Allen, Winnie

The Texas War Records Collection comprises materials related to Texas' participation in World War I and World War II. The collection has its roots in an organization developed at the University of Texas circa 1918-1919, the Texas War Records Collection organization. This organization was proposed by Milton R. Gutsch, history professor at the University of Texas at Austin, October 8, 1918, and approved by the School of History and then University President Robert E. Vinson a few days later. On October 22, the Board of Regents appropriated $7,500 for the collection and preservation of the Texas War Records, to span September 1, 1919, to September 1, 1921, and Gutsch was appointed Director.

The organization consisted of the director and administrative staff, county and community war records organizations, and auxiliary agencies, and was generously assisted by the Daughters of the Confederacy, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Federation of Women's Clubs. The main goals of the organization were to collect all materials representing the contributions of Texas to World War I, to classify the materials collected, and to preserve the records. Materials were divided into three groups: general material, both American and foreign; state materials; and county and community materials.

No such similar organization was formed to collect World War II records, but archivists at the University of Texas at Austin, particularly archivist Winnie Allen, accessioned, kept, and organized the records, and eventually added records related to Texas' participation in World War II to the Texas War Records Collection.