00369 RUSSELL KING LEWIS: An Inventory of His Files Finding aid prepared by Lara Friedman-Shedlov. Minnesota Historical Society

St. Paul MN.

Finding aid encoded by Lyda Morehouse, November 1, 1999. Finding aid written inEnglish August 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Minnesota Historical Society Lewis, Russell King, 1901-. Files related to Group Health and other cooperatives. 1925-1966. Records of Group Health and personal papers of founders Russell K. Lewis and George W. Jacobson, as well as additional files concerning the cooperative movement and other cooperatives. 22.0 cu. ft. (22 boxes). See Detailed Description section for box locations. SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

Personal, professional, and business-related papers containing biographical information, correspondence, incorporation documents, reports, minutes, financial records, historical and legislative information, conference materials, project files, news clippings, photographs, and printed materials of Russell K. Lewis and his associate George W. Jacobson.

The collection contains extensive information concerning both Group Health and Midland Cooperatives and their affiliated companies, as well as information regarding national and state cooperative organizations, credit unions, labor unions, agricultural cooperatives, insurance cooperatives, and community hospitals and clinics. Additional materials include correspondence, financial records, and miscellany regarding Space Products, a plastics manufacturing company with which both Lewis and Jacobson were associated.

Also included are project files from Lewis's work with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture concerning a Works Progress Administration survey of cooperatives and files related to the 1941 termination of John G. Rockwell as Minnesota Commissioner of Education.

ARRANGEMENT OF THE COLLECTION

These records are organized into the following sections:

Background Materials. Group Health Corporate Records. Subject Files. George W. Jacobson Files. Russell K. Lewis Files. Other Files. RELATED MATERIALS

Cooperative survey studies produced by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture under Lewis's supervision are separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society state archives collections.

Publications authored by Lewis are separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society book collection.

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Agriculture, Cooperative--Minnesota. Community health services--Minnesota. Consumer cooperatives--Minnesota. Cooperative societies--Minnesota. Credit unions. Health maintenance organizations--Minnesota. Insurance, Cooperative. Marketing cooperatives--Minnesota. Petroleum products--Cooperative marketing--Minnesota. Trade unions--Minnesota. Unitarian churches--Minnesota. Persons: Jacobson, George W. 1900-1988. Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978. Organizations: Americans for Democratic Action. Cooperative League of the U.S.A. Credit Union National Association. Farmer-Labor Party. Group Health, Inc. (Minneapolis, Minn.). League for Independent Political Action. Midland Cooperatives, Inc. Midland Cooperative Oil Association. Midland Cooperative Wholesale (Firm). Minnesota Works Progress Administration. Rockwell, John Gunderson, 1892-1967. Space Products, Inc. (Waconia, Minn.). Occupations: Businessmen--Minnesota. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Russell K. Lewis Files Related to Group Health and Other Cooperatives. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 9505; 9531; 9608; 9630; 9719; 10,778; 11,436; 15,428

Processing Information:

Processed by: Kathryn Johnson, December 1987; Lara Friedman-Shedlov, May 1999.

Catalog ID number: 09-00320484

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION Background Materials 152.H.20.2F 1 Biographical and historical information.

Includes biographical information on Russell K. Lewis and George W. Jacobson; a brief history of the Jacobson family; a brief history of Group Health; and a published history: Group Health, An American Success Story in Prepaid Health Care, by Mary J. and Walter Uphoff and Russell K. Lewis (Minneapolis, 1980).

Group Health Corporate Records

Records include minutes, agendas, reports, annual meeting materials, and financial records for the following cooperatives: Group Health Association; Group Health Mutual, Inc.; Group Health Medical Services; Group Health Federal Credit Union; Group Health Cooperative; Group Health Plan, Inc.; Group Health Properties, Inc.; Group Health Mutual Life, Inc.; Twin Cities Health Center; Health Center Services Committee; and Arrowhead Health Center, Inc. These minutes and records are not segregated by individual organization, but are arranged chronologically. In their original form, the papers had been filed in packets, arranged by year. Because the chronological order in the packets was confused, they were dismantled and placed in exact chronological order. At the bottom, right hand corner of each sheet are numbers. The organization affixed these numbers to the sheets. Because the final collection of minutes are a compilation of a number of duplicate packets, these numbers are meaningless. The researcher is advised to ignore them.

Minutes:

Includes minutes of annual meetings and financial records.

152.H.20.2F 1 February 1940-April 1950. 21 folders 152.H.20.3B 2 April 1950-April 1955. 24 folders 152.H.20.4F 3 May 1955-March 1964. 18 folders Articles of incorporation and bylaws, 1938-1958. Board of directors, committee and other membership data, 1938-1959. 2 folders Subject Files: Summary reports, undated and 1945-1954. Manual: Group Health, 1943. Supervisory: Purpose and techniques: Group Health Mutual, 1948. 152.H.20.5B 4 Corporation manual: Group Health Mutual and Group Health Association, undated. Rules for meetings: Group Health Mutual and Group Health Association, 1956-1958. Proposed plan of organization: Group Health Services, 1955. Observations. . . of Group Health Operations, 1948. Chronological Files: Miscellaneous records, undated and 1940-1959. 2 folders Miscellaneous financial records, undated and 1950-1959.

A major portion of the financial records are filed in with minutes of meetings.

152.H.20.5B 4 District and divisional organizations: Miscellaneous records, undated and 1947-1962. 5 folders Group Health staff records, undated and 1945-1959. 10 folders

Includes minutes and memoranda.

Personnel manuals, 1958. Employee labor contracts, 1958-1959. 152.H.20.6F 5 Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1935-1962. 8 folders

Materials found loose in the original collection.

Group Health Mutual Policy for the St. Paul City and County Health Group, 1951.

Includes the amount of payments for specific surgical procedures and obstetric care.

Newsletters: The Pitch (Group Health Mutual), 1955-1960. Group Health News, 1956. Miscellaneous newsletters, 1943-1959. Subject Files

This section consists of files of information on various cooperatives and relevant subject matter. Included here are the non-corporate files of Group Health and its affiliates. Other major topics include the following: Midland Cooperative Wholesale and its affiliates; credit unions; and cooperative legislation.

152.H.20.6F 5 American Labor Health Association, 1954-1959. 3 folders Book lists on cooperatives. Clelland, Courtney B.: "The Farmers and the Distributors," 1955. Committee for the Nation's Health, 1954-1955. Community Hospitals and Clinics: Nicollet Clinic (Minneapolis), 1941-1946. Arrowhead Health Center, Inc. (Duluth), 1946-1956. Miscellaneous by city, undated and 1944-1958. 2 folders 152.H.20.7B 6 Consumer Cooperative Society: Course: For neighborhood clubs by Roy Clifton: Cooperative Housing, 1938 and Cooperative medicine, 1940. Consumer cooperatives miscellaneous records, undated and 1933-1960. Cooperative Health Federation of America: Annual meetings, including Group Health Institutes, 1947-1957 (incomplete). 8 folders 152.H.20.7B 6 Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1946-1957. 4 folders Cooperative Housing: Metropolitan Housing Association, undated and 1955-1960. "Cooperative Housing," undated. 2 folders

Manuscript by Russell Lewis.

Miscellaneous papers, undated and 1939-1959. Cooperative League of the U.S.A., undated and 1934-1959. 3 folders 152.H.20.8F 7 Cooperative Services, Inc., 1939-1958. 2 folders Credit Unions: Credit Union National Association (CUNA): Brief history, undated. Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1937-1947. 9 folders Correspondence with the cooperative league of the U.S.A., 1947-1949. Articles of incorporation and bylaws: CUNA and Mutual Insurance Society, 1939-1941. National board meetings, correspondence, and related papers, 1938-1947. 2 folders Miscellaneous reports, undated and 1939-1942. Control Committee, 1941-1942. Midwest district minutes, 1939-1946. The Bridge (CUNA newsletter), correspondence, and other miscellaneous papers, 1939-1942. Filene Memorial Fund, 1939-1941. 152.H.20.9B 8 Supply Cooperative, Inc., 1939-1946. 2 folders Credit Unions, Minnesota: Historical background, 1927-1928. Minnesota Credit Union League/Minnesota League of Credit Unions: Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1935-1965. 16 folders

Name changed in 1939. Includes annual meetings, board of directors, and printed materials.

152.H.20.10F 9 Group Health Federal Credit Union, 1951-1964. Humanist Credit Union, 1935-1945. Miscellaneous Twin Cities credit unions, 1938-1962. Miscellaneous Minnesota credit unions, 1927-1963. 152.H.20.10F 9 Farmer Cooperatives: American Farmers Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., undated and 1933-1949. 3 folders Farmers Union Central Exchange, undated and 1927-1964. 2 folders Miscellaneous cooperatives, undated and 1934-1940. Group Health Miscellaneous: Annual meetings of local health groups, 1947-1949. Miscellaneous papers by date, 1939-1960. 2 folders Group Health Association of America: Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1949-1962. 2 folders Group Health Federation of America: Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1954-1960. 6 folders Group Health Medical Services, undated, 1952-1955. 152.I.1.1B 10 Group Health Mutual: Manuals and kits: Rates, sales, and coverage, 1950s. 7 folders Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1939-1963. 12 folders Group Health Plan, Inc.: Articles of incorporation and bylaws, undated and 1955-1958. Staff, undated and 1947-1957. 152.I.1.2F 11 Rates, benefits, and related papers, undated and 1951-1959. Underwriting rates, undated and 1952-1958. Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1951-1958, [1960s]. 2 folders Group Health Plans: Miscellaneous papers, undated and 1940, 1955-1958.

May be related to Group Health Plan, Inc.

Insurance, Life: Cooperator's Life Association, undated and 1939-1942. Mutual Service Life Insurance Co. and Mutual Service Casualty Insurance Co., undated and 1953-1958. 2 folders Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1935-1961. 2 folders Labor Unions: Correspondence, information surveys, and related papers regarding health plans for union members, [ca. 1949] - 1959. 7 folders

Organized by union name and by company, A-Z.

152.I.1.2F 11 Welfare contracts, Duluth, [ca. 1940s]. AFL-CIO Consumer Information Course, 1960. Twin Cities Ladies Garment Worker's Medical Center, 1951-1953. 152.I.1.3B 12 Iron Range Steelworkers & Miners Health Plan, undated and 1945-1948. Iron Range Medical Program, undated and 1953-1958. Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1940-1959. 2 folders Legislation: Cooperatives, State & National: Compilation of laws relating to cooperatives, [ca. 1905]-1933. Correspondence with Hubert H. Humphrey regarding National Health Programs, 1949-1957. Hearings on S. 1805, Cooperative Health Act of 1950. Federal Employees Health Plane, 1956-1969. Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1946-1950. 3 folders Medical Rights Conference, 1954. Medical services, direct, 1950. Medicine, practice of (private and cooperative), 1939-1956. Midland Cooperative Wholesale: Historical and background information. Articles of incorporation and bylaws, undated and 1935-1956. Board minutes, financial reports, and related papers, 1935-1940. 6 folders 152.I.1.4F 13 Board minutes, financial reports, and related papers, 1940-1953. 2 folders Board of directors correspondence, 1936-1941. Board of directors resolutions, 1936-1939. Annual reports, 1935-1958. 3 folders

Includes some annual meeting files.

Office manuals and yearbooks, undated and 1942-1943. Department heads: Minutes and correspondence, 1936-1940. Membership information, undated. Financial records, 1935-1945. 3 folders Financial records: Miscellaneous Midland Cooperatives, 1933-1940. District Files: Bylaws; minutes, 1939-1950. Miscellaneous papers, undated and 1939-1958. 2 folders 152.I.1.4F 13 Fieldmen: Minutes, 1934-1940. Meetings with board of directors, undated.

Incomplete.

Bulletins and communications, 1935, 1939. Miscellaneous papers, 1934-1938. Miscellaneous committees, 1936-1941. 152.I.1.5B 14 Conferences, institutes, and similar papers, 1932-1940. 5 folders Membership, including cooperative clubs, 1938-1941. 4 folders Central Cooperative Wholesale, 1932-1956. Consumer cooperatives by town, Minnesota. Consumer Cooperative Distribution Corp., 1938-1940. Cooperators' Life Association, 1933-1939. Insurance cooperatives, 1933-1946. Midland Cooperative Health Group, 1938-1942. Correspondence files, 1931-1955. 11 folders 152.I.1.6F 15 Miscellaneous papers, undated, 1928-1959. 3 folders Midland Cooperative Oil Association: Historical information. Minnesota Cooperative Oil Association correspondence, 1929-1930.

Predecessor of Midland Cooperative Oil Association?

Minutes of meetings, 1925-1936. 2 folders Financial records, 1927-1940. 3 folders Names and addresses, undated and 1939-1940. Petroleum prices, 1932-1934. Individual oil cooperatives: Albert Lea - Windom, 1928-1963. 7 folders Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1927-1959. 2 folders Midland Cooperatives: Grocery Stores: Background information. Advisory committee on the Grocery Department: Minutes and related papers, 1939-1940. Financial records, undated and 1935-1941. 152.I.1.7B 16 Individual stores: Burlington - Whitewater, 1939-1940. 2 folders Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1934-1940. 2 folders 152.I.1.7B 16 Printed materials and newspaper clippings, 1938-1940. Minnesota Consumers League, 1965-1966. Minnesota Hospital Association (Blue Cross-Blue Shield and Minnesota Indemnity, Inc.), 1941-1959. 3 folders National Cooperatives, Inc., 1935-1937. Northern States Cooperative League, 1929-1937. 4 folders Rates, various cooperatives, [ca. 1942]-1950.

Folder as originally found in the collection; not organized by individual cooperative.

Rural health, 1944-1950. Twin Cities Health Center (Group Health Plan), 1947-1959. 5 folders Two Harbors, Minnesota: National Conference on Cooperative Health Plans, January - June 1946. 3 folders

Organized the Cooperative Health Federation of America.

152.I.1.8F 17 National Conference on Cooperative Health Plans, July - December 1946. 2 folders Community Health Center: Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1945-1955. 2 folders Legal suit: Background, newspaper clippings, legal documents, 1953-1957. 3 folders Dedication proceedings, July 1957. Upper Midwest Hospital Conference, 1953-1955. Upper Midwest Institute on Cooperative Health Centers, October 1947. George W. Jacobson Files

These papers are divided into two sections: Cooperatives (excluding Midland) and personal files. The latter contains small groups of papers of political organizations, including the Farmer-Labor Party, Americans for Democratic Action (National), the League for Independent Action, Farmer-Labor Political Federation, and the American Commonwealth Political Federation. There are also papers reflecting Jacobson's activities in the Unitarian Church and a few family letters.

152.I.1.8F 17 Cooperatives by Subject: California Cooperative Council, 1934-1935. Cooperatives, articles on, 1934-1939. Films, cooperative, 1935. 152.I.1.8F 17 Rural electrification, 1935. Volunteer committee: Coordinating cooperatives, 1934. Personal by Subject: Americans for Democratic Action (National), 1947-1958. Farmer-Labor Party; Farmer-Labor Association, 1934-1934. Citizens Mental Health Committee, 1948. Governor's Study Committee on Agriculture, 1957-1958. International Cooperative Alliance, 1957. League for Independent Political Action, the Farmer Labor Political Federation, and the American Commonwealth Political Federation, 1933-1935. Modern Management Institutes, 1948-1958. 6 folders 152.I.1.9B 18 Minnesota CIO Legislative Research Information, 1949. President's Committee on the Health Needs of the Nation, 1952. Unitarian church activities, 1933-1960. 2 folders Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1929-1962. 2 folders Family correspondence, 1932-1946. Russell K. Lewis Files

These papers are divided into two sections: Cooperatives (excluding Midland) and personal files. Lewis's personal files are more extensive than the cooperative section. Included are files on the Americans for Democratic Action (Minnesota); a fairly extensive collection of materials on the controversy surrounding the firing of John G. Rockwell, Minnesota Commissioner of Education (1940-1941); and the records of Space Products, Inc., a plastics manufacturing firm of which Lewis was founder. The major portion of the Lewis personal collection consists of forty-four folders of the Works Progress Administration's project on Cooperatives (1933-1937). Lewis was the director of the program.

152.I.1.9B 18 Cooperative Files: Cooperative Burial Associations, undated and 1932-1940. 3 folders Cooperative charts, [ca. 1928]-1933. Cooperative Insurance Association, 1933-1940. Cooperative Oil Association of Minneapolis, Education Committee, 1936-1937. Cooperatives, miscellaneous, 1933-1953. Group Health[?], 1956-1960. Suburban hospitals, 1959-1960. 152.I.1.9B 18 Articles by Lewis and others, undated and 1933-1952. 2 folders Personal Files: Americans for Democratic Action, Minnesota, 1947. John G. Rockwell Case, 1940-1941. 4 folders

Committee to Insure Unpartisan Administration of the State Dept. of Education, Minneapolis correspondence, minutes, background materials, printed matter, and newspaper clippings.

St. Paul Committee on Industrial Relations, Inc., clinic, 1959. 2 folders 152.I.1.10F 19 Space Products, Inc.: Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1960-1962. Gravel stops: Cost estimates, 1961-1962. Printed materials and newspaper clippings, 1960s. Financial statements, 1960-1962. Ledger sheets, including payroll data, 1961, 1966. 2 folders 148.C.19.3B Payroll journal sheets, 1960-1961.

One folder in oversize box.

Works Progress Administration Project:

These files have been divided into four sections, listed as "A," "B," "C," and "D." The sections are organized according to the state agency or local unit involved. The folders are numbered consecutively within each of the four categories.

152.I.1.10F 19 Section "A": State of Minnesota, Dept. of Dairy & Foods. Extension Program in Cooperation, SERA, St. Paul, 1933-1937: Folder 1: Readers' guide and book lists. Folder 2: Classified list of cooperative associations. Folder 3: Agricultural finance in Minnesota; American Farm Bureau Federation; Building and loan Associations. Folder 4: Consumers' Cooperation in Minnesota, 1st edition, 1936. Folder 5: Consumers' Cooperation in Minnesota, 2nd edition, 1937. 152.I.1.10F 19 Folder 6: Consumers' Cooperation in Minnesota, 3rd edition, 1937. Folder 7: Cooperative commercial banking; cooperative cheese factories; cooperative creameries. Folder 8: Cooperative burial associations. Folder 9: Cooperative credit unions. Folder 10: Cooperative egg and poultry associations; cooperative wholesale (grocery); cooperative marketing of milk. Folder 11: Cooperative oil associations in Minnesota, 1933, by Walter R. Graham. 2 versions. Folder 12: Cooperative oil associations business analysis, 1933[?] by Walter R. Graham. 152.I.1.11B 20 Folder 13: Cooperative oil associations business analysis, 1933-1935, by A. J. Sprang and Kenneth Johnson. Folders 14-15: Cooperative oil associations untitled manuscript, 1935-1936. 2 folders.

Similar in content to folder no. 12; may be oil analysis.

Folders 19-20: "The Cooperative Store Movement, With Special Reference to Minnesota," by Frank C. Eustis. 2 versions. 3 folders. Folder 21: Cooperative stores short write-up by Frank C. Eustis. 2 folders.

Summary versions of folders 19 and 20.

Folder 22: Cooperative trucking associations, 1935. 2 versions. Folders 23-24: "Farmer's Cooperative Grain Elevators in Minnesota." 2 versions. 2 folders Folder 25: Farmer Educational & Cooperative Union; Livestock Shippers Association in Minnesota and U.S.A.. Folder 26: Mutual cooperative insurance in Minnesota; Mutual telephone companies in Minnesota. Folder 27: Petroleum gallonage in Minnesota, 1930-1934; Petroleum products, source data on, 1933-1936. Folder 28: Producer cooperation in Minnesota. Folder 29: Self-help cooperatives in Minnesota and U.S.A.; tax delinquency in Minneapolis. 152.I.1.11B 20 Folders 30-33. "World Consumers' Cooperative Movement," 1934 and 1935 versions by A.J. Sprange. 4 folders Section B: State of Minnesota Dept. of Education. Extension Program in Cooperation with SERA Project: Folder 1. Extension program in cooperation.

Lesson materials for study groups. 7 parts.

Folder 2. Lessons in cooperation by Indiana and Ohio farm bureaus. 152.I.1.12F 21 Folder 3. Cooperative League of the U.S.A. Correspondence course in cooperation. Section C: Minneapolis Board of Education. Social Studies, WPA: Folder 1. "Regionalism and Recreation." Folder 2. Industry in Minnesota. Folders 3-4. "The Consumer, His Problems, Income, & Expenditures." 2 folders Folder 5. Bibliography on fire, marine, casualty, and life insurance; forest conservation. Folder 6. "Aids for Further Education and Employment." Volume II. Section D: Miscellaneous: Folder 1. WPA, State of Washington projects: Lessons in Consumer Cooperation. 8 items Folder 2. Miscellaneous papers found loose in this section. Other Files: 152.I.1.12F 21 Miscellaneous Near-Print Materials Related to Cooperatives: Cooperatives in Minnesota, 1935. Articles by Helen Johnston (1946-1949), and Horace R. Hansen (1947-1948). 2 folders Miscellaneous materials, undated and 1935-1959. 4 folders Materials for interfiling in boxes 1-17. 152.I.1.13B 22 Printed materials: Minnesota cooperatives, [ca. 1940s-1950s].

Unorganized materials including snapshots of meetings and other events from Group Health and allied organizations.