Summary Information
Bradley R. Taylor Papers
1940-1958
- Taylor, Bradley R., 1895-1963
Wis Mss EJ
2.4 c.f. (6 archives boxes)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Mainly personal correspondence of Bradley R. Taylor, a resident of Rhinelander, Wis., an active Republican, an officer of the American Legion, and a member of the Polar Bear Association composed of veterans of the North Russian Expedition of 1918-1919. The letters relate mainly to three topics: the Civil Aeronautics Authority's War Training Service, a training program for non-combat pilots during World War II; Republican Party politics; and the American Legion Library. From 1942 to 1947, as representative of the American Legion and the Polar Bear Association, Taylor campaigned for better pay, more recognition, and postwar-adjustment aid for the men in the War Training Service. Among his correspondents were Hugh Fulton, chief counsel for the Senate Special Committee Investigating the National Defense Program (known as the Truman Committee); numerous senators and congressmen, and radio newscasters Earl Godwin, H. V. Kaltenborn, and Drew Pearson. Letters on politics concern mainly the national scene, particularly legislation in which the American Legion was interested. A friend and supporter of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, Taylor wrote frequently to McCarthy, 1949-1956, concerning the anti-communist campaign, veterans' bills, and other legislation. Between 1952 and 1957 Taylor worked on behalf of the memorial section of the American Legion Library in Indianapolis. Numerous letters refer to his solicitations of books for this project.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-wis000ej ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Bradley R. Taylor was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin in 1895 and graduated from the high school there. After attending the University of Kansas for one year, and the University of Wisconsin briefly, he entered Officers' Training Camp, Fort Sheridan, Illinois, in 1917. As a second lieutenant of Infantry he was a member of the North Russian Expedition, 1918-1919.
On his return to Rhinelander he joined the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, a firm that has been in the Taylor family since 1891. He served as Vice-President for many years; in fact, he was in this position through the years covered by the correspondence in this collection.
Bradley Taylor has long been active in civic affairs in Rhinelander, is a Mason, a Rotarian, and a member of the Congregational Church. In the 1930's he was chairman of the Wisconsin regional board for the NRA, and served on the Code Authority for the NRA in Washington, 1933-1935.
As a Legionaire Taylor has enjoyed friends and influence among Democrats as well as Republicans, although he is a Republican himself and active in Tenth District politics. During the 1952 presidential campaign he was assistant to the Director of the Veterans' Division, National Republican Party, Washington, D.C. Following this campaign he strongly urged the organization of a permanent veterans' division for the Republican Party.
Taylor has always been aggressive in embracing causes of particular concern to veterans and aviation. He was appointed by Governor Goodland to the Wisconsin Aeronautics Advisory Board. Between 1919 and 1958 he served as a member of the Legislative Committee of the national American Legion. As a member of this committee he was especially interested in the Congressional bill concerning Universal Military Training (1950) and in the Hoover Report as it affected veterans. In 1954 he was made co-chairman of the Aeronautics Committee of the American Legion, Department of Wisconsin.
At the time of this writing, 1961, Bradley Taylor was still living in Rhinelander. His three children, Douglas, Joan, and William P., were grown and had families of their own. Both sons served as pilots during or shortly after World War II.
Scope and Content Note
The papers that make up this collection, arranged chronologically by months, are chiefly those concerning three matters in which Bradley Taylor was particularly interested: Republican party politics; the pilot training program during World War II known as War Training Service; and the American Legion Memorial Library.
Republican Party Politics
Although Taylor helped to manage several successful campaigns for Alvin O'Konski, representative from Wisconsin's Tenth Congressional District, there is almost no correspondence relating directly to local or state politics. One notable exception is a letter from Taylor to Governor Oscar Rennebohm, February 25, 1950, concerning Thomas E. Fairchild opposing Alexander Wiley for the Senate. Most letters referring to political matters concern the national scene and legislative matters in which the American Legion was concerned.
Correspondence with Senator Joseph McCarthy, 1949-1956, makes reference to McCarthy's anti-communist fight and Taylor's support of McCarthy, veterans' bills, and McCarthy's personal appearances in Wisconsin. Taylor's letters from McCarthy's office were often written by the latter's secretary, Mary B. Driscoll, who sometimes referred to conversations with the Senator, or to his opinion.
War Training Service
In 1942-1943 a large number of educational institutions and flight operators were being utilized to train pilots who could not qualify as combat pilots but might be used for service as co-pilots, liaison pilots, ferry pilots, and instructors. Since the American Legion claimed credit for helping to enroll 25,000 of these men in the Civil Aeronautics Authority's War Training Service program (CAA-WTS), many Legionaires felt obligated to follow their progress. When it seemed clear that these recruits were not receiving adequate consideration, the Polar Bear Association (composed of veterans of the North Russian Expedition) authorized Bradley Taylor to embrace their cause in its name.
Taylor was extremely active in behalf of these pilots. At least half of the papers in this collection are concerned with his fight to obtain pay and recognition for the men, and to aid pilots after the war. In the course of the controversy, 1942-1947, he corresponded with a majority of the senators and many representatives. This correspondence includes letters exchanged with Senators Pat McCarran, Alexander Wiley, Robert M. La Follette, Jr., Arthur Vandenberg, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Homer Ferguson, and others, and with Representatives Alvin O'Konski of Wisconsin and James H. Morrison of Louisiana.
During 1943 Taylor had much correspondence with Hugh Fulton, Chief Counsel for the Special Committee Investigating the National Defense Program for the Senate (the Truman Committee). In addition, Taylor corresponded with radio commentators who were interested in the WTS controversy: Drew Pearson, 1943-1944; Earl Godwin, 1943-1944; and H.V. Kaltenborn, 1943-1945.
American Legion Memorial Library
A memorial section of the American Legion Library at Indianapolis was created in order that individuals could present books as memorials to Legionaires who had died. Taylor was active, 1952-1957, in acquiring gifts of books from various authors; consequently, there are several letters in this collection from well known authors. They are usually brief, and simply mention an interest in giving the books.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Bradley R. Taylor, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, February 11, 1960.
Contents List
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Correspondence
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Box
1
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1940, September; 1942, February-1943, June
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Box
2
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1943, August-1944, May
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Box
3
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1944, June-December
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Box
4
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1945-1951
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Box
5
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1952-1955
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Box
6
Folder
1-2
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1956-1958
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Box
6
Folder
3
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Clippings re: War Training Service, 1943-1944
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Box
6
Folder
4
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Miscellaneous American Legion material relating to Taylor
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Box
6
Folder
5
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Biographical material
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