Abstract

Organized in April 1982, the La Crosse area chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) was comprised of a group of physicians dedicated to the antinuclear movement and nuclear disarmament. This non-profit organization sponsored numerous special programs including the Festival of Lanterns, and they helped fund the International Peace Lantern Exchange Project, modeled on the Festival of Lanterns. With the end of the Cold War in 1992, the local group continued in a dormant stage, finally disbanding in 1995.

Records from the Physicians for Social Responsibility date from 1980-2001, with the bulk of the records dating from 1980-1992. They include historical materials, administrative files, financial materials, membership materials, programs and events. Materials from the Wisconsin Physicians for Social Responsibility, National Physicians for Social Responsibility and related organizations are also included.

Acc. Nos. 2000-1, 2001-18, 2001-36

Donated by Dr. Robert W. Ramlow, January 2000; Dr. William A. Morgan, May 2001, September 2001

Processed by Christine Stolz with assistance from Jessica Nordstrom, Dec. 2001

History

Physicians for Social Responsibility is a professional organization of doctors committed to professional and public education on the dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear war. The national organization, formed in 1961, oversees state and local chapters throughout the country.

La Crosse area physicians met on April 28, 1982, to form a local chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Thirteen doctors signed a formal petition for membership status; they were: Dean E. Whiteway, Charles A. Rodman, Allen G. Brailey, Robert W. Ramlow, William B. Gallagher, Stephen E. Kraft, Robert Miller, William Agger, Cameron F. Roberts, Robert Whiteway, Rudolph M. Keimowitz, Richard M. Feddersen, and William A. Morgan. Two other doctors, Michael E. Nesemann and Michael H. Mader, were members but did not sign the petition due to an oversight. PSR/La Crosse was accepted for chapter status on July 26, 1982.

PSR/La Crosse sponsored numerous programs to educate the community on the dangers of nuclear war. Speakers came to present information to PSR/La Crosse. Members of the organization often spoke to groups in the community. Film screenings and discussions frequently took place.

The most well known program sponsored by PSR/La Crosse was the Festival of Lanterns that served as a memorial to those who suffered and died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The first lantern floating ceremony, headed by Dr. Cameron Gundersen, took place on Saturday, August 3, 1985, at Riverside Park in La Crosse. The event continued on an annual basis until 1993, but on a smaller scale.

The International Peace Lantern Exchange Project (IPLEP), also sponsored by PSR/La Crosse, was originated by Jim and Peggy Baumgartner and modeled on the Festival of Lanterns. Peace lanterns made by children in one country were exchanged with peace lanterns made by children in another country. Lantern floats then took place the first Saturday in August. The first IPLEP lantern float took place on August 2, 1986. Some countries that participated in lantern floats included the Soviet Union, China, England, Japan, and Germany. The last local IPLEP lantern float may have been in 1991.

By March 1992, with the end of the Cold War, PSR/La Crosse began to explore whether or not they could focus on other areas of concern. PSR/La Crosse continued in a dormant state in order to preserve the possibility of funding other lantern floating festivals. The chapter formally disbanded on April 20, 1995.

Scope and Content

The collection has been divided into several series: HISTORICAL MATERIALS, ADMINISTRATIVE MATERIALS, FINANCIAL MATERIALS, MEMBERSHIP, PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, WISCONSIN PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, NATIONAL PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, and RELATED ORGANIZATIONS.

HISTORICAL MATERIALS include general historical background describing the Physicians for Social Responsibility organization (1980-1981; 1984; 1987), newsletters (June 1982-July 1992 with gaps), newspaper clippings (1982-1991), and press releases (1982-1988).

The ADMINISTRATIVE MATERIALS consist of information on chapter formation (1982), two chapter program reports to the National PSR (1990; 1992), constitution and by-laws (n.d.; 1985), and correspondence of two past presidents of PSR/La Crosse, Dr. Michael Mader and Dr. William Morgan. Dr. Mader’s correspondence covers the time period 1984-1989. Dr. Morgan’s correspondence is much more extensive. The bulk of his correspondence covers the time period 1982-1983; less correspondence is included for the time period 1983-1988 and 1990-1992. One e-mail to the editor of the New York Times is included from March 2001. Other PSR related correspondence is also included (1982-1992).

Other ADMINISTRATIVE MATERIALS include information on fundraising (August 1984-Mar. 1985), liability insurance taken out by PSR (1987; 1989; 1991-1992, 1994), and library resources that includes a list of films, videotapes, audiotapes, and books owned by PSR/La Crosse as of Aug. 1, 2000 (1982; 2000). Scattered meeting minutes are included for 1982 and 1984-1989. PSR meeting notices contain information about meetings, speakers and special programs (1982-1989). A report by James Baumgartner of PSR/La Crosse describes an informal meeting between Steve Gunderson of the 3rd Congressional District of Wisconsin (Feb. 20, 1987). Publicity materials (1982-1985) and materials on PSR’s participation in the State Medical Society of Wisconsin (1982-1985) are also included.

Steering Committee materials are also found with the ADMINISTRATIVE MATERIALS. These materials include agendas and minutes (1982-1984; 1986-1992: 1995 with gaps) and correspondence (1983-1990).

FINANCIAL MATERIALS include a cashbook (1986-1995), checkbook registers (1982-1995), correspondence (1987-1992; 1993 Dec.;1995), financial reports (1982-1994), quarterly financial reports to national PSR (1982-1995), copies of sellers permits (1986; 1993), and information relating to local PSR’s tax exempt status (1981-1982; 1985 Apr.; 1986).

MEMBERSHIP includes information on local PSR’s membership drives (1982 Aug.; 1986?-1989). Membership lists (1982 May; 1984-1989; 1992) include a list of those attending the first local PSR meeting and contains many printouts of those who have paid their dues in order to renew their membership.

Physicians for Social Responsibility sponsored many PROGRAMS AND EVENTS that dealt with the dangers of nuclear war and promoted a message of peace. Included are programs with specific speakers such as Dr. J. Edward Anderson (1983-1984) and Dr. Joseph Evans (1983-1985). Materials relating to the April 1983 Civil Defense meeting (1980; 1982-1983), the Soviet-American Physician Campaign (1987) are included as well as notes taken at conferences by local PSR members (1982-1983). Correspondence, publicity materials, newspaper clippings, and committee notes are included on two of the most well known of the programs sponsored by PSR, the Festival of Lanterns (1984-1992) and the International Peace Lantern Exchange Project (1985-1992). Newspaper clippings, speakers’ notes, correspondence, publicity, and background materials are also included for the numerous speaking engagements, film discussions, and other programs sponsored by PSR (1982-1992).

WISCONSIN PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY materials consist of correspondence (1982?-1991), minutes and agenda for the 1988 statewide PSR meeting and the agenda for the 1984 meeting, a newspaper clipping (1984 June), and scattered newsletters (1984; 1988-1990).

NATIONAL PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY materials include lists of accomplishments for the years 1989, 1991 and 1992; annual reports (1982; 1985-1986; 1988-1990); bibliographies of materials that may be obtained through the national PSR (n.d.), lists of members of the board of directors (1983 Jan.; 1985-1986; 1989); brochures (1983-1984; 1986; 1990); by-laws (1981 Nov.); examples of mailings sent out to local PSR chapters (1982-1992); the Dec. 1983 Director’s report; scattered minutes and meeting information (1986-1988; 1990); scattered newsletters (1982-1987; 1989; 1991); and newspaper and magazine clippings (1982-1983).

RELATED ORGANIZATIONS consist of materials from organizations with goals similar to PSR. Most of the material is from the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (1981-1989; 1991). Materials from other related organizations are also included (1982-1990).

Other Sources:
The Clipping Files include newspaper clippings under this heading:
   La Crosse-Organizations-Physicians for Social Responsibility