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 5: Silent Western Movies

After Julison's mother died in 1950, he rediscovered his old movie scrapbooks assembled in his youth in the 1920s. He was an avid movie-goer with a fascination for the Wild West and especially enjoyed silent westerns. Series 5 reflects Julison's renewed hobby and contains correspondence, his illustration work, newspaper clippings, a scrapbook of western stars, photographs, dealer's mailings, and newsletters and publications geared towards western film fans. It includes only two pressbooks and no films. The correspondence was carried on with western movie buffs, primarily across the United States, but also scattered around the world, and is extensive. It dates from 1968 to 1981 and is both incoming and outgoing as Julison made carbon copies of much of his correspondence. The letters reveal not only facts and myths about silent western movie stars, but also glimpses into each correspondent's personal life. It is separated by collectors and dealers and filed alphabetically within each category by surname, if the correspondence was sufficient in volume. Foreign correspondence is arranged by geographical area and alphabetically within each area. Orders for Julison's western buttons and pictorials are separated. Julison produced a number of items for sale to collectors. All portrayed silent western film stars and included photo buttons, poster-size biographical pictorials, arcade post-cards, and a booklet "The Silent Guns: Pre-Sound Stars of the Silver Screen Who Pioneered Western Motion Pictures", 1976. A sampling of stars portrayed include Art Acord, Yakima Canutt, Buck Jones, Max Terhune, Ken Maynard, Tom Mix, Hoot Gibson, Bob Steele, and Buffalo Bill, Jr. Photographs depicting a good representation of American television series, movies, and stars from 1973 to 1975 have been separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets.

Box 12

Folder 1: Ride-M-Ranch - stationary and ads.
Folder 2: Julison's correspondence- outgoing, Silent and Western Movies, 1960s and 1970s.
Folder 3: Julison's correspondence - outgoing, Silent and Western Movies, 1960s and 1970s.
Folder 4: Julison's correspondence - outgoing, Silent and Western Movies, 1970s and 1980s.
Folder 5: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Louis Albano, New York, 1978, 1981.
Folder 6: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, John Anderson, Pelham, NY, 1973-1979.
Folder 7: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Orlo Bainbridge, Tampa, FL, 1976C
Folder 8: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Alan Brock, Hastings-on- Hudson, NY, 1969-1972.
Folder 9: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Minard Coons and Nick Williams, Re: Max Terhune, Stormville, NY, 1968-1976.
Folder 10: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Ernie Corneau, Haverhill, MA, 1969- 1971.
Folder 11: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Mario DiMarco, Worchester, MA, 1973- 1980.
Folder 12: Stars - Silent Westerns, Illustrations by Mario DiMarco.
Folder 13: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Edward Finney, Hollywood, 1969-1975.
Folder 14: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Jim Ganger, Knoxville, TN, 1973-1980.
Folder 15: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Charles Hall, Richmond, VA, 1972- 1977.
Folder 16: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Tom Hamlon, Los Angeles, CA, 1970- 1978.
Folder 17: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Milo Holt, Siler City, NC, 1969-1972.
Folder 18: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Roland Ignoffo, Chicago, IL, 1970-1973.
Folder 19: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, W.C.Jones, Huntsville, AL, 1970s.
Folder 20: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Tex Jordan, Warwick, RI, 1969-1979.
Folder 21: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Leo Lericke, Maplewood, MO, 1976- 1978.
Folder 22: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Ray Lovely, Keene, NH, 1969-1976.
Folder 23: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Shelby Lowe, Mableton, CA, 1973-1978.
Folder 24: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, R.R. Maskell, Santa Clara, CA, 1971- 1978.
Folder 25: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, John Stoginski, Chicago, IL, 1970-1974.
Folder 26: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Henry Lewis Stone, Los Angeles, CA, 1971-1973.
Folder 27: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Herb Swilling, Greenville, SC, 1971- 1980.
Folder 28: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, David Taylor, Williamsport, PA, 1973- 1976.
Folder 29: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Luis Villasenor, Chula Vista, CA, 1970- 1977.
Folder 30: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Jim Ward, Knoxville, TN, 1970-1972.
Folder 31: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Harry Webb, Tujunga, CA, 1972-1976.
Folder 32: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, various collectors, 1969-1981.
Folder 33: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, various collectors, 1969-1981.

Box 13

Folder 1: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, various collectors, 1969-1981.
Folder 2: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Austria, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Sweden, South Africa, and New Zealand.
Folder 3: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Brazil and Puerto Rico, 1969-1977.
Folder 4: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Canada, 1971-1979.
Folder 5: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Ireland and England, 1973-1980.
Folder 6: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Orders for Julison's publications and pictorials, 1969-1987.
Folder 7: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Orders for Julison's publications and pictorials, 1969-1987.
Folder 8: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Julison's Photo Buttons, 1976-1980.
Folder 9: Stars - Silent Westerns, correspondence, Dealers, 1967-1980.
Folder 10: Stars - Correspondence, Mrs. Buck Jones, Mrs. Randolph Scott.
Folder 11: Stars - Silent Westerns correspondence, Re: Tom Mix, 1970-1973.
Folder 12: Stars - Tom Mix, news clippings and memorabilia.
Folder 13: "The Silent Guns: Pre-sound stars of the Silver Screen who pioneered western motion pictures", by William Julison, 1976.
Folder 14: "Silent Guns" - Preparatory work.
Folder 15: Stars - Western Biographical Pictorials.
Folder 16: Stars - Silent Westerns, Julison's photo buttons.
Folder 17: "Strongbox of Western Film Silent Guns" - Julison's Arcade Cards.
Folder 18: Stars - Westerns, Sketches.
Folder 19: Screen Stars - Julison's illustrations.
Folder 20: Sons of the Pioneers - Julison's's illustration work.
Folder 21: Sons of the Pioneers - Pioneer News, 1978-1980.
Folder 22: Stars - Tom Mix, Biographical material and Julison's illustrations.
Folder 23: "The Big 3" of Western films and TV survey, conducted by Julison, 1973.
Folder 24: "Flicker-Snicker" - movie/jokes by Julison.
Folder 25: Stars - Westerns, miscellaneous biographical information.
Folder 26: Stars - Western and Screen Stars, listings and advertisements.

Box 14

Folder 1: Stars - Western and Screen Stars, listings and advertisements.
Folder 2: John Wayne - Miscellaneous tribute publications.
Folder 3: Screen Thrills, 1978-1979.
Folder 4: Views and Reviews, 1969-1972.
Folder 5: Views and Reviews, 1973-1974.
Folder 6: Western Film Collector, 1973, 1976.
Folder 7: Western Revue, 1976-1979.
Folder 8: Wild West Stars, 1971-1977.
Folder 9: "Wranglers Roost" - Newssheet for the B-Western aficionado, 1970-1971.
Folder 10: "Wranglers Roost", 1976-1981.
Folder 11: "Yesterday's Saturdays", 1975, 1978, 1980.
Folder 12: Miscellaneous Western film collectors magazines.
Folder 13: Miscellaneous Western film collectors magazines.
Folder 14: Miscellaneous Western film collectors magazine.

Box 15

Folder 1: Stars - Westerns, miscellaneous newsletters and publications.
Folder 2: Stars - Westerns, miscellaneous newsletters and publications.
Folder 3: Stars - Westerns, miscellaneous articles and news clippings.
Folder 4: Stars - Western miscellaneous
Folder 5: Stars - Western movies, miscellaneous articles in movie magazines, 1947-1974.
Folder 6: Illustrations, cards and ads using western themes.
Folder 7: Cowboys - Miscellaneous articles.
Folder 8: Stars - Western miscellaneous

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