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Guide to the Great Rivers United Way (Onalaska, Wisconsin) Records, 1948-1999 MSS 059

Guide to the Great Rivers United Way (Onalaska, Wisconsin) Records, 1948-1999

MSS 059

Summary Information

Abstract
The La Crosse Community Chest was first proposed by the Citizens Committee in 1932 and adopted by seven agencies later that year. By 1955, 19 agencies were affiliated with the Community Chest, and three new agencies were added in the 1956 campaign. During the 1965 campaign, the La Crosse Community Chest and Welfare Federation was renamed the La Crosse United Fund. In 1974 another name change was administered, as the La Crosse United Fund became the United Way of the La Crosse Area, Inc. The United Way of La Crosse underwent an operational reconstruction in 1997 by funding specific programs instead of the agencies themselves. Sometime after 1999, the United Way of La Crosse was renamed the Great Rivers United Way. As of 2012, this organization remains active. Records of the Great Rivers United Way include correspondence, files on committees and their activities, campaign and other advertising materials, financial records, photographs, scrapbooks, and other administrative files. Materials range in date from 1948 to 1999.
Collection Title
Great Rivers United Way (Onalaska, Wisconsin) Records
Date of Materials
1948-1999
Creator
Great Rivers United Way (Onalaska, Wis.).
Call Number
MSS 059
Amount
9.4 cubic feet
Physical Description
14 archives boxes, 4 record center cartons
Language of Materials
English
Repository
La Crosse Public Library Archives

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Great Rivers United Way (Onalaska, Wisconsin) Records, MSS 059, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

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Historical Note

The La Crosse Community Chest was first proposed by the Citizens Committee on January 31, 1932. The proposal underwent a six month study, and recommendations were sent to welfare organizations of the community. On June 8, 1932, the Community Chest plan was adopted by seven agencies. The Boy Scouts and Y.W.C.A. activities become dependent upon the Community Chest for funding in 1933.

In 1949, a modified version of the articles of incorporation for the Community Chest and Welfare Federation of La Crosse was approved by the citizen’s steering committee. On January 2, 1950, The La Crosse Community Chest and Welfare Federation was formed to protect residents from constant and unrelated appeals, assure better planning and less duplication of services, guarantee effective use of funds through the annual review of the budget, administrative costs, and conserve time and energy of volunteer workers . Seven agencies benefited from the 1949-1950 campaign, including the Boy Scouts, Family Welfare Association, Girl Scouts, La Crosse Home for Children, Salvation Army, YWCA and YMCA.

By 1955, 19 agencies were affiliated with the Community Chest, including: La Crosse Chapter, Wisconsin Mental Health Association, La Crosse Nursery School Association, Confidential Exchange, La Crosse Council Girl Scouts, Gateway Area Boy Scouts, YMCA, YWCA, Wisconsin Hearth Association, Lutheran Welfare Society, Family Welfare Association, Salvation Army, Catholic Welfare Bureau, St. Michael’s Home for Children, Catholic Welfare Family Service, St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged, La Crosse Home for Children, Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin, Sister Kenny Foundation, and the United Defense Fund (including the USO). Three new agencies were added in the 1956 campaign and include Hygiene Association, the United Service Organizations, and the National Probation and Parole Association.

During the 1965 campaign, the La Crosse Community Chest and Welfare Federation was renamed the La Crosse United Fund. In 1974 another name change was administered, as the La Crosse United Fund became the United Way of the La Crosse Area, Inc. By 1979, new qualifications for the United Way funding were implemented and advised agencies that they must be non-profit and tax exempt, plus show evidence of their need in their community. The United Way of La Crosse underwent an operational reconstruction in 1997 by funding specific programs instead of the agencies themselves.

Sometime after 1999, the United Way of La Crosse was renamed the Great Rivers United Way. As of 2012, this organization remains active.

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Scope and Contents

Records of the Great Rivers United Way include correspondence, files on committees and their activities, campaign and other advertising materials, financial records, photographs, scrapbooks, and other administrative files. Materials range in date from 1948 to 1999.

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Arrangement

Arranged in five series:

Series 1: Executive Director

Series 2: Board of Directors

Series 3: Correspondence

Series 4: Campaigns

Series 5: Photographs and Scrapbooks

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

La Crosse Public Library Archives 2007-2012

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

(Accession no. 1999.031) Donated by the United Way of La Crosse via Karrie L. Jackelen, United Way Resource Development Association, 1999 November

Processing Information

Processed by Daniel Nelson (2007-2008) and Bill Doering (2010-2011)

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Community Chest and Welfare Federation of La Crosse (La Crosse, Wis.).
  • Great Rivers United Way (Onalaska, Wis.).
  • La Crosse United Fund (La Crosse, Wis.).
  • United Way of the La Crosse Area (Wis.).

Subject(s)

  • Charities--Wisconsin--La Crosse County

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Collection Inventory

 (Series 1) Executive Director, 1953-1992 

Box Folder

Director's committee, 1980-1986 

18 9

Financial materials, 1953-1991 

18 11

Historical materials 

1 1

La Crosse County Development, Inc., 1960-1992 

18 12

Policies and procedures, undated 

18 10

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 (Series 2) Board of Directors, 1949-1996 

 (Subseries 2.1) Administrative Records, 1949-1994 

Box Folder

Articles of incorporation and bylaws, 1949-1974 

6 1

Annual meetings, 1949-1989 

6 2-18

Board membership and committee assignments, 1949-1991 

6 19

Building Reserve Fund and lease, 1969-1984 

6 20
Box Folder Box Folder

Correspondence, 1952-1994 

8 16-17 9 1-14
Box Folder

Labor union, 1984-1989 

9 15

Minutes, 1949-1990 

9 16-22

Wills 

Box Folder

Bartel, Helen 

10 1

Beckwith, Milton 

10 2

Dahl, Howard 

10 3

Hensel, Albert 

10 4

Seiler, Blanche 

10 5

Wood, Frank 

10 6

 (Subseries 2.2) Committees, 1949-1996 

Box Folder

Agency Relations, 1960-1961 

7 11

Allocations, 1960-1996 

7 1-7

Camp, 1950 

7 12

Chamber of Commerce solicitation, 1965-1984 

7 13

Children's Code, 1954 

7 14

Committee on Alcoholism, 1951-1954 

7 15

Committee on Foster Home Placement of Handicapped Children, 1951-1953 

7 16

Executive 

Box Folder

Correspondence, 1951-1987 

7 8

Minutes, 1951-1990 

7 9
Box Folder

Executive Budget, 1950-1984 

7 10

Nominating, 1950-1959 

7 17

Planning, 1985-1990 

8 1

Public Relations, 1949-1950 

8 2

Recreation survey, 1960-1961 

8 3

Social Planning 

Box Folder

Correspondence, 1950-1976 

8 4

Family and Children's Division, 1951-1956 

Box
8
Folder
5-7

Family and Children's Division Executive Committee, 1951-1956 

8 8

Minutes, 1950-1984 

8 9

Proposals of agencies, 1964-1969 

8 10

Purpose and structure, circa 1966-1969, 1986 

8 11

Recreation and Education Division, 1951-1956 

8 12

Surveys and miscellaneous materials, 1949-1976 

8 13
Box Folder

Transient, undated 

8 14

Venture grant, 1987-1990 

8 15

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 (Series 3) Correspondence, 1948-1992 

Box Folder

Agencies rejected for funding, 1969-1992 

12 4

American Heart Association, 1950-1955 

12 5

American Red Cross, 1960-1989 

12 6-13

American Social Hygiene Association, 1950-1966 

12 14

Association for Retarded Citizens Minnesota (ARC), 1987 

12 15
Box Folder Box Folder

Boy Scouts of America, Gateway Area Council, 1949-1989 

12 16 13 1-2
Box Folder

Boys Club of La Crosse; Boys and Girls Club of La Crosse, 1967-1989 

13 3

Camp Winnebago, 1972-1989 

13 4

Catholic Benevolent Society, 1949-1952 

13 5

Catholic Charities, 1950-1989 

13 6

Catholic Social Services, Inc., 1966-1976 

13 8

Catholic Welfare Bureau, 1950-1959 

13 8

Children's Home Society of Minnesota, 1968-1988 

14 1

Children's Service Society, 1949-1990 

14 2

Community Action Program, Wisconsin Coulee Region, 1964-1965, 1998 

14 3

Confidential Exchange, 1952-1984 

14 4

Coulee Council of Alcoholism and Other Chemical Abuse, 1979-1990 

14 5

Coulee Region Infant Development Center, 1977-1989 

14 6

Family and Children's Center, 1983-1989 

14 7-8

Family Service Association, 1952-1982 

14 9-12

Family Welfare Association, 1949-1954 

15 1

First Call for Help, 1978-1989 

15 2

Gifts in Kind Charitable Giving Agency, 1984-1992 

15 3

Girl Scouts of America, Riverland Council, 1947-1990 

15 5-6

Head Start, 1967-1969 

15 7

Hi Hopes Club, 1967-1968 

15 8

Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc., 1989 

15 9

Innovation Fund, 1976 

15 10

Internal Employment, 1958-1990 

15 11

Job Corps, undated 

15 12

La Crescent Division of United Way, 1968-1993 

15 13

La Crosse City-County Public Health Council, 1949-1958 

15 14

La Crosse Committee on Aging and Senior Citizens Center, 1956-1987 

15 15

La Crosse Day Nursery; La Crosse Nursery School, 1952-1955 

16 1

La Crosse Home for Children, 1949-1967 

16 2

La Crosse Home for Children-Group Care Study Committee, 1959-1961 

16 3

La Crosse Jail Ministry, 1983-1989 

16 4

La Crosse Tribune, 1971-1974 

16 5

Lutheran Hospital, 1987-1988 

16 6

Lutheran Social Services, 1965-1989 

16 7-10

Lutheran Welfare Society, 1951-1955 

16 11

Medary Center: Special Learning School and Sheltered Workshop, 1974 

16 12

Minnesota Charities Review Council, Inc., 1979-1987 

16 13

Mobile Meals of La Crosse, 1978-1988 

16 14

National Council on Crime and Delinquency, 1966-1977 

16 15

National Probation and Parole Association, 1955-1956 

16 16

National Social Welfare Assembly, 1949-1955 

16 17

Omni, 1975-1977 

16 18

Priority study by Al Jandt, 1973 

16 19

Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), 1988 

17 1

Riverdale Marriage and Family Clinic, 1976-1989 

17 2

Riverfront, 1977-1992 

17 3

Salvation Army, circa 1949-1969 

17 4-7

Sister Kenny Foundation, 1949-1968 

17 8

St. Francis Community Programs, Inc., 1982-1988 

17 9

St. Michael's Home for Children, undated 

17 10

United Agencies Building Corporation, 1979-1981 

17 11-12

United Service Organization, 1949-1989 

17 13

Universal Oil Products, 1975 

17 14

Universal Personnel Practices, undated 

17 15

U. W. employee salary information, 1975-1981 

17 16

Wisconsin Service Association, 1950-1966 

17 17

Wisconsin Welfare Council, 1954-1972 

18 1

YMCA; Family Y; YMCA/YWCA, 1948-1990 

18 2-5

YMCA-NYPUM (National Youth Project Using Minibikes), 1974-1988 

18 6

YWCA, 1949-1990 

18 7

YWCA; New Horizons, 1977-1986 

18 8

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 (Series 4) Campaigns, 1949-1999 

Box Folder

Advertising 

11 1

Campaign programs; award dinner brochures, 1993-1998 

11 2

Capital funds questionnaires, 1951-1952, 1984 

11 3

Corporate fund raising, 1961-1992 

11 4-5

Donations by private individuals, 1962-1992 

11 6

Donations by schools and other non-profit organizations, 1967-1992 

11 7

Gifts received (per division), 1961-1963 

11 8-9

Goals and giving information, 1949-1999 

11 10

Lists and biographical sketches of board members and campaign volunteers, 1963-1989 

11 11

News releases, 1992-1995 

12 1

Public information scripts fo slide series and radio/television advertisements, 1978-1981 

12 2

Scripts for radio and television advertisements, 1970-1991 

12 3

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 (Series 5) Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1949-1993 

Box Folder

Campaigns, 1969-1976 

1 2

Presidents 

Box Folder

Christensen, A. L., 1959 

1 3

Cram, Harold R., 1956 

1 4

Dahl, Howard, 1950 

1 5

Fellows, Sam, 1978 

1 6

Fowler, Oren, 1949 

1 7

Funk, Henry C., 1967 

1 8

Gundersen, Mary B., 1962 

1 9

Hall, B. T., 1961 

1 10

Heineche, James, 1977 

1 11

Huber, Harry, 1954 

1 12

Iverson, Carl H., 1955 

1 13

Jordan, Arthur F., 1952 

1 14

Longfellow, Norman J., 1957 

1 15

Mach, Milo, 1975 

1 16

Milne, George W., 1960-1961 

1 17

Mitchell, Rexford S., 1960 

1 18

Murphy, W. Leo, 1953 

1 19

O'Neill, Lawrence W., 1972 

1 20

Olson, Harry J., 1963 

1 21

Pappas, Peter G., 1951 

1 22

Sherman, John, 1976 

1 23

Sleik, John T. Jr., 1958 

1 24

Stuhr, Beverly, 1979 

1 25
Box Folder

Staff and volunteers 

1 26
Boxes

Scrapbooks, 1965-1993 

2-5

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