Willkie Clubs mss., 1940
Summary Information
Repository
Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Lilly Library
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu
Creator
Associated Willkie Clubs of America
TitleWillkie Clubs mss., 1940
Collection No.
LMC 2325
Extent
64,417 items
Language
Materials are in English.
Abstract
The Willkie Clubs mss., 1940, consists
of the presidential campaign records of the Associated Willkie Clubs of America for
the U.S. presidential election of 1940.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Biographical Note
Utilities executive Wendell Lewis Willkie, 1892-1944, began achieving national
recognition in 1939 through his vocal and written arguments opposing the Tenessee
Valley Authority and governmental control of energy production. A speech given in
late March 1940 so impressed a young Wall Street lawyer, Oren Root, Jr., that Root
launched a trial petition drive in New York asking for support of Willkie for
president. The initial success of that drive led Root to take a leave of absence
from his law firm and set up a headquarters for The Associated Willkie Clubs of
America at 63rd Street & Madison Avenue, with himself as national chair of
the movement.
Designed from the beginning as a volunteer, grass roots movement local clubs were
made up of individuals of all political affiliations. The movement was so successful
in attracting membership and contributions that the Willkie Clubs are generally
given credit for Willkie's nomination at the Philadelphia Republican convention in
spite of the party regulars and Old Guard Republicans. Following the election the
Associated Willkie Clubs of America was dissolved in December 1940, with Willkie's
blessing, and re-organized as the Independent Clubs of America. In this guise
however, the organization lasted just one year, closing almost immediately after the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series: I. Associated Clubs; II.
Campaign correspondence; III. Club correspondence; IV. Contributors' letters; V.
Independent Clubs; VI. Miscellaneous; VII. Post-election testimonials and
suggestions; VIII. Regional set-up of clubs; IX. Financial; and, X. Card files.
Scope and Content Note
The Willkie Clubs mss., 1940, consists of the presidential campaign records of the
Associated Willkie Clubs of America for the U.S. presidential election of 1940.
Includes correspondence; financial reports; cancelled checks; contribution receipts;
expense vouchers; card files of club workers, correspondents, and volunteers.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Acquired 1952.
Usage RestrictionsPrior arrangements are not necessary before coming to the Library, however,
patrons from out of town are encouraged to communicate with the Library in
advance of their visits to ascertain availability of materials.
Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Curator of Manuscripts, Lilly
Library.
Preferred Citation
Willkie Clubs mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Series:
Box 1
I. Associated Clubs
Financial reports 1-4
Reports of receipts and expenditures
Proceedings National Conference of Leaders, Associated Willkie
Clubs of America, Dec. 14,
1940
(3 copies)
Series:
Box 2
II. Campaign Correspondence
Alaska - Colorado
Box 3
Connecticut - Florida
Box 4
Georgia - Indiana
Box 5
Iowa - Massachusetts (Misc. cities A-L)
Box 6
Massachusetts (Misc. cities M-Z) - New Hampshire
Box 7
New Jersey - New Mexico
Box 8
North Carolina - Pennsylvania (Harrisburg)
Box 9
Pennsylvania (Johnstown) - Tennessee (Misc. cities
A-Q)
Box 10
Tennessee (Misc. cities R-Z) - Wisconsin
Box 11
Wyoming
Series:
Box 11
III. Club Correspondence
Alaska - Washington, D.C.
Box 12
Washington D.C. (cont.) - Maine
Box 13
Maryland - Nebraska
Box 14
Nevada - Pennsylvania (Johnstown)
Box 15
Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) - Virginia
(Charlottesville)
Box 16
Virginia (Richmond) - Wyoming
Series:
Box 16
IV. Contributors' Letters
Arranged alphabetically by state, followed by New York City, which is
arranged alphabetically by correspondent
Alabama - Massachusetts
Box 17
Michigan - New York City (contributors A-F)
Box 18
New York City (contributors G-Z)
Donation acknowledgements
Contributions
Box 19
Contributions (cont.)
Series:
Box 19
V. Independent Clubs
Alabama - Minnesota
Box 20
Missouri - Tennessee
Box 21
Utah - Wyoming
Series:
Box 21
VI. Miscellaneous
Advertising
Airlines
Broadcasting
Contracts
Democratic Party publicity
Fifth Avenue Coach Company
Insurance
Lists
New York State, Dept. of Labor
Pheiffer, W.T., New York
Pre-convention personnel
Post Office
Regan Office Furniture Company
Republican National Committee
U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue
Willkie Club Payrolls
Willkie Club State Expenditures
Series:
Box 21
VII. Post-Election Testimonials and Suggestions
A - New Jersey (cities A-M)
Box 22
New Jersey (cities N-Z) - Wyoming
Series:
Box 22
VIII. Regional Set-up of Clubs
Favorable A-B
(Correspondence between donors and Willkie Clubs concerning retention
of unused contributions)
Box 23
Favorable C-Z
Refund letters
Refund inquiries
Series:
Box 24
IX. Financial
"R.H. Donnelley Corp. kits file"
Contributors' receipts
Checkbooks from Irving Trust Co.
(3 checkbooks)
Box 25
Club contributors' receipts in duplicate
Cancelled checks
Statement of Treasurer of Political Committee
Kits file
Notebook of "solicitors and
contributions gotten by each"
Box 26
Vouchers 1 - 360
(numbers 46, 161, 271, 287, 324 missing)
Box 27
Vouchers 361 - 720
(numbers 399, 485, 499, 503, 559, 662, 703 missing)
Oversize 1
Receipts ledger
Series:
Box 28
X. Card files
Master file: club workers
Independent clubs file
Card index of correspondents: A - Car
Box 29
Card index of correspondents: Cas - Lem
Box 30
Card index of correspondents: Len - Th
Box 31
Card index of correspondents: Ti - Z
Pre-election volunteers
Oversize 2
Card index of Willkie clubs (Alabama - Iowa)
Oversize 3
Card index of Willkie clubs (Kansas - New York,
Lynbrook)
Oversize 4
Card index of Willkie clubs (New York, Mahopac
-Wyoming)
