University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Forgotten Champs: The 1944 Milwaukee Chicks Oral History Project.

Records, 1995.

UWM Manuscript Collection 106

.4 cubic ft. (2 boxes)

ABSTRACT: Collection contains transcripts and audio recordings of former member of the Milwaukee Chicks baseball team, conducted as part of a 1995 Oral History course at the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. The interviews include information on the player's personal history and background, joining the All-American Girls Baseball League, impressions of playing, contracts, uniforms, life on the road, social engagements, the role of women in World War II, and other members of the Chicks. Players interviewed were Thelma Eisen, Viola Griffin (Thompson), Dorothy Hunter, Vivian Sheriffs, Sylvia Straka (Wronski), and Alma Ziegler. The Milwaukee Chicks played only one season in the League (1944), won the championship, and then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

There is no copy of Dorothy Hunter's release of rights, so she remains holder of copyright.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Forgotten Champs: The 1944 Milwaukee Chicks Oral History Project. Records, 1995. University Manuscript Collection 106. University Manuscript Collection. Archives. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Michael Gordon donated the collection to the Archives in July 1997 (accession number 97-007).

PROCESSING: Mark A. Vargas processed the collection at the Archives in July 1997.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

All-American Girls Baseball League.
Borchert Field (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Eisen, Thelma.
Griffin, Viola.
Hunter, Dorothy.
Milwaukee Chicks (Baseball team).
Sheriffs, Vivian.
Straka, Sylvia.
Women athletes--Wisconsin--Milwaukee--Interviews.
Women baseball players--Wisconsin--Milwaukee--Interviews.
World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
World War, 1939-1945--Women--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Ziegler, Alma.

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 106	BOX	FOLDER
Eisen, Thelma, Interview, 1995 [Audio cassettes 1-2]	2
Eisen, Thelma, Transcript, 1995	1	1
Griffin, Viola Thompson, Interview, 1995 [Audio cassettes 3-4]	2
Griffin, Viola Thompson, Transcript, 1995	1	2
Hunter, Dorothy, Transcript, 1995	1	3
Sheriffs, Vivian, Interview, 1995 [Audio cassettes 5-6]	2
Sheriffs, Vivian, Transcript, 1995	1	4
Straka, Sylvia Wronski, Interview, 1995 [Audio cassettes 7-8]	2
Straka, Sylvia Wronski, Transcript, 1995	1	5
Ziegler, Alma, Interview, 1995 [Audio cassettes 9-10]	2
Zeigler, Alma, Transcript, 1995	1	6