William Julison Papers, 1908-1988

William Julison Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: William Julison Papers, 1908-1988

Predominant Dates:1930-1988

ID: OGLMC1169

Primary Creator: Julison, William (1916-1988)

Extent: 42.75 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 06/23/1988

Subjects: Grand Forks, Great Depression, Military History - World War II (WW2), Sports and Recreation, Theater and Film

Languages: English

Abstract

1916-1988; Grand Forks business owner who chronicled city athletics

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The William Julison Papers date from 1908 to 1988, although the bulk of the material is from 1930 to 1988. The papers originally measured 62.5 linear feet and were completely unorganized. Therefore, at the time of acquisition, it was deemed expedient to do only a cursory appraisal of the material on site. Upon processing, the papers were rearranged to reflect Julison's personal life, his work as a commercial artist/cartoonist, and his interest in sports and silent western films. The Julison Papers are arranged into seven series:

Series 1: Personal and Family

Series 2: Art Mart

Series 3: Sports

Series 4: Grand Forks and North Dakota History

Series 5: Silent Western Movies

Series 6: Oversize

Series 7: Photographs

Collection Historical Note

William Julison was born August 30, 1916, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the fifth of six children born to Gustav and Marie Anne Scherer Julissen (Yulissen). Gustav, an ethnic German from Russia, was born near Tallinn, Estonia, August 17, 1867, and Marie Anne in Selz, Russia, December 2, 1877. Gustav was pressed into the Russian Army at age 15 and met Marie in Odessa while working in one of Czar Nicholas' many estates near Odessa. They were married in 1902 and lived in the village of Mixtov where their first three children were born. Gustav saw service in the Russian-Japanese War of 1904. He immigrated with his family to the United States in June 1906 via Antwerp, Belgium, and Canada, before arriving in Neche, North Dakota, in September 1906. The family moved to Grand Forks shortly thereafter to join sponsoring relatives, Marie's parents, Barbara and Joseph Scherer. Gustav worked for the Great Northern Railroad for 35 years as a section hand and then a car repairman. Gustav died in Grand Forks February 3, 1948, and Marie Anne June 28, 1950.

William Julison grew up in the Dyke Avenue/Washington Street neighborhood of Grand Forks. He graduated from Central High School in 1934 and then worked for Griffith's Department Store and odd jobs until the fall of 1937 when he enrolled at the University of North Dakota majoring in art and journalism. He left UND Spring semester 1939 because of unsatisfactory scholarship and went to live with his sister, Mary, who was teaching in Milwaukee. Unable to find work, Julison enrolled in Company 1604 CCC Camp, Gays Mills, Wisconsin, on July 30, 1939. He joined other CCC men who were in the same boat "coming from big families, no jobs, and disgusted with hard times." He participated in a variety of work: Soil Conservation Service topographical projects, limestoning, and KP, latrine, and dispensary duty. He was also a columnist and the cartoonist for the Camp's daily newspaper Kickapoojian. Julison was discharged from Company 1604 CCC Camp on June 30, 1941, and the Camp was disbanded in July 1942.

Julison registered for the Draft at Company 1604 CCC Camp on October 15, 1940. Instead of having his induction papers transferred to North Dakota, he chose to join some of his CCC enrollees and was inducted August 3, 1941, at Prairie Du Chein, Wisconsin. He received his basic training at Camp Grant, Illinois, and then was stationed at Chanute Field, Illinois, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Harding, Louisiana. He was sent overseas in December of 1944. He served in England and France and then spent approximately one year in Germany where his knowledge of the German language enabled him to serve as an interpreter. He also worked in the air disarmament program decoding Nazi aircraft development secrets. Throughout his five years in the Army, Julison was also a cartoonist/illustrator for army post newspapers, worked in public relations, and produced art work for various projects. He was awarded an ETO Certificate of Merit and a Bronze Star and was discharged May 16, 1946, as a Master Sergeant.

Julison spent the summer of 1946 working for the Progress, a weekly newspaper in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, before joining the Grand Forks Herald as a sports writer and cartoonist. He established a free-lance illustration/commercial art service shop called the Art Mart in 1956, contracting work in illustrating, designing, printing, cartooning, photo-retouching, posters, and T.V. slides. He maintained this business at several downtown locations before moving it to his home in 1967.

Julison never married but nurtured close ties with his extended family, especially his nieces and nephews. He was a member of the Grand Forks Quarterback Club, the American Foreign Legion, and was a lover of classical music, a sports enthusiast, and a silent western movie buff. William Julison died July 1, 1988.

Subject/Index Terms

Grand Forks
Great Depression
Military History - World War II (WW2)
Sports and Recreation
Theater and Film

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Adam Julison, Grand Forks, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; Accession 88-1614

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). William Julison Papers. OGLMC 1169, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in August 2015.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal And Family],
[Series 2: Art Mart ],
[Series 3: Sports],
[Series 4: Grand Forks And North Dakota History],
[Series 5: Silent Western Movies],
[Series 6: Oversize],
[Series 7: Photographs],
[All]

Series 2: Art Mart

Materials in this series document Julison's commercial art shop business and date from 1956 to 1988.

Sub-Series 1: Financial

Financial records include invoice statements, tax returns, an account book, plus check stubs and bank statements.

Box 3

Folder 7: Art Mart.
Folder 8: Art Mart - Advertisements.
Folder 9: Art Mart - correspondence and illustration business, 1937-1987.
Folder 10: Art Mart - Statements, 1956.
Folder 11: Art Mart - Statements, 1957.
Folder 12: Art Mart - Statements, 1958.
Folder 13: Art Mart - Statements, 1959.
Folder 14: Art Mart - Statements, 1960.
Folder 15: Art Mart - Statements, 1961.
Folder 16: Art Mart - Statements, 1962.
Folder 17: Art Mart - Statements, 1963.
Folder 18: Art Mart - Statements, 1964.
Folder 19: Art Mart - Statements, 1965.

Box 4

Folder 1: Art Mart - Statements, 1966
Folder 2: Art Mart - Statements, 1967
Folder 3: Art Mart - Statements, 1968
Folder 4: Art Mart - Statements, 1969
Folder 5: Art Mart - Statements, 1970
Folder 6: Art Mart - Statements, 1971
Folder 7: Art Mart - Statements, 1972
Folder 8: Art Mart - Statements, 1973
Folder 9: Art Mart - Statements, 1974
Folder 10: Art Mart - Statements, 1975
Folder 11: Art Mart - Statements, 1976
Folder 12: Art Mart - Statements, 1977
Folder 13: Art Mart - Statements, 1978
Folder 14: Art Mart - Statements, 1979

Box 5

Folder 1: Art Mart - Statements, 1980.
Folder 2: Art Mart - Statements, 1981.
Folder 3: Art Mart - Statements, 1982.
Folder 4: Art Mart - Statements, 1983-84.
Folder 5: Art Mart - Statements, 1985-88.
Folder 6: Financial - Tax returns, 1951-1969.
Folder 7: Financial - Tax returns, 1970-1983.
Folder 8: Financial - Income tax itemizations, 1961-1983.
Folder 9: Financial - Property income and taxes.
Folder 10: Financial - Insurance policies.
Folder 11: Financial - Account book, October 1956 - December 1974.
Folder 12: Financial - Check stubs, October 1956 - June 1964.
Folder 13: Financial - Check stubs, January 1972 - January 1978.
Folder 14: Financial - Bank statements, 1984-1988.

Sub-Series 2: Lystad's, Inc.

Julison's largest account was with Reddick & Lystad's, later Lystad's, Inc. from 1954 until 1984. His services included the creation and updating of the company's logo and the illustration of company newsletters, sales promotions, and sales training materials. A compulsive clipper, Julison often adapted cartoons, humorous material, and sketches from national periodicals and local newspapers for his design ideas. The material is comprised of these design ideas, incoming and outgoing correspondence with Lystad's, the company's bi-monthly bulletin "Squeak", and staffing information. The latter provides a general idea of the expansion of Lystad's for those inclusive years. Photographs of Lystad employees and products have been separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets.

Box 5

Folder 15: Correspondence, Lystad's.
Folder 16: Cartoons for Lystad's newsletters, 6/27/62 - 1/5/67.
Folder 17: Design ideas, general - Lystad's.
Folder 18: Design ideas for sales promotion, Lystad's.

Box 6

Folder 1: Design ideas for sales promotion, Lystad's.
Folder 2: Design ideas for sales promotion, Lystad's.
Folder 3: Lystad's financial.
Folder 4: Miscellaneous, Lystad's.
Folder 5: Newsletter, Lystad's - pre-1981, May 1981 - December 1981.
Folder 6: Newsletter, Lystad's - January - June 1982
Folder 7: Newsletter, Lystad's - July - December 1982.
Folder 8: Newsletter, Lystad's - January - June 1983.
Folder 9: Newsletter, Lystad's - July - December 1983.
Folder 10: Newsletter, Lystad's - January - June 1984.
Folder 11: Newsletter, Lystad's - July - November 1984.
Folder 12: Lystad's staff information - 1958, 1962, 1965,1973.

Sub-Series 3: Commercial Art Work

The remainder of Series 2 consists of examples of Julison's commercial art work. These have been categorized into rough subject areas which have been alphabetized. Additional sketch books and loose sketche have been placed with the oversize material.

Box 6

Folder 13: Agriculture.
Folder 14: Autographed illustrations of sports stars and musicians.
Folder 15: Automobiles/Auto Dealers
Folder 16: Businesses - miscellaneous.
Folder 17: Cartoon illustrations.
Folder 18: Certificate illustrations/examples and awards.
Folder 19: Caricatures.
Folder 20: Caricatures - Political.
Folder 21: Caricatures - Sources.

Box 7

Folder 1: Christmas Cards.
Folder 2: Christmas Cards.
Folder 3: Cox Retail Bakery.
Folder 4: Cox Retail Bakery bankruptcy suit - Art Mart a claimant.
Folder 5: Events.
Folder 6: Financial Institutions.
Folder 7: Flyers.
Folder 8: Food.
Folder 9: Forms.
Folder 10: Games and Buttons (pins).
Folder 11: The Goose, UND, cover illustration by Julison, February, 1954.
Folder 12: Grand Forks Speedway, 1974-1978.
Folder 13: Greeting Cards - Holidays.
Folder 14: Home building.
Folder 15: Humorous illustrations/cartoons.
Folder 16: Illustration sources.
Folder 17: Illustration sources - antiques, collectibles.
Folder 18: Illustration sources - lettering, borders.
Folder 19: Illustration sources - Julison's home-made clip book.
Folder 20: The Kampf Agency.
Folder 21: Letterheads/Logos.
Folder 22: Lunseth Plumbing.
Folder 23: Musicians/Bands.

Box 8

Folder 1: Newspaper clippings - advertisements.
Folder 2: "Notable Nodaks" - Cartoons by Julison, exclusive to North Dakota Weeklies, 1983.
Folder 3: Organizations and Cities.
Folder 4: Radio Stations
Folder 5: Restaurants.
Folder 6: Sportraits.
Folder 7: Thomas "Fats" Waller.

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids