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Guide to the American Postal Workers Union, La Crosse (Wis.) Auxiliary Records, 1933-2009 MSS 134

Guide to the American Postal Workers Union, La Crosse (Wis.) Auxiliary Records, 1933-2009

MSS 134

Summary Information

Abstract
Records of the American Postal Workers Union (La Crosse, Wis.) Auxiliary include an interesting look into how women traditionally helped support their spouses and the well being of their families through organizing a group of their own. Local chapter activities included meetings, the election of officers, state convention attendance and planning, and lobbying efforts as well as social gatherings. The La Crosse Area Local 360 auxiliary formed in 1933 and disbanded in 1997, however the heaviest involvement occurred between 1952 and 1986. As more women joined the workforce, fewer were able to participate in the auxiliary. Also, more women postal workers were hired and their spouses had little interest in participating in an auxiliary. Because of an exceptional woman, Elsie Kotnour, the local materials contain a good representation of the state and national activities of the auxiliary. She became a state officer for many years and was active in participating in not only state conventions but national conventions as well. Mrs. Kotnour's correspondence, reports and speeches survive and are contained in the State series. The National series includes written history, constitutions and by-laws, clippings, conventions, general correspondence, and publications. The State series mirrors the same materials as the national but were created by the state level group. The Local series includes all of these types of materials but were created by the local group and also include congressional correspondence, financial information, meeting minutes, membership lists, and scrapbooks.
Collection Title
American Postal Workers Union, La Crosse (Wis.) Auxiliary Records
Date of Materials
1933-2009
Creator
American Postal Workers Union. La Crosse (Wis.). Auxiliary.
Creator
Kotnour, Elsie, 1917-2007
Call Number
MSS 134
Amount
3.0 cubic feet
Physical Description
6 archives boxes and 1 cubic foot box
Language of Materials
English
Repository
La Crosse Public Library Archives

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], American Postal Workers Union, La Crosse (Wis.) Auxiliary Records, MSS 134, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

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Historical Note

The American Postal Workers Union Auxiliary was a national group that formed in 1917. It started as the wives and daughters of unionized American postal workers. The purpose of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), associated with the AFL-CIO, is to protect the jobs and benefits of postal workers. However, it is illegal for postal workers to strike and partake in most political activities, which led to the creation of the auxiliary.

The women that were in this auxiliary participated in political activities to work for the protection of the jobs and benefits of the postal workers. Mostly, these activities included letter writing campaigns for U.S. Senators and House Representatives, other elected officials, and the media. They opposed legislation changes that led to job losses (e.g. ZIP codes, automation, and privatization), as well as the Hatch Act, which prohibits government employees from participating in most political activities. The auxiliary supported legislation changes that led to pay raises and added work benefits. The auxiliaries also educated the public on what the postal service did for such low costs and why sending mail was the most cost-effective form of communication. They also raised money though events for outside charitable causes.

The La Crosse Area Local 360 auxiliary formed in 1933 and disbanded in 1997, however the heaviest involvement occurred between 1952 and 1986. As more women joined the workforce, fewer were able to participate in the auxiliary. Also, more women postal workers were hired and their spouses had little interest in participating in an auxiliary.

Local 360 went to numerous State and National Conventions from 1950-1996. One La Crosse woman, Elsie Kotnour, was the Wisconsin State Auxiliary President for many years, making the La Crosse local auxiliary a very involved group. She corresponded with many other state and national auxiliary and APWU members, as well as led many writing campaigns to elected officials.

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Scope and Contents

The National series includes written history, constitutions and by-laws, clippings, conventions, general correspondence, and publications. The State series mirrors the same materials as the national but were created by the state level group. Noteworthy here is the correspondence, reports and speeches of Elsie Kotnour, a long time state officer from the La Crosse Chapter. The Local series includes all of these types of materials but were created by the local group and also include congressional correspondence, financial information, meeting minutes, membership lists, and scrapbooks.

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Arrangement

Materials are arranged in three series to reflect the level of the creating agency within the broader auxiliary organization: National, State, and Local. In each of these three series materials are generally arranged alphabetically by topic with a few exceptions.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

La Crosse Public Library Archives 2015 August

800 Main St.
La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601
(608) 789-7136
archives@lacrosselibrary.org

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

Acquisitions Information

Donated by Nancy Kotnour, May 2011 (Accession no. 2001.044)

Processing Information

Processed by Jennifer DeRocher, intern, August 2015

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Related Materials

Separated Materials

State publications, convention materials, Wisconsin travel ephemera, and some materials related to the state auxiliary group were transferred to the Wisconsin Historical Society without restrictions.

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Controlled Access Headings

Personal Name(s)

  • Kotnour, Nancy

Subject(s)

  • Labor unions--Wisconsin--La Crosse
  • Postal service--Employee--Labor unions--Wisconsin--La Crosse
  • Women--Political activity--Wisconsin--La Crosse
  • Women--Wisconsin--La Crosse

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Collection Inventory

National 

Box Folder

Written Histories 

1 1

Constitutions and By-Laws 1917-1996 

1 2

Clippings 

1 3

Conventions 1952-1977 

Box Folder

St. Paul, Minnesota 1952 

5 1

St. Louis, Missouri 1960 

5 2

Portland, Oregon 1962 

5 3

Miami, Florida 1964 

5 4

Minneapolis, Minnesota 1968 

5 5

Los Angeles, California 1970 

5 6

Miami, Florida 1974 

5 7

Miami, Florida 1974 

5 8

New Orleans, Louisiana 1977 

5 9
Box Folder

General Correspondence and Handouts 

1 4

Membership Lists 

1 5

Procedures 

Box Folder

Meeting Outlines 

1 6

Publications 1966-2004 

Box Folder

"Auxiliary News and Views" 1966-1984 

1 7

"Auxiliary News and Views" 1985-2004 

1 8

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State 

Box Folder

Constitutions and By-Laws 1974-1984 

1 9

Clippings 

1 10

Conventions 1950-1996 

Box Folder

Milwaukee, WI 1950 

5 10

Madison, WI 1952 

5 11

La Crosse, WI 1958 

5 12

Lake Dalton, WI 1960 

5 13

Prescott, WI 1962 

5 14

Racine, WI 1964 

5 15

Sheboygan, WI 1966 

5 16

Madison, WI 1968 

5 17

Wausau, WI 1970 

5 18

Eau Claire, WI 1972 

5 19

Green Bay, WI 1974 

6 1

La Crosse, WI 1976 

6 2

Madison, WI 1977 

6 3

Milwaukee, WI 1978 

6 4

Madison, WI 1980 

6 5

Wausau, WI 1982 

6 6

Oshkosh, WI 1984 

6 7

Milwaukee, WI 1986 

6 8

Appleton, WI 1996 

6 9
Box Folder

Membership Lists 1965-1994 

1 11

Officers 

Box Folder

Elsie Kotnour - Correspondence 1954-1971 

1 12

Elsie Kotnour - Correspondence 1972-2005 

2 1

Elsie Kotnour - Reports 

2 2

Elsie Kotnour - Speeches 

2 3

Doris Brand - Correspondence 

2 4

Procedures 

Box Folder

Meeting Outlines 

2 5

Publications 1961-2001 

Box Folder

"Badger Bullitin" 1961-1983 

2 6

"Badger Bullitin" 1984-1988 

2 7

"Badger Bullitin" 1989-2001 

2 8

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Local 

Box Folder

Written Histories 

2 9

Constitutions and By-Laws 1958-1995 

2 10

Articles Written for Publicity 

2 11

Clippings 

2 12

Congressional Correspondence 1957-1991 

2 13

District Meetings 1959-1971 

Box Folder

Clear Lake, WI 1959 

2 14

La Crosse, WI 1961 

2 15

La Crosse, WI 1971 

2 16
Box Folder

Ephemera 

4 6

Financial 1956-1996 

Box Folder

Reports 1957-1973 

3 1

Reports 1974-1990 

3 2

Reports 1991-1996 

3 3

Records 1956-1960 

3 4

Records 1967-1982 

3 5

Tax Information 

3 6

Treasurer's Records 1957-1996 

3 7
Box Folder

Meeting Minutes 1958-1998 

3 8

Membership Lists 1962-1993 

4 1

Procedures 

Box Folder

Installations 

4 2

Meeting Outlines 

4 3

Memorial Services 

4 4

Publications 1991-1999 

Box Folder

"The Agitator" 1991-1999 

4 5

Scrapbooks 1933-2007 

Box Folder

Scrapbook 1933-1952 

4 7
Box

Scrapbooks 1952-2007 

7

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