Research: Military: They Also Served
They Also Served --- Series Descriptions
Salvage Division
A4350. Instructive Releases Sent to Local Salvage Committees, 1943- 1945. 1 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Organized into two subseries: Subseries 1, General Releases to Local Committees, 1943-1945, 0.75 cu. ft., and Subseries 2, Releases to Local Committee Chairmen, 1943-1945, 0.25 cu. ft., are both numerical by release number.
This series contains releases sent to city and county salvage committees and committee chairs to keep them apprised of specific salvage needs and campaigns and to inform and motivate salvage committee volunteers. Each release has sections devoted to specific salvage items such as waste fat, tin, paper, and scrap metal, and includes collection figures, directions, quotations, national program descriptions, and indications of how these materials were used in the war effort. Exemplary salvage efforts from around the state are reported in these releases. Included is an index for releases 1 through 199, but only releases numbered from 197 to 380 are found in the series. A few leaflets, posters, and stickers, designed to publicize, inspire, or educate the general public are also found.
This series also contains brief letters sent from the Salvage Division to all city and county salvage committee chairmen to inform them of salvage needs and to advise on programs. Most address a single issue such as specific salvage needs, suggestions for programs, the availability of promotional and instructional material, government policy, requests for information, and quota figures intended to keep the chairmen notified of success rates. Many of the letters were sent with booklets, advertising mats, brochures, and scripts and some of those items are found within the series. Also found is a list of local salvage committee chairmen dated February 15, 1945.
Finding aids: Folder list.
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A4351. Federal Advisory and Instructional Releases and Promotional Material, 1942-1945. 2.5 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Arranged by topic.
This series documents how the activities of the Salvage Division were directed, coordinated, and informed by the United States War Production Board (WPB).The series includes federal releases describing what materials were to be salvaged, directing the State division on how to proceed with salvage campaigns, and listing available promotional materials; correspondence between the Salvage Division and the WPB's Washington and regional New York City office regarding questions of policy, the resolution of problems, and the ordering of promotional materials; bulletins from the WPB to field executives detailing administrative procedures and policies on issues such as travel authorization, salaries, and office supplies; bulletins and newsletters about salvage efforts across the nation intended for general audiences; bulletins issued by the WPB's General Salvage Section, Bureau of Industrial Conservation to state chairmen and executive secretaries across the nation to keep them informed of salvage procedures; index for bulletins 1 through 369 (only bulletins 2 through 200 are included in the series); Manual of Administrative Instructions sent to all executives of the WPB, and sections of another WPB manual regarding the establishment, abolition, and restructuring of policies, procedures, and organizations; promotional and instructional materials such as posters, flyers, booklets, newspaper clippings, print advertising mats, and a folder of radio and play scripts; blueprint of a machine used to cut and process tin cans, with photographs and negatives of workers operating the device; and a General Dwight D. Eisenhower Award medal (filed under "General MacArthur") which was presented by the WPB to individual Boy Scouts for outstanding paper collection efforts.
Finding aids: Folder list.
A4352. Field Representatives' Correspondence and Report Files, 1945. 0.75 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by field representative's last name.
This series contains correspondence, memoranda, travel and expense vouchers, and weekly itineraries and reports which document the activities undertaken by the Salvage Division's field representatives in their effort to coordinate, advise, and oversee the city and county salvage committees. The number of reports filed and the amount of information contained in them vary greatly among the representatives.When included, reports focus on the coordination of specific local salvage campaigns, meetings with local committee members, and efforts to persuade reluctant agencies and individuals to participate fully in salvage efforts. Also included are memoranda issued by the Albany office to all field representatives to apprise them of policies, procedures, available promotional material, and specific salvage needs.Correspondence between Albany and the United States War Production Board's regional office reveals a general satisfaction with the work of the field representatives, though problems did arise because of unnecessary travel and spending, poor record keeping, and misrepresentation of the division. Also included are newspaper clippings sent by field representatives regarding salvage issues and efforts in their jurisdiction. A job description filed under "H. W. Roberts" details the responsibilities of the field representatives.
Finding aids: Folder list.
A4353. Advisory Correspondence with Local Salvage Committees, 1944-1945. 2 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by city or county.
This series reveals the activities of the city and county salvage committees and their coordination of local salvage efforts, particularly those concerning periodic waste paper and tin collection drives. Correspondence includes letters from the committees describing their programs and requesting assistance and promotional materials; supportive and congratulatory letters from the Salvage Division to committee chairmen; letters between the Salvage Division and cooperating agencies, businesses, and individuals concerning the resolution of problems; and routine letters regarding the shipment of promotional materials and awards to children for outstanding service. Field representatives' reports about the activities of the local committees are included if the reports raised issues that required follow-up correspondence. Newspaper clippings detail local salvage issues and announce salvage drives. Some very brief reports from committee chairmen giving tin salvage figures are included.
Finding aids: Folder list.
A4354. Correspondence with Cooperating Businesses, Agencies, and Individuals, 1942-1945. 3 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by institution or individual's name.
This series reveals how the Salvage Division coordinated the activities of various businesses, agencies, publicity organizations, schools, waste processors and dealers, and individuals involved in salvage efforts across the State. The series includes letters detailing policies and procedures and describing salvage priorities; congratulatory letters sent from the Salvage Division; requests to the division for printed publicity materials; news releases from the United States Office of Price Administration regarding price ceilings on waste products; news releases from the United States Office of Defense Transportation and letters to that office regarding the Salvage Division's recommendations about individual applications for extra gas or vehicle allotments; and releases from the regional office of the United States War Production Board regarding travel regulations; instructional and promotional materials such as booklets, leaflets, newspaper clippings, advertisement mats, and corporate in-house publications; and routine housekeeping records such as the travel vouchers of the executive secretary and his assistant.
