Rules for One-Year Narrative

Outline for a One-Year Post Narrative History

 

This outline has been developed to be helpful to the historian. It would be advantageous to check any compilation against this outline so as to include as much of the material suggested here as possible.

 

Part I - Format

 

(1) Cover a standard three-ring binder, or similar type, to accommodate 8 x 11bond paper must be used

With The American Legion emblem centered (left to right) on the cover with the name and number of the post. Binders with embossed American Legion emblems are available through Emblem Sales.

Each book is not to exceed three inches between the front and back cover. If you submit two or more binders, you must indicate on the cover and title page the wording “Volume 1," "Volume 2," etc.

 

(2) Name/address of compiler:  The full name and complete mailing address of the history author should appear on the inside front cover in the lower left corner. It will be neatly typed or computer generated and centered on a 3x5 index card.

(3} Title page:  This will be the first page facing the reader as the history book is opened. It should be centered on the page (left to right, top to bottom) and in a logical arrangement with double spacing or more and contain a minimum of the following:

 

History of

(Name of post) Post No.              (Number of post)

The American Legion

(City and state)

For 20               to 20       

By (person compiling history)

 

(4} Introduction Every history should include a forward or introduction setting forth the reasons for the organization and may include:

•    Mention of the national organization's founding with a tie-in of the department and post. (Seewww.legion.org/history  or "Capsule History of The American Legion," listed later, as a possible beginning, and see your department historian for a capsule history of the department.)

•    Selection of the post name. If named for a departed comrade or comrades, include a short biographical sketch of their lives and include available photographs.

•    If possible, a brief resume of your community's history, especially the part played by that locality in furnishing men and women during wars and conflicts.

    •    A photograph of the post and street address, if your post has a post home.

    •    Acknowledgment of any assistance or contributions used in compiling the history.

 

(5} Table of contents:  This is a "must" for any good history, which will list the pages of the chapters and appendices and should be in the front of the history immediately following the introduction.  If there is more than one volume, each volume should contain a complete table of contents.

 

(6} Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion:  Identifying the principal aims of The American Legion, the preamble is a fitting introduction and should follow the table of contents. It should be centered on the page and spaced in a neat and logical arrangement. Multicolored 8 x 11prints of the preamble may be purchased through Emblem Sales.

 

(7} Index:  The alphabetical index is a "must" for any good history. This comprehensive index of names, places and events mentioned in your history, with page references, shall be at the end of the history following the appendices. Be sure to include every person and activity in the history. If a person has a title, put that in with a cross-reference to the name. If there is more than one volume, each volume should have a complete index.

 

(8} Page numbering:  Do not forget to number the pages. Be consistent in placing page numbers, either at top or bottom of pages. Numbering will start with the title page.

 

Order of page numbering: The above pages should appear in order with Arabic numerals or Roman numerals:

      Title Page

Introduction Table of Contents Preamble

      1 or i

      2 or ii

      3 or iii

      4 or iv

Chapters

Following the preamble, the chapters may be sequenced in this suggested manner:

 

Chapter 1- Roster of Post Officers:  Photographs of current post officers should be included in the history. If it is not possible to obtain photographs of every officer, make a special effort to include photographs of the commander and the adjutant.

 

Chapter 2- Roster of Post Chairmen:  Include a roster of post chairs with photographs, if available.

 

Chapter 3- One-Year Post History:  This should be a one-year post chronicle. The history is to cover one year, beginning with the installation of officers, up to and including the installation of the next year's officers. This timeframe may vary in some departments. This is the most important chapter in your history, and must be as complete as possible with a graphic account of the post and its activities. The historian should relate in narrative form, and in chronological order, all important events and programs conducted during the year by the post or events conducted jointly with the Auxiliary, Sons of The American Legion, or county, district, department and national levels. (Remember, this is the post's history, not the department or National Headquarters.)

Historians may use information from the minutes of meetings as a basis for information about the post's activities. Then contact members who were chairs of the committees for further details. Include anything that you deem a special attribute of the post, setting it apart from all others.

Do not use any photographs or newspaper articles in this chapter of your narrative history. However, photographs may be included in dedicated committee chapters and newspaper articles in the appendices.

 

Other  Chapters:  While many American Legion programs and post projects are of a continuing nature and may run through several administrations, such activities might be better covered in a separate chapter following those devoted to the individual administration.

The activities of all standing post committees should be given considerable coverage, particularly if one committee performs an outstanding service. You may want to include each committee in separate chapters: Americanism, Membership, Boys State, School Award Medals, Oratorical Contest, Junior Shooting Sports, Baseball, Children & Youth, Sons of The American Legion, patriotic observances, post parties, Boy Scout troops and other sponsored groups, to name a few. Collect and record for posterity all post activities.

Including photographs in the committee chapters adds to the attractiveness of the entry. Give attention to the arrangement of illustrations in relation to the text and use of captions (identification) under each photograph.

 

Appendices

Appendices are pages of statistical data that should be carried at the end of the history, following the chapters and before the index, and might include:

•     Organization of the post with a list of charter members and dates of temporary and permanent charters.

•     A roster of all past post commanders and adjutants since the charter date with their years served.

• If the post is not too large, add a roster of members listed in alphabetical order. This may include, after each member's name, the member’s branch of service or the date he or she joined the post.

• A record of the post's citations and awards received, as well as awards presented by the post.
• A list of members who served as delegates to the national and department conventions, or national and department officers and commission and committee appointees, including the county and district.
•  Complete records of annual elections showing all nominations and votes received by various nominees.
• The post's membership standings by year since the charter  date; a list of new members for the current

year; a list of life members and Paid-Up-For-Life (PUFL) members; “In Memoriam," also known as Taps or

Post Everlasting, listings for the current year; the post's constitution and by-laws; the annual post budget;

and any other important statistics.

Part II - Graphic Account I Readability

The emphasis should be on the narrative rather than the statistical style of presentation. Use your imagination, and be original in thought and presentation.

A high degree of literary style is not essential to success, but the method of presentation should be pleasing to the general reader. The reader must be able to follow the post's story without difficulty or confusion.

The most common error is in not writing in the third person. This means you should write as an observer, not as a participant. The history should be written as a chronological and detailed account of events arranged in order of time without any analysis or interpretation.

Statistics are of great value but should be included in the appendix rather than being placed indiscriminately

throughout the book.

 

Part Ill - Illustrations

 

All photographs must be identified by occasion, individuals, date and place of event with the exception of individual photographs of post officers and chairs (name and title/committee only). Provide left-to-right subject identification, and if necessary, by row.

Be sure all photographs are clear, as blurry prints will not aid materially and will take away from rather than

enhance your history. Proper arrangement with the text is a must to achieve an eye-catching history book. Avoid using pictures with alcohol or cigarettes in them.

 

Part IV- Judges Option I Originality

Under this category, judges will consider a number of qualities or items of content in the history that are not readily cataloged under the preceding headings. Some histories, for example, have a complete roster of members. In other words, judges will determine features that make a history especially attractive or useful, i.e. a spine label, etc. By the same token, if inaccuracies come to the judges' attention, they would have a negative scoring effect.

 

Page format suggestions

Use plain and unruled 8 1/2  x 11 white and/or colored bond paper for your history binder filler.

The history should be typed or computer generated on one side of the paper using black ribbon or print. Single sheets of paper may be placed back-to-back using transparent plastic protective covers.

Margins are a must for neatness, readability and standardization. Use a l-inch margin on all sides (except

one inch from the perforation side of paper, if necessary).

Where feasible, provide double-spaced copy on pages with a three- to six-space indention for new paragraphs and single-spaced lines for photograph identifications.

If you have any doubt of the spelling of a word, use a dictionary. Also double-check the spelling of all names.

Some entries would have a better chance in the contests as a yearbook, even though they were submitted as narratives. Consider your entry. Is it a narrative or a yearbook? There is a difference. Read the outlines for each category.