HTML-Encoded Finding Aid

Title: Women's International League for Peace & Freedom: Meta Riseman Collection

Genre: Papers

Dates: 1913 to 1979 (Primarily 1946-57)

Size  : 7 linear feet, 7 scrapbooks, 1 oversized mss box

ID  #:  619                                                   

OCLC:                                                         

©Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor & Urban Affairs

HEFA.01b.update

HELP

SCOPE & CONTENTS

Ø     Biography

Ø     History

Ø     Subjects

Ø     Correspondents

Ø     Transfer

 

SERIES STATEMENT

CONTENTS

Reuther Web Holdings

Scope & Contents

 

The WILPF/Meta Riseman Collection was placed in the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs in May 1976 by Meta Riseman, and was opened for research in June 1978.

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History

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was founded in 1915 at the Hague during the first Women's Peace Conference, which met to seek ways of ending existing hostilities. Jane Addams, who presided over the conference, became the League's first international president, and remained in that office until her death in 1935. In 1919, the Second Women's Peace Conference voted to continue the WILPF on a permanent basis. Its goal was, and is, to "unite women in all countries who are opposed to every kind of war, exploitation and oppression, and who work for universal disarmament and for the solution of conflicts by recognition of human solidarity, by conciliation, and arbitrations, by world cooperation, and by the establishment of social, political, and economic justice for all, without distinction of sex, race, class or creed." The U.S. Section, one of twenty national sections on five continents, supports state and local branches across the country by its national offices in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The Michigan and Detroit branches came into existence jointly in 1919. The members have, since that time, been very involved in WILPF projects on the national, state and local levels. Some of the original members are still active.

Biography

Meta Riseman, nee Rosenberg, was born in Germany in 1904. She came to

the United States in 1910 with her parents, and lived with them in Newark, New Jersey until she entered Smith College around 1920. After graduating in 1924, she spent a year in Europe where she attended the University of Berlin and the University of Zurich. Upon her return she taught school for two years, in New York and New Jersey. In 1927 she was married to Harry Riseman, and came to Detroit.

Mrs. Riseman's WILPF activity began when her mother encouraged her to become a member in 1928. In 1941 she became president of the Detroit Unit. She was elected president of the Michigan branch in 1943. She also served as president of the U.S. Section, and chaired a national committee on human rights.

 

The papers of Mrs. Riseman reflect her deep involvement of the WILPF and other peace groups.

Subjects

Anti‑Semitism

Disarmament (A & H bombs, nuclear weapons)

Draft (UMT, conscription)

Human rights (Including civil rights, women's rights, Indians' rights)

Peace

 

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Correspondents

Katherine (Kitty) Arnett

Alice Bostick

Kathleen Hendrie

Mildred Scott Olmstead

Elsie Picon

Elizabeth Weideman

Transfer

Approximately thirty photographs relating to Michigan Branch WILPF participation in the 1960 and 1961 State Fairs and the 1965 Symposium Toward a Peaceful Planet have been placed in the Archives Audio Visual collection. A WILPF button has also been placed there. Numerous pamphlets and periodicals dealing with peace, human rights, and anti-Semitism have been placed in the Archives Library. With them are issues of Pax et Libertas, and the UAW Local 180 Newsletter. A complete listing of these publications is available with the librarian.

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Series Statement

 

Series 1

Boxes 1‑8: WILPF Files, 1913‑1976

Office files kept by Mrs. Riseman, including correspondence, membership lists and directories, bulletins and financial reports, petitions, pamphlets, brochures and reprints on pertinent topics.

Series 2

Boxes 9‑13: WILPF Branch Packets, 1956‑1970

Packets of mimeographed material sent monthly from the national to state branch members.

Series 3

Box 14: Personal Files of Mrs. Riseman, 1933‑1973

Correspondence, newspaper clippings and pamphlets covering Mrs. Riseman's interests in Dryden, Michigan, her friendships, and her activities in organizations other than the WILPF.

Scrapbooks, 1941‑1962

These scrapbooks document the activities of the Detroit and Michigan

Branches of the WILPF, primarily through clippings. Three of them

focus on specific projects (Human Rights Project, Disarmament Project,

and Fortieth Anniversary), and the other four cover general activities.

 

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Contents

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[Box1] [Box2] [Box3] [Box4] [Box5] [Box6] [Box7] [Box8] [Box9] [Box10]

[Box11][Box12][Box13][Box14][Box15][Box16]

 

[Box 1]

1. Biographical materials (printed)

2. Jane Addams article, Chicago Examiner, August 11, 1913.

3. Clippings, letters, miscellaneous, 1916‑1929.

4. Capital punishment articles, 1916‑1929.

5. Carrie Chapman Catt article, Good Housekeeping, March 1918

6. Suffragist Magazine, February 1920.

7. Suffragist‑Magazine, March 1920.

8. Suffragist Magazine,   January‑February, 1921. (2 copies)

9. The National Women's Party, 1913‑1926

10. WILPF National and International material, 1930‑34.

11. Constitution, by‑laws and rules of order, amended Zurich, 1934.

12. WILPF programs, 1934‑37.

13. Twentieth Anniversary of WILPF (Jane Addams dinner), 1935.

14. WILPF Michigan Branch By‑laws, as amended 1935.

15. Correspondence: Balch, Emily and Hendrie, Mrs. George, 1935‑55.

16. Minutes and materials from the National and Inter‑national, 1935‑39.

17. Fellowship Magazine, December 1937.

18. Fellowship Magazine, April 1938. 19.Fellowship Magazine, June 1938.

20. Fellowship Magazine, September 1938. 21.Fellowship Magazine, Nov 1938.

22. Background for War, Reprint from Time, 1939.

23. Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., May 1939.

24. The Nation Magazine, June 1940.

25. Annual Report, 1940.

26. WILPF programs, 1940‑55.

27. Pamphlets, reprints, and clippings, 1940‑49.

28. Articles and WILPF reading list, 1940‑49.

 

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[Box 2]

1. South America materials, 1941 and 1946.

2. Anti‑Semitism letters from branches, 1944‑45.

3. Resolutions (National Board Meetings), 1944‑47.

4. Published material on peace and on bigotry, 1944‑48.

5. Miscellaneous flyers and bulletins, 1945‑49.

6. Notice of Annual Meeting, 1946.

7. "Highlights in WILPF History 1915‑1946", November 1946.

8. State Membership Correspondence, 1946‑47.

9. Minutes, U.S. Section, 1946‑47.

10. Detroit Branch Membership List, 1947.

11. Emily Greene Balch Dinner, 1947.

12. Membership Kit, 1947.

13. Articles from The Nation and Survey Graphic, 1947‑48.

14. Michigan WILPF Bulletins and Minutes, 1947‑49.

15. Michigan WILPF Financial Reports, 1950.

16. Michigan WILPF Minutes, 1950.

17. Michigan WILPF Bulletins, 1950.

18. Michigan WILPF Correspondence, 1950.

19. National WILPF Communications, 1950.

20. "The Story of the WIL Human Rights Project", 1950.

 

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[Box 3]

1. Pamphlets and Congressional Letters about Draft, Conscription, UMT, 1950‑51.

2. Fair Employment Literature, 1950‑54.

3‑5. Michigan WILPF Correspondence and Bulletins, 1951.

6. Michigan WILPF Branch Correspondence, 1951.

7. Michigan WILPF Branch Financial Report, 1951.

8. State Board Meeting Minutes, 1951.

9. National Board Meeting, February 1951. 10. (UN) Point Four Conference 1951.

10. (UN) Point Four Conference, 1951.

11. Michigan WILPF Branch Membership Lists, 1951‑52.

12. Pamphlets, Reprints and Clippings, 1951‑59.

 

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[Box 4]

1. Michigan WILPF Correspondence, 1952.

2‑3. Michigan WILPF Correspondence and Bulletins, 1952.

4. Michigan WILPF Financial Report, 1952.

5. Organization Planning for a Lansing WILPF, 1952.

6. Michigan WILPF Correspondence and Bulletins, 1953.

7. Michigan WILPF Financial Report, 1953.

8. Honorarium for Dr. Henry Hitt Crane, May 1953 9.Twelfth International Congress of the WILPF, The Legal Status of Women in the United States

10. Michigan WILPF Finance, 1953‑55.

11. Michigan WILPF Correspondence and Bulletins, 1954‑55.

12. National Board Membership Lists, 1954‑55.

13. Infiltration Package, McCarthy Era, 1954‑55.

14. Paris, August 1953

 

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[Box 5]

1. Study of Organization Problems, U.S. Section, May 1955.

2. Fortieth Anniversary Dinner, Hay 2, 1955.

3. Reports to the Annual Meeting, U.S. Section, July 1955.

4. Human Rights pamphlets, 1955.

5. Michigan WILPF Correspondence and Financial Reports, 1956.

6. Letters sent with president's signature, U.S. Section, 1956.

7. Executive Session, 1956.

8.Material for the Executive Committee Meeting, Sept. 1956. 9. National Board Meeting, October 1956. 9. "Four Lights", Dec. 1956.

10. Letters referred from the National (answered), 1956. 11.Letters referred from the National (unanswered), 1956.

 

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[Box 6]

1. Finance, WDWD, Policy committees 1956‑57.

2. Planning, Emily G. Balch 90th Birthday, 1956‑57.

3. National and International Literature, 1956‑57.

4. WILPF Press Clippings, 1956‑64.

5. Civil Rights literature, 1956‑71.

6. Petitions on Ending Nuclear Weapons Tests, Scrapbook, 1957.

7. Petitions on Ending Nuclear Weapons Tests, Correspondence, 1957.

8. National WILPF Legislative Letters, 1957.

9. Notes from Executive Sessions, 1957.

10. Letters referred from the National (answered), 1957.

11. National Board Meeting, 1957.

12. Asian‑American Conference, 1957.

13. Correspondence re: National Board Meeting, June 1957.

14. Annual Meeting of National Board, June 1957. 15.Annual Executive Committee Meeting, 1957.

 

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[Box 7]

1. Directory, National Board, 1957‑58.

2. Michigan WILPF Bulletins, 1957‑60.

3. National Board Meeting, 1958.

4. Annual Meeting U.S. Section, Appleton, Wisc., June 1958.

5. Planning, Jane Addams Centennial, 1958.

6. World Disarmament Correspondence, 1958‑62.

7. National Board Meeting, 1959.

8. Fourth Annual Legislative Seminar, 1959.

9. Bulletins and miscellaneous communications, 1959‑65.

10. WILPF and Michigan State Fair, 1960.

11. Peace, nuclear weapons cartoons, 1960's.

12. Pamphlets, brochures and reprints, 1960‑69.

13. WILPF and Michigan State Fair, 1961.

14. Annual Meeting, April 1962.

15. "Cold War in the Classroom", WILPF Flyer, 1963.

16. Communications from the National, 1964.

17. Symposium Toward a Peaceful Planet, Correspondence, 1965.

18. Symposium Toward a Peaceful Planet, Planning Correspondence and Background.

19. Symposium Toward a Peaceful Planet, Follow‑up, 1965.

 

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[Box 8]

1. Constitution and By‑laws, Detroit Branch, 1965.

2. "50 Years for Peace and Freedom", play, 1965.

3. Correspondence and Flyers, 1965‑68.

4. Report on Alabama Justice, Feb. 1966.

5. Material from the National and Pamphlets, 1966‑69. 6. Michigan Branch Extension correspondence, 1969‑70. 7. Publicity for WILPF sale of UNICEF cards, 1969‑72. 8. 8."Declaration‑of Women's Independence" flyer, 1970. 9. Michigan WILPF Lobbying Materials, 1970.

10. Racism Kit, 1971.

11. Material from the National and Pamphlets, 1970‑71.

12. Petitions: to End the War; Against Racial Discrimination, 1970‑72.

13‑14. Michigan WILPF legislation and Bulletins, 1970‑73.

15. Correspondence and Legislation, 1971‑72.

16. A Strategy for Action Handbook, [1972].

17. Michigan WILPF Correspondence, Bulletins, Minutes, and Resolutions, 1972‑73.

18. Miscellaneous WILPF materials, 1975‑76.

 

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[Box 9]

1. October, 1956

2. November 1956

3. January 1957

4. February 1957

5. March 1957

6. April 1957

7. May 1957

8. June 1957

9. July 1957

10. August 1957

11. October 1957

12.November 1957

13. December 1957

14. January 1958

15. February 1958

16. March 1958

17. April 1958

18. May 1958

19. June 1958

20. July 1958

21. October 1958

22. Nov. 1958

 

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[Box10]

1. December 1958

2. January 1959

3. February 1959

4. March 1959

5. April 1959

6. May 1959

7. June 1959

8. Sept./Oct 1960

9. November 1960

10. December 1960

11. January 1961

12.February 1961

13.March 1961

14.April 1961

15. May 1961

16. June 1961

17. July 1961

18. Sept./Oct. 1961

19. November 1961

20. December 1961

21.  January 1962

22. February 1962

23.  March 1962

24. April 1962

25. May 1962

26. June 1962

27.  February 1963

28.  June 1963

29. October 1963

 

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[Box11]

1. January 1964

2. February 1964

3. April 1964

4. June 1964

5. Sept./Oct. 1964

6. November 1964

7. January 1965

8. February 1965

9. April 1965

10. June 1965

11. Sept./Oct. 1965

12. Annual Meeting Sept./Oct. 1965

13. November 1965

14. January 1966

15. February 1966

16. Annual Meeting June 1966

17. Sept./Oct. 1966

18. November 1966

 

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[Box12]

1. Feb. /March 1967

2. April 1967

3. May 1967

4. November 1967

5. January 1968

6. Feb./March 1968

7. April 1968

8. May/June 1968

9. Sept. /Oct. 1968

10. November 1968

11. January 1969

12. February 1969

13. April 1969

14. May/June 1969

15. July 1969

 

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[Box13]

1.Sept./Oct. 1969

2.November 1969

3. February 1970

4. May 1970

5. February 1971

6.May 1971

7.July 1971

8.October 1971

9.November 1971

10. March 1972

11. Memo from Washington 1956

12. Washington Newsletter, Feb. & Aug. 1956

13. Washington Newsletter. Aug. & Sept. 1957

14. Political Action Handbook, Feb. 1959.

15-16. Childhood Education Kit, 1963.

17.Society of Friends Ed. Packet, 1963.

18. Jane Addams Children's Book Awards

and Related WILPF Reading Lists, 1963‑69.

19.WILPF Childhood Education Committee,

St. Louis, Reading Lists [1969‑70].

 

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[Box14]

1. Card: Meta Riseman, Socialist Party Candidate for School Inspector, 1933.

2. Letters, August 1950 and March 1941.

3. Miscellaneous, 1955‑1965.

4. Newspaper clippings, 1957‑76.

5. Programs and Testimonials, 1960‑76.

6. Obituary clippings, 1965‑73.

7. Clippings on Alice Herz's death, March 1965.

8. Clippings on Stillman J. Elwell, 1971,

9. Brochure for Italian Divine Comedy, 1973.

 

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[Box15]

Scrapbooks

1 storage box

WILPF, Detroit Branch, 1941‑46.

WILPF, Michigan and Detroit Branches, Human Rights Project, 1949‑50.

WILPF, Disarmament Project, 1950‑51.

WILPF, Michigan Branch, Fortieth Anniversary Celebration, May 1955.

WILPF, Detroit Branch, 1955‑58

WILPF, Michigan State Fair, 1959‑60.

WILPF, Detroit and Michigan Branches, 1959‑62.

 

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[Box16]

Oversized Box

         WILPF Scrapbook, 1951‑55

         Equal Rights, 24 May 1924

         Women of the Whole World, 1968

         World War II neutrality chart

         World War II Poster ‑ "An Alert to All Rumor Wardens

 

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Finding Aid end­