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Aubuchon-Dennison Post No. 186 of the American Legion Member Records

 Collection
Identifier: A3223

Scope and Contents

The records consist of membership records for the Aubuchon-Dennison Post No. 186 of the American Legion in St. Louis, Missouri; Post 186 American Legion Auxiliary members; and Post 186 Junior Auxiliary members. There are 35 additional cards unrelated to membership, which were used for mailings and advertisements, presumably for post newsletters. The records are arranged alphabetically by surname and business name. The records bear dates and notes from 1919 to 1994. Notes on the member records and the dates of service reveal that the veterans in the Aubuchon-Dennison Post 186 served in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Granada, and Lebanon. Most of the records for veterans belonging to Post 186 are in card format with fewer records in standard paper format. Membership applications comprise the largest portion of the records and appear in both card and paper. Dues records also appear in both card and paper formats. The two formats lead to the veterans' records appearing in three alphabetical sets: Membership Application Forms (B1/f.1-8), Dues Sheets (B1/f.9-19), and Various Membership Cards (B2-B7) as described below. 1. Membership Applications include the applications for membership cards (B2-B7) and the membership application forms (B1/f.1-8). The applications include name, address, branch and unit of service, dates of enlistment and discharge, rank and awards, serial number, date and place of birth, profession, and closest relative's name and address. 2. Membership Cards (post address at 3801 Wyoming) include: a nine-digit number (possibly a member number), status (length of membership/new member/transfer), dates of enlistment and discharge, branch of service, rank at discharge, serial number, and social security number. Notes added to select cards include birth date, death date and obituaries, war/conflict service (e.g. WWII, Granada), and the first name of a relative in American Legion Auxiliary. Based upon the post address and dates of death, these cards were likely created in the 1990s. (B2-B7) 3. Dues Sheets include branch of service, dates of enlistment and discharge, serial number, profession, dependents, and annual dues paid (range 1931-1971). Occasional attachments to the dues sheets include certificates of transfer to or from another American Legion post and obituaries. (B1/f.9-19) 4. Membership Dues Cards include name, year, and a stamp “Aubuchon-Dennison Mo. 186.” Primarily dated 1919 through 1940s. (B2-B7) 5. Record of Dues Cards (small paper cards) include name, address, dues amount paid, service branch, enlistment and discharge dates, serial number, social security number, status (new member/renewing/transfer), and blood type. These cards are much like the application for membership cards; there are few, and they date from the 1960s. (B2-B7) 6. Post Record Cards include name/address, dues paid, and status (new/renewing/transferring/reinstated). Death dates were noted on some cards (month/year, year). These cards are printed with the years 1948, 1949, 1950, and 1961. (B2-B7) 7. Certificates of Transfer include date, name, member number, post numbers, length of membership, and dues status. Certificates are small paper cards filed with the above various cards or forms attached to membership application forms and dues sheets. There are two small sets of cards for Auxiliary members, which are arranged alphabetically by surname, and one small set for the Junior Auxiliary (B7). The Auxiliary and Junior Auxiliary cards are not indexed. Both sets of the Auxiliary cards record member name, address, telephone number, and a penciled number in the upper left corner. Neither set identifies the members’ spouses, but the second set contains the typed heading “HUSBAND IN POST 186.” The Junior Auxiliary cards contain the same information and are numbered 1 through 38. The final set of 35 Mailing Cards are labeled “Flash Add.” and “Extra Mailing” and were presumably used for Post 186 mailings, such as newsletters. The cards appear in alphabetical order by personal or association/business name and are numbered. A few of the cards are for other American Legion posts. Information on the cards includes names of business, person, or association; mailing address; contact names; and telephone numbers (B7).

Dates

  • 1919-1994

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Historical Sketch

Members of the American Expeditionary Force met in Paris in March 1919 to form a new veterans' group. In May, the group’s second caucus took place at the Shubert Theater in St. Louis. Here the organization formally adopted the name American Legion and drafted its constitution and preamble. A plaque placed on the building at the corner of Tucker Boulevard and Olive, where the theater stood, memorializes the meeting. In September 1919, Congress officially chartered the new organization. Based upon the membership records, St. Louis veterans began paying dues to the Aubuchon-Dennison Post 186 of the American Legion in 1919. The post participated in ceremonies at Jefferson Barracks, took part in parades across the state, sponsored boy scouts, and also sponsored baseball teams in the American Legion junior baseball league. In the 1960s, the post was located at 4016 Chippewa but moved to 3801 Wyoming Avenue in the 1990s. By 2021, the Aubuchon-Dennison Post 186 merged with Post 555. In addition to veterans, the American Legion developed the American Legion Auxiliary to which wives of veterans belonged. The Auxiliary maintains a Junior Activities program, which is open to girls from birth to age 17, preparing them for leadership and membership in the Auxiliary.

Extent

1.64 Cubic Feet ( (7 boxes (1 mss. box, 6 card file boxes)))

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The records are arranged alphabetically.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Other Finding Aids

The membership records for veterans in Post 186 have been indexed and are available as part of the Missouri Historical Society’s Genealogy and Local History Index.

Donor Information

The papers were donated by Robert O’Neill in 2018 (accession number 2018-022).

Processing Information

Processed with funding from The Stuart Foundation, Inc. by Kristina Perez, 2022.

Title
Aubuchon-Dennison Post No. 186 of the American Legion Member Records
Status
Completed
Author
EAD by Kristina Perez using ArchivesSpace
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository

Contact:
225 S. Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63105 United States
314-746-4510