contact people by county
      Dates: ca. 1990
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 7
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Preliminary lists of women veterans, s statewide
      Dates: ca. 1990
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 8
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Preliminary lists of women veterans, s by county
      Dates: ca. 1990
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 9-12
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Preliminary lists of women veterans, s Eastern Montana
      Dates: ca. 1990
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 13
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Preliminary lists of women veterans, s recently discharged
      Dates: ca. 1987-1992
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 14
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Meetings: Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee for Women Veterans
      Dates: 1990-1991
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 15
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Meetings: Federal Women's Program
      Dates: 1996
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 15
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Proclamations by Governor, Indian Tribes, Counties
      Dates: 1990
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 16
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: "Progress of women in the Navy, 1989"
      Dates: 1989
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 17
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Registration forms
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 18
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Souvenir catalogs
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 19
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Timeline
      Dates: 1989-1991
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 20
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary roster
      Dates: 1990-1994
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 1
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Women in Military Service for America Memorial brochures, etc.
      Dates: 1990-1994
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 2
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation newsletters and press releases
      Dates: 1990-1994
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 3
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Miscellany (includes poems, forms, itinerary for Women in the West Tour, statistics, etc.
      Dates: 1990-1994
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 4
      Location: Miscellany

  • Clippings

    • Description: Obituaries
      Dates: 1993-1994, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 5
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Proclamation
      Dates: 1990
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 6
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Re work of WIMSA, chronological
      Dates: 1990-1995
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 7
      Location: Clippings

  • Photographs

    • Description: Snapshots, mostly unidentified
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 7 / 8
      Location: Photographs

Finding aid prepared by Ellie Arguimbau
2008

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