Research: Military: They Also Served
They Also Served --- Series Descriptions
Division of Public Relations
A4285. Defense Digests and Official Bulletins, 1942-1945. 0.7 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Chronological.
Even before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the War Council's predecessor, the New York State Council of Defense, started publishing the semi-monthly Defense Digest which was "devoted to defense activities of state departments and local defense councils" in order to keep all branches of the Council informed of each subgroup's activities.The four-page newsletter contained photographs and reported on salvage collection, evacuation plans, vocational training, health field activities, recruitment, volunteer activities, civil defense issues, labor/work force issues, and rationing.
Started in October 1941, the newsletter expanded to an eight-page tabloid-size format in June 1942. One month later, the War Council's Office of War Information took over publication and the format changed yet again to a booklet form ranging from upwards of 16 pages per issue. Retitled New York State War Council Official Bulletin, the publication contained no photographs or feature stories but only War Council orders, regulations, communications, and directives, though on the same issues which its predecessor covered. In March 1944, the Office of War Information was abolished and the Division of Public Relations assumed the responsibilities of publishing the Official Bulletin. In May 1944, the format changed once again, reverting back to the tabloid format and a content similar to the Defense Digest, though some War Council communications and directives were sometimes included. (The third and fourth format changes resulted in the volume number reverting to Volume I.)
Finding aids: Folder list.
Indexes: Official Bulletins contain indexes in the following issues: Vol. I, #13; Vol. II, #4; Vol. II, #18; Vol. II, #43; Vol. III, #7; and Vol. III, #19.
A4347. Newsletter Photograph Printer Negatives, ca. 1942-1944. 1 cu. ft.
This series contains over thirty-six printer's offset plate negatives set on woodblocks. The negatives were used in the publication of the Official Bulletin and Defense Digest, both published to keep volunteers and administrators informed of War Council activities. The reversed halftone images depict State and local war council members or members of the public involved in war work. Also found in this series are approximately 40 Civil Defense ribbons.
A4287. Home Front Information Publications File, 1942-1945. 8 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by title.
This series consists of publications from national, State (including other War Council agencies), and private organizations involved in war work collected by the Office of War Information to assist the office when informing citizens about war-related activities on the home front. Pamphlets, booklets, brochures, and other printed material about salvage drives, civil defense issues, rationing, agricultural practices, war bond drives, cooking and homemaking, morale issues, and first aid, among other topics, are found.
Finding aids: Item list.
