Prepared by William Doezema, October 1, 1975
Prepared for the web by Justin B. Keiser, July 26, 2000
Revised by Joy Winstead, May 5, 2003
1 slim document case, .16 cubic feet, 11th floor
Old archives number: B. 1. 3.
On September 25, 1975, Special Collections and Archives received this collection through the efforts of Mrs. Bernice (Harold) Louis, the Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Ashtabula County Chapter, and E. Terry Warren, an Ashtabula attorney who serves as the Chairman of the Ashtabula Veterans World War Fund Committee. The Committee can trace its roots to March, 1918, when the privately organized Ashtabula War Council was founded. The funds collected by the Council were transferred to an account called the War Chest Memorial Fund in January, 1921. The commercial Savings and Trust Company of Ashtabula administered the money from the Fund until April, 1941. The present organization came into existence for the purpose of administering the Fund. Throughout the years, the central goal of these various groups has been to help defray certain medical costs for eligible veterans.
The material consists of committee minutes, incoming and outgoing correspondence, a "Trust Agreement", internal memoranda, newspaper clippings, financial and legal records. Most items in this collection are dated after 1940.
Researchers should note also that additional material on the early litigation involving the organization can be found at the Ashtabula County Court House in Jefferson, Ohio. Current committee records continue to be held by the Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Ashtabula County Chapter.