The United World Federalists, Inc. was founded in 1947 when five world federalists groups merged. These groups were Americans United for World Organization, the Massachusetts Committee for World Federation, the World Federalists, USA, the Student Federalists, and the World Citizens of Georgia. The newly formed organization had their national offices in New York City, and its purpose was to promote a world federal government, to be accomplished primarily through the United Nations. The national organization changed its name in 1969 to World Federalists, USA, and later changed it again to World Federalist Association.

The Springfield Chapter was formed in December 1948 with thirty three charter members. The group began holding regular meetings, appointing committees, and sending delegates to regional and executive council meetings. Standing committees included the Finance Committee, responsible for planning the budget and raising funds; the Membership Committee, which kept membership records and solicited prospective members; the Education Committee, which planned discussion groups, trained speakers, and published literature; the Political Affairs Committee, which wrote letters to legislators and newspapers; and the Publicity Committee, which was responsible for the local newsletter and sending press releases to newspapers and other media.