Laying Groundwork

National Adjutant Lemuel Bolles and the first executive staff of American Legion National Headquarters meet in the Meridian Life Building in Indianapolis, 1920.

After the selection of Indianapolis, Lemuel Bolles packed up the New York office and opened a new temporary headquarters in the Meridian Life building at 307 N. Pennsylvania St. in Indianapolis on Dec. 10, 1919.

The campaign led by Keene to bring the headquarters to Indianapolis began an effort by patriotic Hoosiers to create a memorial plaza in the heart of Indiana’s capital that would honor all who had served in the World War.

In 1920, the Indiana General Assembly passed a bill providing for an Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis.

Architect's rendering of a rejected design for the American Legion national headquarters and the Indiana War Memorial by Robert - Frost - Daggett Architects, Indianapolis, 1920s.

Walker and Weeks' original sketch of their winning design for the Indiana War Memorial Plaza and the American Legion National Headquarters, 1920s

After securing land for the memorial plaza, the board held a competition to choose an architect to design the memorial.

The Ohio-based architects Frank R. Walker and Harry E. Weeks won the commission to design a memorial to the veterans of the Great War as well as a permanent home for The American Legion's national headquarters.

Frank Walker and Harry Weeks pose with an unidentified man. (Indianapolis News photograph)

Architectural sketch of Walker and Weeks recommended design for the Indiana War Memorial Plaza in Indianapolis showing two memorial buildings at the north end of the plaza with a large shrine and obelisk at the south end, 1920s.

Walker and Weeks finalized plans for the Indiana War Memorial Plaza in 1923, and construction on the Legion building commenced in 1925.

Northward aerial view of the area in Indianapolis destined to become American Legion National Headquarters and the Indiana War Memorial Plaza, showing the buildings that would eventually be torn down.

In April 1922, the temporary headquarters moved with the Board of Trustee’s offices to the Chalfant Building, a former apartment building at 24 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, where it remained until the first permanent office building opened in 1925.

One of several existing buildings on the site chosen to become the Indiana War Memorial Plaza, the Chalfant Building was eventually demolished along with several office buildings, an Elks Lodge, two churches and the original site of the Indiana School for the Blind, which relocated to a larger facility.

Dignitaries visit the American Legion national headquarters offices at the Chalfant Building.

Staff members with visitors at the American Legion national headquarters offices at the Chalfant Building.

American Legion National Headquarters Finance Division staff Glenn D. Crawford, Auditor and Mary Louise Price, Secretary, at work in the Chalfant Building, January 1925.

Library Director Verna B. Grimm works in her office in the Chalfant Building, 1925.

American Legion National Headquarters Staff outside the Chalfant Building, 1922

In 1922, the National Headquarters staff included seven divisions: Organization, Administration, National Service, Publicity, Emblem Sales, and Americanism.

The Organization Division expanded The American Legion by forming new posts and departments, improving administrative efficiency and maintaining statistics, while the Administration Division staff handled the national staff needs, including stenographic services, purchasing, bulletins and business records.

The American Legion seal pressed onto a 1919 post charter by national staff in the Organization Division.

Emblem seals advertised in the Official catalogue of The American Legion emblems and supplies, 1922.

Early American Legion seal press made by Emblem Sales and used by National Headquarters staff.

The National Service Division carried out The American Legion’s “devotion to mutual helpfulness” by assisting veterans with all types of claims and lobbying Congress for legislation that would better assist veterans.

The American Legion Weekly, the News Service and the Speakers Bureau formed part of the Publicity Division’s efforts to make The American Legion a household name.

The Americanism Division, the first staff division associated with a commission, carried out the Americanism Commission's programs, including lobbying for civics education and Child Welfare programs.

The Emblem Division sold merchandise featuring the American Legion emblem, while the Finance Division managed its revenue as well as the national headquarters finances.

First published in 1919 as the Catalogue of official badges and souvenirs of The AmericanLegion, Emblem Sales catalogs offered membership pins, caps, uniforms, awards, flags and more.