NATIONAL INDIAN WAR VETERANS (CHICAGO, ILL.):

The bulk of the collection consists of letters to Ernest Von Lorenz, commander of St. Paul Camp No. 21 of the National Indian War Veterans (NIWV), who also served as the Minnesota state commander and NIWV commander in chief (1940-1946). One of the chief correspondents is J. A. Edwards, the NIWV secretary and treasurer under Von Lorenz.

The correspondence prior to Von Lorenz's election as NIWV commander in chief (1934-1939) includes information pertaining to an investigation of the salaries and travel expenses provided members of the Minnesota Soldiers' Home Board; Von Lorenz's membership in the Eighth U.S. Cavalry Veterans Association, including a roster of members; his activity as commander of St. Paul Camp No. 21; and internal disputes which surrounded the disbanding of the NIWV (February 15, 1939) and its subsequent reorganization with headquarters in Chicago.

The 1940 NIWV convention elected a new roster of officers and the correspondence following the convention discusses factional infighting and the dissension of William P. Miles of Roxbury, Massachusetts, who eventually left the NIWV and formed the United States Indian War Veterans.

The correspondence during Von Lorenz's tenure as commander in chief discusses the NIWV's lobbying efforts aimed at increasing pensions; requests for assistance in securing pension benefits; members' reminiscences; publication of the organization's monthly newspaper, Winners of the West; appointment of state officers; activities aimed at the promotion and growth of the NIWV; organization of the 1942 national convention in St. Paul; postponement of the 1944 convention; and Lorenz's and Edward's resignations due to ill health (1945-1946).

The remainder of the collection includes a bound volume of minutes, financial reports, and rosters of St. Paul Camp No. 21 (July 7, 1927-May 4, 1947); NIWV membership applications and lists (undated, 1927-1942); convention proceedings (June 19, 1940 and June 8, 1942); correspondence related to pension claims made by Indian war veterans in Minnesota (1933-1938); copies of legislation covering pension increases (1940-1941, 1944); and newspaper clippings related to the NIWV.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. National Indian War Veterans (Chicago, Ill.) Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 14,549

Processing Information:

Processed by: Frank Hennessy, February 1992.

Catalog ID number: 990017158420104294

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Indians of North America -- Wars -- 1866-1895.

Pension, Military -- United States.

Soldiers' homes -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.

Veterans -- United States.

Persons:

Edwards, J. A., author.

Von Lorenz, Ernest, 1861-, author.

Organizations:

Minnesota Soldiers Home (Minneapolis, Minn.). Board of Trustees.

National Indian War Veterans. St. Paul Camp No. 21 (Saint Paul, Minn.)

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