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Guide to the Physicians for Social Responsibility, La Crosse Area Chapter Records, 1980-2001
MSS 065
Table of Contents
- Summary Information
- Historical Note
- Scope and Contents
- Arrangement
- Administrative Information
- Related Materials
- Controlled Access Headings
- Collection Inventory
- Historical Materials
- Administrative Materials
- Financial Materials
- Membership
- Programs and Events
- Wisconsin Physicians for Social Responsibility
- National Physicians for Social Responsibility
- Related Organizations
Summary Information
- Abstract
- Organized in April 1982, the La Crosse area chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) was comprised of a group of physicians dedicated to the antinuclear movement and nuclear disarmament. This non-profit organization sponsored numerous special programs including the Festival of Lanterns, and they helped fund the International Peace Lantern Exchange Project, modeled on the Festival of Lanterns. With the end of the Cold War in 1992, the local group continued in a dormant stage, finally disbanding in 1995. Records from the Physicians for Social Responsibility date from 1980-2001, with the bulk of the records dating from 1980-1992. They include historical materials, administrative files, financial materials, membership materials, programs and events. Materials from the Wisconsin Physicians for Social Responsibility, National Physicians for Social Responsibility and related organizations are also included.
- Collection Title
- Physicians for Social Responsibility, La Crosse Area Chapter Records
- Date of Materials
- 1980-2001
- Creator
- Physicians for Social Responsibility (U.S.). La Crosse Area Chapter (Wis.).
- Call Number
- MSS 065
- Amount
- 1.6 cubic feet
- Physical Description
- 4 archives boxes
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- La Crosse Public Library Archives
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Physicians for Social Responsibility, La Crosse Area Chapter Records, MSS 065, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI
Historical Note
Physicians for Social Responsibility is a professional organization of doctors committed to professional and public education on the dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear war. The national organization, formed in 1961, oversees state and local chapters throughout the country.
La Crosse area physicians met on April 28, 1982, to form a local chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Thirteen doctors signed a formal petition for membership status; they were: Dr. Dean E. Whiteway, Dr. Charles A. Rodman, Dr. Allen G. Brailey, Dr. Robert W. Ramlow, Dr. William B. Gallagher, Dr. Stephen E. Kraft, Dr. Robert Miller, Dr. William Agger, Dr. Cameron F. Roberts, Dr. Robert Whiteway, Dr. Rudolph M. Keimowitz, Dr. Richard M. Feddersen, and Dr. William A. Morgan. Two other doctors, Dr. Michael E. Nesemann and Dr. Michael H. Mader, were members but did not sign the petition due to an oversight. PSR/La Crosse was accepted for chapter status on July 26, 1982.
PSR/La Crosse sponsored numerous programs to educate the community on the dangers of nuclear war. Speakers came to present information to PSR/La Crosse. Members of the organization often spoke to groups in the community. Film screenings and discussions frequently took place.
The most well known program sponsored by PSR/La Crosse was the Festival of Lanterns that served as a memorial to those who suffered and died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The first lantern floating ceremony, headed by Dr. Cameron Gundersen, took place on Saturday, August 3, 1985, at Riverside Park in La Crosse. The event continued on an annual basis until 1993, but on a smaller scale.
The International Peace Lantern Exchange Project (IPLEP), also sponsored by PSR/La Crosse, was originated by Jim and Peggy Baumgartner and modeled on the Festival of Lanterns. Peace lanterns made by children in one country were exchanged with peace lanterns made by children in another country. Lantern floats then took place the first Saturday in August. The first IPLEP lantern float took place on August 2, 1986. Some countries that participated in lantern floats included the Soviet Union, China, England, Japan, and Germany. The last local IPLEP lantern float may have been in 1991.
By March 1992, with the end of the Cold War, PSR/La Crosse began to explore whether or not they could focus on other areas of concern. PSR/La Crosse continued in a dormant state in order to preserve the possibility of funding other lantern floating festivals. The chapter formally disbanded on April 20, 1995.
Scope and Contents
Records from the Physicians for Social Responsibility date from 1980-2001, with the bulk of the records dating from 1980-1992. They include historical materials, administrative files, financial materials, membership materials, programs and events. Materials from the Wisconsin Physicians for Social Responsibility, National Physicians for Social Responsibility and related organizations are also included.
Arrangement
Arranged in eight series:
Series 1: Historical Materials
Series 2: Administrative Materials
Series 6: Wisconsin Physicians for Social Responsibility
Series 7: National Physicians for Social Responsibility
Series 8: Related Organizations
Administrative Information
Publication Information
La Crosse Public Library Archives 2001 December
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 nos. 2001.001, 2001.018, 2001.036) Donated by Dr. Robert W. Ramlow, January 2000; Dr. William A. Morgan, May 2001, September 2001
Processing Information
Processed by Christine Stolz with assistance from Jessica Nordstrom, Dec. 2001.
Related Materials
Related Materials
- (Clipping file)
- La Crosse--Organizations--Physicians for Social Responsibility
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Physicians for Social Responsibility (U.S.). La Crosse Area Chapter (Wis.).
- Physicians for Social Responsibility (U.S.). Wisconsin Chapter.
- Physicians for Social Responsibility (U.S.).
Geographic Name(s)
- La Crosse (Wis.)--Societies, etc.
Personal Name(s)
- Morgan, William A.
- Ramlow, Robert W.
Subject(s)
- Antinuclear movement--Wisconsin--La Crosse
- Nuclear disarmament--Wisconsin--La Crosse
- Physicians--Political activity--Wisconsin--La Crosse
Collection Inventory
(Series 1) Historical Materials |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Historical background and ephemera, 1980-1987 |
1 | 1 | ||
|
Newsletters, 1982-1992 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Newspaper clippings |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
1982-1983 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
1984-1985 |
1 | 4 | ||
|
1986-1991 |
1 | 5 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Press releases, 1982-1988 |
1 | 6 | ||
|
|
||||
(Series 2) Administrative Materials |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Chapter formation, 1982 |
1 | 7 | ||
|
Chapter program report, 1990-1992 |
1 | 8 | ||
|
Constitution and by-laws, 1985 |
1 | 9 | ||
|
Correspondence |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Mader, Dr. Michael, 1984-1989 |
1 | 10 | ||
|
Morgan, Dr. William, 1982-1992, 2001 |
1 | 11 | ||
|
Other correspondence, 1982-1992 |
1 | 12 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Fundraising, 1984-1985 |
1 | 13 | ||
|
Liability insurance, 1987-1994 |
1 | 14 | ||
|
Liability resources, 1982, 2000 |
1 | 15 | ||
|
Meeting minutes, 1982-1989 |
1 | 16 | ||
|
Meeting with Steve Gunderson of the 3rd Congressional District of Wisconsin, 1987 |
1 | 17 | ||
|
Publicity, 1982-1985 |
1 | 18 | ||
|
State Medical Society of Wisconsin, 1982-1985 |
1 | 19 | ||
|
Steering Committee |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Agendas and minutes, 1982-1995 |
2 | 1 | ||
|
Correspondence, 1983-1990 |
2 | 2 | ||
|
|
||||
(Series 3) Financial Materials |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Cashbook, 1986-1995 |
2 | 3 | ||
|
Checkbook registers, 1982-1995 |
2 | 4 | ||
|
Correspondence, 1987-1995 |
2 | 5 | ||
|
Financial reports, 1982-1994 |
2 | 6 | ||
|
Quarterly financial reports to national PSR, 1982-1995 |
2 | 7 | ||
|
Sellers permit, 1986-1993 |
2 | 8 | ||
|
Tax exempt status, 1981-1986 |
2 | 9 | ||
|
|
||||
(Series 4) Membership |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Membership drives, 1982-1989 |
2 | 10 | ||
|
Membership lists, 1982-1992 |
2 | 11 | ||
|
|
||||
(Series 5) Programs and Events |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Anderson, Dr. J. Edward, 1983-1984 |
2 | 12 | ||
|
Civil Defense meeting, 1980-1983 |
2 | 13 | ||
|
Conferences attended by PSR members, 1982-1983 |
2 | 14 | ||
|
Evans, Dr. Joseph, 1983-1985 |
3 | 1 | ||
|
Festival of Lanterns |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
1984-1985 |
3 | 2 | ||
|
1986-1988 |
3 | 3 | ||
|
1989-1992 |
3 | 4 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
International Peace Lantern Exchange Project, 1985-1991 |
3 | 5 | ||
|
Other programs and events |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
1982-1983 |
3 | 6 | ||
|
1984 |
3 | 7 | ||
|
1985-1986 |
3 | 8 | ||
|
1987-1992 |
3 | 9 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Soviet-American Physicians Campaign, 1987 |
3 | 10 | ||
|
|
||||
(Series 6) Wisconsin Physicians for Social Responsibility |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Correspondence, 1982-1991 |
4 | 1 | ||
|
Minutes, 1984-1988 |
4 | 2 | ||
|
Newspaper clippings, 1984 June |
4 | 3 | ||
|
Newsletters, 1984-1990 |
4 | 4 | ||
|
|
||||
(Series 7) National Physicians for Social Responsibility |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Accomplishments and priorities, 1989-1992 |
4 | 5 | ||
|
Annual report, 1982-1990 |
4 | 6 | ||
|
Bibliography of materials, undated |
4 | 7 | ||
|
Board of directors, 1983-1989 |
4 | 8 | ||
|
Brochures, 1983-1990 |
4 | 9 | ||
|
By-laws, 1981 |
4 | 10 | ||
|
Chapter mailings, 1982-1992 |
4 | 11 | ||
|
Director's report, 1983 December |
4 | 12 | ||
|
Minutes and meeting information, 1986-1990 |
4 | 13 | ||
|
Newsletters, 1982-1991 |
4 | 14 | ||
|
Newspaper and magazine clippings, 1982-1983 |
4 | 15 | ||
|
|
||||
(Series 8) Related Organizations |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War, 1981-1991 |
4 | 16 | ||
|
Other related organizations, 1982-1990 |
4 | 17 | ||
|
|
||||