Hildreth Meière papers, 1901-2011, bulk 1911-1960

Records of Meière's civilian war service document her efforts to aid Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War and to organize artists to contribute to the World War II effort. Extensive correspondence exists for both periods, as well as notes, memoranda, flyers, and reports. Material related to the Spanish Civil War also includes a transcript of a radio appearance by Meière, photographs of war devastation provided to her by Juan F. de Cárdenas, who would become Spain's ambassador to the United States the following year, and three film reels (16mm) shot by Meière during a trip to Spain in 1938 as a guest of Franco's government that document damage to public art and architecture as well as refugees. Also found are records related to an organization that came to be known as the America Spanish Relief Fund, which Meière helped to found.

Records pertaining to World War II relief efforts include reports, correspondence, and other documentation of Meière's organizing and volunteer coordination of various artist organizations for the creation of public art at military facilities across the United States. Also found are records relating to an event, "Vive La France," organized to raise money for the benefit of French civilians affected by the war.

See also Series 1, Biographical Materials for records regarding Meière's service in the United States Navy in World War I and Business Correspondence in Series 2 for records related to the organization of the 1939 "Mass Meeting for America" featuring Martin Dies in which Meière participated, and for additional correspondence related to committees represented in this series. Photographic documentation of Meière's extensive murals and designs made for military sites around the United States is found in series 7, Photographs and Moving Images.

Motion picture films in this series have been digitized for research access.