Mixed Materials

Wisconsin Governor's Committee on Resettlement of Displaced Persons records, 1948-1956

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Summary

Records, mainly 1948-1953, of the special committee appointed by Governor Oscar Rennebohm that was responsible for much of the resettlement of World War II refugees in Wisconsin. Included are case ...

Records, mainly 1948-1953, of the special committee appointed by Governor Oscar Rennebohm that was responsible for much of the resettlement of World War II refugees in Wisconsin. Included are case files and indexes for individuals, companies, and organizations that sponsored refugees; correspondence with social welfare agencies such as the Displaced Persons Commission, the International Relief Organization, Church World Service, the National Catholic Welfare Conference, and the International Institute of Milwaukee; minutes and internal correspondence; reports; newsletters, photographs, radio scripts, and other publicity material; and biographical information about Wisconsin immigrants.

The committee was appointed by Governor Rennebohm in January 1948 in response to a request from Congress that the individual states study the possibilities for resettling World War II refugees. Rennebohm authorized the committee to assume responsibility for establishing a resettlement program. The committee was staffed by employees of the Department of Public Welfare. The Wisconsin committee was responsible for accepting and certifying sponsorship requests, providing social services to sponsors and incoming families, and formulating travel plans for the newcomers from the port of entry to their Wisconsin residences. In December 1951 the committee increased its scope in order to act directly as a sponsoring agency. The federal Displaced Persons Act expired in June 1952. Because of the continuing need Governor Walter Kohler, Jr., authorized the continuation of the committee for an additional year. Subsequent requests for services were handled by the Department of Public Welfare.

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