Work Around the World Educational Club for International Police records, 1932

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Summary

Title:
Work Around the World Educational Club for International Police records
Dates:
1932
Creators:
Wanderwell, Walter and Work Around the World Educational Club for International Police
Abstract:
Scrapbook, share certificates, and other documents relating to the founding of Work Around the World Educational Club for International Police (WAWEC), by Captain Walter Wanderwell in 1932, to monitor world disarmament and provide educational opportunities overseas.
Containers:
Box: 1
Extent:
1 Linear Feet 1 box
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder# or item name], International Police, Ltd. Records, Collection no. 0112, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Background

Scope and content:

Scrapbook, share certificates, and other documents relating to the founding of Work Around the World Educational Club for International Police (WAWEC), by Captain Walter Wanderwell in 1932, to monitor world disarmament and provide educational opportunities overseas.

Biographical / historical:

Walter Wanderwell, born Valerian Johannes Pieczynski, was born in Poland in either 1893 or 1897. An international traveler and soldier of fortune, he explored Siberia, the Amazon, and the Sahara, and ended up in the United States, where he changed his name to something Americans could pronounce. He was jailed during World War I by American authorities who suspected him of being a German spy. Often referred to as "Captain", he never served in any country's military. In 1918, after being released from prison in Atlanta, he married Nell Miller, a Broadway chrous girl, and the two founded the Work Around the World Educational Club for International Police (WAWEC). WAWEC was founded to ostensibly support the new League of Nations through imposition of law, not war. The FBI branded the organization a private army with potential for subversive activities.

After much around the world adventuring, the Wanderwells ended up in California. They purchased a yacht, which was to be used for a South Seas cruise, but on the night of December 5, 1932, Wanderwell was murdered on board the yacht.

[Source: Michael Newton, The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes, pp. 385-387]

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2014-11-20 11:16:02 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE: Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder# or item name], International Police, Ltd. Records, Collection no. 0112, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Location of this collection:
Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library, Room 209
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189, US
Contact:
(213) 740-5900
specol@usc.edu
Website