Records of the American War Mothers Organization, MS 97-17, Special Collections, UNLV Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Donated in part by Mary Ann Jennings.
Processed by Joyce Marshall (1994) and Elizabeth Warren (1999).
This collection is open for research.
For permission to reproduce or publish from this collection, please contact the Director of Special Collections.
The American War Mothers Organization was founded in response to federal officials impressed with and grateful for the Food Conservation and War Relief Work carried on by mothers of servicemen and women during World War I. On September 29, 1917, these officials requested that a permanent War Mothers organization be established. Enthusiastic response resulted nationwide, and by Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, two-thirds of the states were organized into chapters. The first National Convention of War Mothers was called by the Governor of Indiana and convened in Indianapolis on August 15, 1918. Delegates from other states were appointed by their respective governors. On February 24, 1925, the 68th Congress granted the American War Mothers a National Charter (PL-453).
The purpose of the organization is to keep alive and develop the spirit of world service, maintain the ties of fellowship born of that service, to assist and further any patriotic work, including assisting the men and women who served and were wounded in the World Wars or conflicts in the United States, and to foster and promote a friendship and understanding between American and the Allies. Membership is limited to women who are citizens of the U.S. whose children served in the Armed Forces of the United States or its allies in World War I, World War II, Korea or Vietnam Conflicts, or any subsequent wars or conflicts involving the United States, having an honorable discharge from such service, or being still in the service.
The charters’ activities revolved around promoting patriotism and memorializing the war dead. Nationally, the American War Mothers instituted the practice of awarding a silver star banner to families whose son or daughter served in war, and a gold star banner to those whose son or daughter died in military service. American War Mothers also participated in the national project to memorialize the war dead by identifying Gold Star Memorial Highways. Locally, the American War Mothers donated trees and planted the City of Las Vegas Rose Garden in memory of the war dead. The Henderson chapter’s main project was the erection of the Memorial Wall in Henderson. Although the chapters were still active through Desert Storm of the early 1990s, interest in this patriotic organization waned, and the Southern Nevada chapters of the American War Mothers disbanded in the 1990s.
This collection is comprised of two accessions, MS 94-27 (American War Mothers) and MS 97-17, American War Mothers – Henderson, donated by Mary Ann Jennings on behalf of the Henderson chapter. In June 1999, the accessions were integrated into one collection, MS 97-17, to be called American War Mothers. Although the collections were donated by the representatives of the Silver State Chapter of Las Vegas and of Henderson Chapter No. 2, the materials include items relating to the North Las Vegas and Rose Garden chapters, and to the State Chapter. One scrapbook, devoted exclusively to IOOF Las Vegas Oasis, Rebekah Lodge 31, apparently kept by Letha Weaver of Las Vegas, 1970 Nevada State President of American War Mothers, has been removed and given its own designation as collection MS 94-27.
The materials are comprised primarily of scrapbooks that contain some correspondence and minutes, numerous news clippings and photographs. Pamphlets on American War Mothers’ organizational rituals and history, ceremonial paraphernalia, and flags complete the collection.
The collection is a single series separated into boxes by general material format.
Additional materials relating to Southern Nevada chapters of the American War Mothers may be found at the Clark County Heritage Museum in Henderson, Nevada.
For related topics and further information see the following collections:
Daughters of the American Revolution Collection MS 87-126
Daughters of Union Veterans Collection MS 78-99
Luanna Mitchell Collection MS 94-26