American Protective League records, 1918 | Louisiana Research Collection

By Deirdre Barr

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Collection Overview

Title: American Protective League records, 1918

ID: LaRC/Manuscripts Collection 487

Primary Creator: American Protective League. New Orleans Division.

Extent: 5.0 Folders. More info below.

Arrangement: This collection is arranged chronologically. It consist of five folders and is 0.25 linear foot.

Date Acquired: 11/09/1959

Subjects: American Protective League. New Orleans Division., Informers -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., New Orleans (La.) -- Social conditions -- 20th century., United States -- Social conditions -- 1865-1918., Vigilance committees -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., World War, 1914-1918 -- United States.

Forms of Material: Correspondence., Photographs., Reports.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The American Protective League was active during the time of the United States' involvement in World War I. Its letterhead states that it was "organized with approval and operating under the direction of the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Investigation." Directors of its New Orleans office were Charles Weinberger, Chief, and A.G. Newmyer and M.M. Levy, Deputy Chiefs. This collection consists mainly of circulars, memos and correspondence from the League office calling meetings or ordering general investigations and of carbons of reports made by agent #849 (possibly Ralph Levy) to the League.

Biographical Note

The American Protective League, an internal volunteer quasi-official espionage organization, was active in various American cities during the United States's involvement in World War I. Its primary purpose was to provide surveillance of suspected pro-German residents, often those with German surnames. Reports in this collection, written by New Orleans agents, also include references to "liquor-selling to soldiers and sailors" and mention of radical Irish of Sinn Fein. The organization's letterhead claims that it was "organized with approval and operating under the direction of the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Investigation."

Subject/Index Terms

American Protective League. New Orleans Division.
Informers -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
New Orleans (La.) -- Social conditions -- 20th century.
United States -- Social conditions -- 1865-1918.
Vigilance committees -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
World War, 1914-1918 -- United States.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Alternate Extent Statement: 0.25 linear foot

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Acquisition Source: Douglas Pokorny Levy.

Acquisition Method: Gift.

Preferred Citation: American Protective League records, Manuscripts Collection 487, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 680065405

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Folder:

[Folder 1: Memos and correspondence, February-May, 1918],
[Folder 2: Memos, correspondence and photographs, June, 1918],
[Folder 3: Memos and correspondence, August, 1918],
[Folder 4: Memos and correspondence, undated],
[Folder 5: Photographs],
[All]

Folder 1: Memos and correspondence, February-May, 1918
Folder 2: Memos, correspondence and photographs, June, 1918
Folder 3: Memos and correspondence, August, 1918
Folder 4: Memos and correspondence, undated
Folder 5: Photographs

Tulane University Special Collections