Address by Col. E.L. Wilbur
Creator: Wilbur, Colonel E.L.
Date: February 8-11, 1942
Delivered at six regional meetings in Kansas (Dodge City, Salina, Chanute, Hays, Topeka, and Wichita) during the winter of 1942, Col. E.L. Wilbur's remarks strike at the heart of the effort on the home front during World War II. Explaining that the present crisis required more than a military solution, Wilbur extols the virtues and importance of civilian involvement in defense matters.

Anna M. Hogsett to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Hogsett, Anna
Date: October 22, 1942
This letter from Mrs. Anna Hogsett of Brownell, Kansas, to Governor Payne Ratner, details her efforts to help her son Luther who refused to join the U.S. military because he objected to war of any kind. In addition, Mrs. Hogsett's letter is important because it details the stance of many Jehovah's Witnesses toward armed conflict and violence.

Beulah Mongold to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Mongold, Beulah
Date: January 23, 1942
In this letter to Governor Payne Ratner, Beulah Mongold of Topeka, Kansas, proposes that all vacant lots in town be utilized as Victory Gardens because "every foot of ground should be at work." A complete transcription is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Carl Fredin to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Fredin, Carl
Date: January 20, 1942
In this letter to Governor Ratner, Carl Fredin of Wadsworth, Kansas, offers his suggestions and ideas concerning the best way to go about creating Victory Gardens in Kansas. A complete transcription is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Civilian protection organization for a municipality
Date: Unknown
This organization chart depicts the Kansas State Council of Defense structure. Listing the Civilian Protection Organization for a Municipality (Citizen's Defense Corps), the chart details how civilians were to respond in the event of an attack on the U.S.

Clark Eichelberger to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Eichelberger, Clark
Date: August 14, 2009
In this letter to Governor Ratner, Clark Eichelberger, on behalf of William Allen White, contends that Ratner must do everything in his power to garner support for sending U.S. destroyers to Great Britain.

Claud McCamment to D.J. Fair
Creator: McCamment, Claud R
Date: January 30, 1942
In this letter to D.J. Fair, Director of the Kansas State Highway Commission, Claud McCamment, a Safety Engineer for the State, reports the results of his survey of five Kansas cities in preparation for the Kansas Federal Defense clinics to be held in those cities.

Dean H. Umberger to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Umberger, Dean H.
Date: August 26, 1942
This letter to Governor Ratner from Dean H. Umberger of the Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in Manhattan, Kansas, details the progress of the Victory Garden Program. Victory Gardens were planted throughout the United States during World War II to help ease the burden on the public food supply in the U.S.

Edgar Nunally to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Nunally, Reverend Edgar
Date: May 21, 1940
This letter, from Methodist Reverend Edgar Nunally to Governor Payne Ratner, argues that the entire U.S. should "be thoroughly organized and prepared for the future contingencies brought on by the European war."

Ed Kaufman to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Kaufman, Edmund G. (Edmund George), 1891-
Date: June 25, 1940
In this letter to Governor Payne Ratner, Bethel College President Ed. G. Kaufman urges the governor to do all that he can to keep the U.S. out of the war in Europe.

E.H. Reed to the American Civil Liberties Union
Creator: Reed, E.H.
Date: June 1, 1942
Letter from E.H. Reed of Hutchinson, Kansas, to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in New York City. The letter is regarding the case of Frank U. Martin, who was arrested for violating the Selective Service Draft Act. Martin, a Jehovah's Witness minister, objected to military service and repeatedly protested the Selective Service's attempts to draft him into the U.S. military. Reed's letter details the difficulties conscientious objectors faced as they tried to remain true to their religious beliefs in an atmosphere that strongly encouraged participation in the war effort.

F.E. Spicer to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Spicer, F.E.
Date: September 30, 2009
In this letter to Governor Payne Ratner, F.E. Spicer of Abilene, Kansas, argues that the U.S. should remain out of the conflict in Europe. In fact, Spicer contends that the U.S. should not provide any aid to any European nations.

Governor Payne Ratner to the governing bodies of the counties and cities of Kansas
Creator: Ratner, Payne Harry, 1896-1974
Date: January 31, 1942
In this letter to the Governing Bodies of the Counties and Cities of Kansas, Governor Payne Ratner explains that a number of regional meetings of the Kansas State Council of Defense will be held throughout the state in order to "instruct and prepare" officers and members of the local defense councils "for their duties and responsibilities in the defense programs." As with other states during World War II, the Civilian Defense councils in Kansas were designed to ready civilians and civilian agencies for the threat of attack on the U.S.

Governor Prentice Cooper to Governor Payne Ratner correspondence
Creator: Cooper, Prentice, 1895-1969
Date: June 30, 1942-August 08, 1942
Correspondence from Governor Prentice Cooper of Tennessee to Governor Payne Ratner of Kansas addressing the spread of Victory Gardens throughout the U.S. In the letter, Cooper, Chairman of the National Advisory Garden Committee informs Ratner of the progress of the campaign. Correspondence includes the "Report of the National Advisory Garden Committee," dated June 30, 1942.

Jay Hormel to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Hormel, Jay Catherwood, September 11, 1892-August 30, 1954
Date: September 27, 2009
In this letter to Governor Ratner from Jay C. Hormel of Hormel Foods, Hormel argues that the U.S. must prepare its economy to meet the potential demands of the war in Europe.

Kansas state highway system. Outline of Ratner-Wilbur civil defense trip
Date: 1942
This Kansas state highway map was used to plan the civil defense trip taken by Governor Payne Ratner and Col. E.L. Wilbur, Regional Liason Officer for the 7th Civilian Defense Region. During their trip, Ratner and Wilbur visited Topeka, Chanute, Wichita, Dodge City, Hays, and Salina.

Minutes of the meeting of State Executive Victory Garden Committee
Creator: Umberger, Dean H.
Date: March 06, 1942-March 26, 1942
This cover letter written by H. Umberger, Dean of the Division of Extension, Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (K. S. C.), to Governor Payne Ratner is accompanied by the minutes of the March 6, 1942, meeting of the Kansas State Executive Victory Garden Committee, which was held in Topeka. The members of the committee were W. G. Amstein,J. S. Mohler, C. M. Miller, Georgiana Smurthwaite; Renna Hunter, and L. Longsdorf. J. C. Mohler was Secretary to the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and Hunter represented the State Civilian Council of Defense. The other committee members were employed by the Extention Division of K. S. C.

Ratner and Wilbur civilian defense tour of Kansas
Creator: Ratner, Payne Harry, 1896-1974
Date: 1942
This press release describes the efforts of Kansas Governor Payne Ratner and Colonel E. R. Wilbur to promote civil defense eduction in Kansas. Wilbur represented the Seventh Corps Area defense region including Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Kansas.

Ray Moseley to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Moseley, Ray
Date: September 28, 1939
This letter from Ray Moseley, of Moseley and Company Real Estate Brokers, to Governor Payner Ratner, addresses Moseley's 1939 organization of the Stay Out of Foreign Wars Society.

Report of Kansas U.S.O. Committee
Creator: United Service Organization
Date: 1941
This item details the amount of contributions to the United Service Organizations (U.S.O.) from cities and counties in Kansas during 1941. Totaling almost $90,000, the U.S.O. campaign in Kansas was quite successful and helped support a number of services for Americans serving in uniform during World War II. The report lists the contributions by city and the nature of the fund raising. There was a campaign in movie theaters that raised almost $9,000 from 84 cities. The list includes the names of the theaters. Local newspapers, which provided publicity, are often listed as well. The members of the local U.S. O. committees are listed, occasionally.

United Trades & Labor Council resolution
Creator: United Trades and Labor Council
Date: May 31, 1940
Edwin H. Patterson, Secretary, Pittsburg Trades and Labor Council, presents a resolution by the United Trades and Labor Council, representing the affiliated local unions of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) of Pittsburg (Crawford County), Kansas, to Governor Payne Ratner of Topeka (Shawnee County). The resolution affirms the organization's commitment to democracy and loyalty to the United States government. The resolution denounces "UnAmerican" groups and pledges to cooperate with the government to oppose them. A copy of the resolution was to be sent to the President of the United States and the Governor of Kansas. Labor strikes and collective bargaining activities by trade unions during World War II could be perceived as un-American and labor organizations often reaffirmed their allegiance to the government and to the cause of democracy during this period to counter such negative sentiment. This resolution precedes the United States' entry into the WW II by more than a year.

Victory garden conference
Creator: Umberger, Dean H.
Date: January 17, 1942
This cover letter addressed to "All Victory Garden Committeemen" was attached to the reports from 4 different Victory Garden committee meetings that were held at the State House in Topeka on January 12, 1942. Each committee had a number of members that are listed in the committee report. The reports were sent by H. Umberger, dean of the Extension Division, Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (K. S. C.), Manhattan. The committees and their chairs follow: Farm Garden Campaign and Subject matter organization, co chairs W. G. Amstein and Georgiana Smurthwaite, Extension Division, K.S.C.; School and Community Gardens, C. M. Miller, State Director Vocational Education; Publicity, L. L. Longsdorf, Extension Division, K. S. C. and Budget, Seed, Fertilizer, and Insecticide Supplies, J. C. Mohler, Secretary, State Board of Agriculture.

Wikoff-Vermillion Post #129
Creator: American Legion, Wikoff-Vermillion Post 129
Date: June 11, 1977
This resolution from the Wikoff-Vermillion American Legion Post #129 in Lyon, Kansas, pledges that the Post will support "Americanism" and help defend against all "UnAmerican acts, functions, or demonstrations."

William Allen White to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: White, William Allen, 1868-1944
Date: May 22, 1940
In this letter from noted Kansan William Allen White, White argues that the U.S. must "throw its economic and moral weight on the side of the nations of Western Europe, great and small, that are struggling in a battle for a civilized way of life."

William Juhnke to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Juhnke, William
Date: June 21, 2009
In this letter to Governor Ratner, Mennonite William Juhnke of the Young People's Committee of the General Conference of the Mennonite Church of North America states that he is opposed to any compulsory military training during peace time.