James Augustin Brown Scherer Papers

The bulk of the collection centers on the work of James A.B. Scherer with the Council of National Defense during the First World War. There are two and half boxes of documents which had been previously collected in two large volumes. The original arrangement (by date) has been retained for both collections (labeled "Bulletins" and "General Letters," respectively) in cataloged form. The "General Letters" collection is the most extensive; it comprises the entirety of Box 2 and the first half of Box 3. In some cases – due to the similarity of their subject material – two or more consecutive listings in the index have been cataloged together in one folder. There are two smaller collections labeled "Noteworthy Activities Undertaken by State Councils" and "I.C.A. Circulars." These two smaller document collections have their own folders in Box 3. All four contain an index – those for the two still-bound collections list the bulletins in the reverse order of their appearance. The two large volumes have been cataloged in the order listed in their indexes.

The collection also has one box of semi-cataloged manuscripts, correspondence, and ephemera. In addition to directives on the formation of community-level patriotic organizations and meetings, Americanization programs, and fuel and food conservation for the war effort, the box also contains Scherer's travel itinerary from his tour of State Councils of National Defense early in the war. The box also contains a bevy of newspaper clippings covering Scherer's criticism of the Hearst newspaper syndicate and his resignation following an order from the Secretary of War to end his criticism. Most of the unbound council of National Defense documents are stamped "For Information Only; No Action Desired" – all dated after Scherer had stepped down. The collection's ephemera includes a number of Council of National Defense pamphlets, advertisements, and news clippings.

Subjects in the collection include: African Americans; Americanization; American Red Cross; Newton Baker; the draft; Fourth of July; liberty bonds; military training camps; patriotism; rationing; sedition; preventive medicine, U.S. Department of Agriculture; World War I propaganda; war risk insurance; and William Randolph Hearst.