A reference collection of Veda Stone, a social worker long active in American Indian affairs, education, and family health and children's services in Wisconsin, documenting Stone's work with government agencies, organizations, and conferences concerning Indians. Also present are records, including individual student files, dealing with Indian education in Wisconsin and other states. Microfilmed newsletters, periodicals, and near-print documents published in the U.S. and Canada by or about Indian groups and organizations are also present, together with a major reference file with emphasis on Menominee and Chippewa (Ojibwe) Indians in Wisconsin and tribal groups in Minnesota. The tapes record speeches and panel discussions from a 1966 Indian leadership conference. As of 2022, a Veda Stone Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is available through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation. It is awarded to a Native American Student in good Academic Standing who has demonstrated artistic talent and is pursuing a degree in an artistic discipline including visual, performing, and literary arts.

This collection was received in multiple parts from the donor(s) and is organized into 5 major parts (Parts 1 and 2 are housed at UW-Eau Claire. Additional portions of this collection are housed at the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison, Wisconsin, and the UW-River Falls Area Research Center in River Falls, Wisconsin.). These materials have not been physically interfiled and researchers might need to consult more than one part to locate similar materials.

Part 1:
The papers in the collection are comprised of a variety of materials dealing with American Indians and related topics, in particular with Indians of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Evidence of both Mrs. Stone's activities as a social worker and community services consultant, and of her interests in children, youth, and education, is to be found in her papers. The emphasis of the collection is on education and health and social services topics. Also, her leadership and participation in conferences and meetings, government projects on all levels, and university programs to encourage and aid Indian high school and college students can be seen. Most of the collection is in the form of printed reference material and articles, including a large series of publications (newspapers and magazines) written for, by, and about Indians. Few truly personal papers are present.

The collection is organized into these categories: Personal Papers, Government Agencies, Organizations, Conferences, Education Reference File, Publications, and Reference Files. A small quantity of additional material of Mrs. Stone's which was presented in 1971 via the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is housed at the Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. A listing of that material is at the beginning of the contents list.

Mrs. Stone's interest in Indian affairs ranged far beyond her official duties, as the series of PERSONAL PAPERS shows. Her address books and mailing lists include one major list of several hundred individuals and organizations concerned about the American Indian. Although some gaps exist in her file of engagement calendars, they document such activities as her attendance at conferences and organizational meetings, and talks which she gave before other groups. The news clippings deal predominantly with Mrs. Stone's career, the honors and awards conferred upon her, and publicity about her work with various Indian organizations. The list of speeches is incomplete and contains only a portion of those speeches which Mrs. Stone gave in an official capacity, on behalf of the Division of Family Services. Speeches and publications files contain the text of a number of Mrs. Stone's talks, but in varying format, ranging from typescript copy to jottings on notecards.

The GOVERNMENT AGENCIES series has been divided into Federal and State headings, both of which are arranged alphabetically by agency title. Prominent under the federal heading are grant proposals, correspondence, memoranda, and reports which describe the given agencies' programs as they relate to American Indian needs. Mrs. Stone's role in some of these programs is unclear. In others, such as VISTA programs, it is evident that she participated actively in planning and training sessions. Much of the state heading consists of files created by the Division for Children and Youth and its successor, the Division of Family Services. Correspondence, memoranda, case files, and various program files document Mrs. Stone's day-to-day activities in those divisions.

Material in the ORGANIZATIONS series has been arranged alphabetically by title of organization. Although Mrs. Stone maintained membership in many groups, it appears that she was on the mailing list of a number of additional groups. In the latter cases, files often are limited to promotional literature and requests for funds. As might be expected, materials are more substantial for those organizations in which Mrs. Stone assumed an important role. The files of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Conference (later the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.), which she helped found, are by far the most voluminous in the series. Minutes and related materials from GLITC meetings also contain informational material prepared in connection with the agenda for given meetings, incoming and outgoing correspondence, memoranda, grant proposals, program reports, and mailing lists. Also prominent among the records of this organization are files of the education committee, and various programs such as alcoholism treatment, community action, human development, nurse recruitment, and youth development.

The series entitled CONFERENCES contains papers from those meetings which Mrs. Stone attended as well as preliminary materials, such as schedules of events and speakers from gatherings which she did not attend. Documents from conferences include timetables; schedules; agenda; copies of proceedings, speeches, and publications; correspondence; and handwritten notes from sessions. From those conferences which Mrs. Stone helped organize, additional materials are present, including reports from planning meetings, lists of invitees, correspondence with speakers, financial files, and participants' post-conference evaluations. The series is arranged alphabetically by conference

Materials present in the EDUCATION REFERENCE FILE have been divided into two segments: those dealing with the broad topic of Indian education, which have been further divided into general and school-related headings; and student files. The general Indian education section contains reference material, correspondence, publications and reprints, reports, and notes pertaining generally to Indian education, and of interest to Mrs. Stone in preparation of speeches and new programs. Items have been arranged alphabetically by subject or topic. The school-related heading includes material relating specifically to Wisconsin and national grade and high schools, and colleges which offer American Indian programs, or accepted only Indian students.

Most of the files deal with the Wisconsin State Universities and University of Wisconsin systems and with Wisconsin grade and high schools, and contain correspondence, reports, minutes, and notes. Present in this heading are the records of Mrs. Stone's work with Indian education programs in the universities, recruitment of Indian high school graduates, and the records of WDIEO, Upward Bound, Pride, and PEP programs. This group of materials is also arranged alphabetically, by name of school. The student files, which are restricted and available only by prior arrangement, contain folders of information about individual college and vocational students, almost all of whom attended school in Wisconsin. These files include correspondence and memos, transcripts and school records, financial aid information, photographs, and other personal data

The PUBLICATIONS series contains published periodicals, including newspapers, and near-print documents such as newsletters, which were either published by Indian groups and organizations, or are devoted to Indian life, concerns, and conditions. Both American and Canadian publications are represented, with local and regional imprints predominating. Most of the publications date from the 1960s and early 1970s, although the files are somewhat fragmentary. Also included in this series, which has been microfilmed for preservation purposes, is a bibliography of Wisconsin authors, 1836-1937, with personal annotations; and a reference publication from the Office of Economic Opportunity.

A variety of subjects are to be found within the REFERENCE FILES. Most of the material is printed or copied, and includes news releases, government documents, essays and theses, and typescript items. Correspondence is also included in many folders. The bibliographies and reading lists section contains useful information for further research on American Indians. Items are filed alphabetically by subject, name of individual or tribe, or title of publication or article. Where a particular tribe or individual could be clearly identified, the file was given a specific, rather than general, title.

Part 2:
The BIOGRAPHCAL/PERSONAL PAPERS series consists of news clippings dealing predominately with Veda Stone's career, honors and awards conferred upon her, and publicity about her work with various Indian people and organizations. Also included are correspondence files, demonstrating the personal relationships she had with her many students, friends, and colleagues, as well as personal notes and speeches.

The CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS series consists of papers from conferences pertaining to Native Americans and Native American Education, at which she either attended, organized or presented. These papers consist of timetables, schedules; agenda, copies of proceedings, speeches and publications, correspondence, and handwritten notes from sessions and are arranged alphabetically by conference title.

The EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES series has been divided into two segments, those dealing with educational materials in general and those detailing specific school programs about and for Native Americans. The educational materials are mostly articles and reference materials that deal with the issues and concerns in educating Native American students as well as materials about Native American people and culture.

The bulk of this series relates to Mount Senario College (Ladysmith, Wisconsin) where Stone created the American Indian program and was on staff and a member of the Board of Trustees. Her role in the success of Mount Senario can also be seen in the correspondence files.

The GOVERNMENT AGENCIES/PROGRAMS series have been divided into Federal and State headings. The federal files are mostly made up of publications about education, Native Americans and social concerns. The bulk of materials concern Federal Education programs such as: Title I: Education for the Disadvantaged, Title IV: The 21st Century School program, and Title V: Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative Programs. These materials document specific schools in Northern Wisconsin and the Minneapolis (Minnesota) regions, and consist of grants, applications, reports, newsletters and personal notes written by Stone. The State subseries consists of publications created by the State of Wisconsin, concerning children, public instruction and education.

The PUBLICATIONS series consists of reports, articles, newsletters and theses and date from the early 1960s to the early 1990s. Most of the materials are about American Indian people and culture and education, primarily in Wisconsin.

The REFERENCE MATERIALS series consists of a variety of subjects and information on various Wisconsin and Native American topics, including individual Wisconsin tribes, Native American poetry and treaty rights.

The SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROJECTS series document the various events and projects that Stone either created or was involved in, with the exception of the Pow Wows files, where she was an invited guest. Stone was a member of various Arts Boards and was an advocate for Native American Arts, documented through advertisements, catalogs, and other materials about specific events and projects that promoted the arts.