Research: Military: They Also Served
They Also Served --- Series Descriptions
War Transportation Committee
A4407. Director's Correspondence, 1942-1943. 2 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Arranged by topic.
This series contains correspondence documenting the War Transportation Committee (WTC) director's efforts to regulate transportation resources. Issues discussed include staggered hours for school and business operations; special bus regulation exemption requests; transportation to summer camps; and school transportation for athletes. Agencies with which the WTC worked, and for which correspondence is found, include the Office of War Training; the U. S. War Manpower Commission; the U. S. Office of Price Administration; and the U. S. Office of Defense Transportation. The status of transportation programs throughout the State and the agenda and minutes of the Motor Bus Advisory Committee, which advised the WTC on bus regulations, are also found in this series. In addition, a complicated incident of non- compliance with WTC regulations which occurred in the Bronx is also documented in this series.
A4399. Director's Subject Files, 1942-1945. 5 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by subject.
This series contains correspondence, memoranda, and pamphlets detailing the work of the War Transportation Committee's director, R. C. Georger, in implementing, supervising, and coordinating the committee's work in promoting the conservation of transportation resources. While routine administrative matters such as budgets, travel, and personnel are detailed, the series primarily contains correspondence between Georger and either committee personnel or other organizations involved in war transportation issues. Topics and organizations represented in this series include group rides or car pooling, publicity, rationing, review of spur routes (alternate routes used to avoid congestion), school bus conservation, Office of War Training, Office of Civilian Mobilization, and United States Office of Defense Transportation. This series also includes letters to war transportation administrators, school superintendents, and field agents detailing procedures, disseminating information, requesting information or forms, and providing advice.
A4401. Agendas and Minutes, 1942-1945. 0. 8 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Arranged with agendas followed by minutes, then chronological.
This series contains agendas and minutes documenting the actions of the War Transportation Committee (WTC) which oversaw the War Council's efforts to conserve transportation resources. The agendas contain significant detailed information relating to issues discussed at the meetings. In particular, charter bus or school bus lines whose permits would be approved, denied, or revoked were often enumerated in the agendas and would include the case request code, the applicant's name, and the purpose of its operation. In the minutes, these lists would be referred to by the number found in the agenda and their approval, denial, or cancellation noted. Other topics discussed in the meetings include many routine matters such as personnel service expenses, maintenance and operations costs, and changes in procedures and rules. Also discussed are the status of WTC programs and projects such as school and public bus driver training, group riding or car pooling, information booklets issuance, enforcement of regulations, and inter- agency cooperation.
A4403. Supervisory Directives, 1942-1945. 2. 5 cu. ft.
Arrangement: By document type.
This series contains orders, regulations, and bulletins issued by organizations to which the War Transportation Committee was subordinate such as the New York State War Council, the federal Office of Defense Transportation, Office of Defense Health and Welfare Services, Office of Price Administration, and Federal Security Agency. They were used by the committee to guide its efforts in coordinating the conservation of transportation resources. Issues detailed in these materials include rationing of fuel, rubber, and other automotive resources; bus, taxi, and automobile operations and restrictions; passenger and freight train regulations; and general transportation prohibitions. While most of the materials pertain to transportation issues, regional bulletins from the Federal Security Agency provide broad overviews of selected New York cities detailing demographics relating to health, transportation, and other issues.
A4397. Field Agents Supervision Files, 1942-1945. 5. 4 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Organized into three subseries: Subseries 1, Field Agents' Reports, 1942-1945, 2 cu. ft. , and Subseries 2, Field Agents' Correspondence Files, 1942-1945, 3 cu. ft. , are geographical by region. Subseries 3, General Instructions to Field Agents and Local War Transportation Administrators, 1942-1945, 0. 4 cu. ft. , is chronological.
Like other War Council agencies, the War Transportation Committee (WTC) directed field agents to execute its programs and supervise local war council efforts. The WTC divided the State into six regions: Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Albany, and New York City. One field agent in each region acted as liaison for the WTC, providing advice to local programs, implementing WTC programs in their regions, and working with the WTC in resolving local transportation problems or disputes.
This series contains reports, correspondence, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings documenting the work of, and the committee's supervision of, field agents in their efforts to conserve transportation resources. Field agents' reports contain weekly summaries of each agent's activities including meetings attended, local war councils visited, and individuals consulted. Typical subjects reported on include car pooling; bus transportation and schedules, including charter bus lines; staggered work hours to alleviate congestion; the optimization of traffic patterns; program advertising and promotion; at-home vacations; coordination of programs with local rationing boards; and the purchase or disposal of transportation equipment. Reports from the New York City region are not in this series.
Correspondence in this series often contains more specific details on particular problems or concerns. Of particular note is correspondence from field agents to the WTC office regarding unionized transportation workers and the WTC's programs. Also, in late 1944 an assessment survey of local transportation capability was conducted and it is found in many files. It noted the status of car pool programs, bus usage, and vehicles' operating condition. Also found in this series are published reprints of government publications and periodical articles concerning transportation conservation from federal programs and other agencies and organizations concerned with the conservation of transportation resources. Some newspaper clippings related to war transportation are also found in this series.
A4395. Omnibus and Charter Bus Route Request Files, 1942-1945. 12. 8 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by county, then divided by petitions for omnibus routes and charter bus routes.
The War Transportation Committee was responsible for ensuring that bus routes started during the war did not overlap with existing routes and waste precious automotive resources. Organizations were required to apply to the committee for permission before initiating new omnibus or charter bus lines. This series contains correspondence, petitions, maps, and other documentation for each new bus service line request. Each file folder holds one request and may contain a description of the route, including beginning and ending points and stops; existing transportation services along any part of the route; days and times of service; necessity of route (usually the provision of transportation for war plant workers); maps of proposed routes; and the committee's approval or denial of the request (with explanatory remarks in the case of denials). The majority of requests are for charter bus routes.
Finding aids: Container list.
A4396. School Bus Route Review and Certificate Renewal Files, 1943-1945. 16 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Organized into two subseries: Subseries 1, School Bus Route Review Files, 1943, 7 cu. ft. ; and Subseries 2, School Bus Route Certificate Renewal Files, 1943-1945, 9 cu. ft. Both are alphabetical by county, then arranged by school district.
The War Transportation Committee was responsible for promoting and ensuring the efficient use of transportation resources such as rubber and fuel. As part of this duty, the United States Office of Defense Transportation directed the committee to review school bus routes to ensure that buses were employed according to regulations designed to minimize school bus usage while still providing adequate transportation for school children. School districts were required to submit to the War Transportation Committee detailed plans of their school bus routes each year.
This series contains correspondence, memoranda, maps, and forms documenting the War Transportation Committee's supervision and review of school bus routes. A typical school district's file includes a form with the county, local school unit, and date at the top, which lists name of school served or destination, bus seating capacity, number of elementary and secondary school students served (and the number less than two miles from school), and the time en route per trip; daily round trip mileage with and without pupils; and number of days each bus operates per quarter. The file also usually includes another form, also with the county, local school unit, and date at the top, entitled "Data on Mileage, Gallons of Gasoline, and Ownership" which lists mileage by quarters of 1943 for routes and trips, inspection and refueling, and total mileage. The form also lists the total gallons of gas consumed each quarter, and the war certificate number issued for each bus's operation. Both forms were issued by the Office of Defense Transportation.
Other items found in the file may include road maps, some hand drawn, outlining proposed bus routes; memoranda from a committee staff member detailing revisions required in the school district's plans; a questionnaire from the War Transportation Committee used to ensure that efficient practices were employed and that other War Council programs such as the Office of War Training's School Bus Driver Training Program were utilized; requests from school districts for exemptions from the mandated limits stating the circumstances requiring the exemption and the committee's response; and routine transmittal correspondence between the committee and the school district (usually the superintendent). This series also contains materials relating to the renewal of school bus route permits.
Finding aids: Container list.
A4402. Charter, Omni- , School, and Summer Camp Bus Application Request Tracking Files, 1942-1945. 2 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Request tracking forms: Arranged by request-type, then alphabetical by county or organization name. Card file: Arranged by request-type, then alphabetical by name of applicant.
The War Transportation Committee (WTC) was responsible for ensuring that bus routes started during the war did not overlap with existing routes and waste precious automotive resources. Organizations were required to apply to the committee for permission before initiating new omnibus or charter bus lines. This series contains forms and index cards created by the WTC to track each county's or organization's request for bus transportation. The forms list the applicant, proposed route, sometimes its purpose, and the date when the line was discontinued, if it was approved. Forms exist for charter bus, omnibus, and summer camp bus lines. The card file is divided into charter, school, and omnibus lines. Each card lists the applicant, company or organization, destination or route, purpose, the date request received, and the date acted upon.
A4405. School Bus Regulation Exemption Request Correspondence, 1943-1945. 1 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by county, then by school.
This series contains correspondence between the WTC and local schools in which exemptions to school bus regulations were requested. A typical request was that bus routes be shorter than the legal minimum due to heavy traffic patterns or a lack of sidewalks, which threatened the safety of child pedestrians. Another common exemption request concerned the purchase of new buses; these were usually accompanied by a justification for the need. The WTC's response and an explanation for its decision are usually found with each request.
A4398. Special Charter Bus Permit Request Correspondence, 1942- 1945. 5. 4 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Chronological by year, then alphabetical by region, then alphabetical by county.
The War Transportation Committee (WTC) was responsible for promoting and ensuring the efficient use of transportation resources such as rubber and fuel. Working through the local war transportation administrators or regional field agents in the six WTC regions (Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica), organizations were required to apply to the committee for permission before chartering a bus. This series contains correspondence primarily between local war transportation administrators and the War Transportation Committee regarding the issuance of charter bus permits. These requests were usually for one-time-only trips, though some requests for semi-regular service (such as for summer camps) are also found in this series. Often letters from the organizations seeking the charter bus permits (or interested third parties) are found. Both types of correspondence detail the trip, destination, miles, date, time, type of bus, and reason for the trip. A file containing correspondence between the regional field agent and the WTC is usually found at the start of each region's files. The correspondence discusses the same topic as noted above, though other issues infrequently discussed include equipment acquisition, distribution, and status.
A4400. Publicity Files, 1942-1945. 1 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Arranged by topic.
The War Transportation Committee utilized newspapers, radio, billboards, and posters to promote car pooling, bus use, and conservative driving habits. This series contains correspondence, broadsides, posters, and newspaper clippings documenting the committee's efforts to promote the conservation of transportation resources. The correspondence is primarily between the committee and the War Council's public relations agency, the War Information Service, and other organizations, federal and private, involved in the war effort. Also found is information on the "Double-up" sticker program, in which cars that participated in car pools or group rides received special window stickers.
Finding aids: Folder list.
A4404. Complaint Correspondence File, 1943-1945. 1. 8 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by county.
This series contains correspondence between the War Transportation Committee (WTC) and its subordinate organizations detailing complaints and problems regarding WTC programs and decisions. This series documents the committee's efforts to enforce both State and federal wartime energy and resource regulations. Issues discussed include charter bus regulation; school bus routes (routes followed, length of routes, speeds travelled); gasoline ration allotment; and continuation of routes. Typical complaints originated with parents who wished to move their children's school bus stops closer to their homes or to have their children be given the right to ride the school bus. Other common complaints concerned gasoline rationing inequities or the cancellation of charter bus routes.
A4408. General Program Subject Files, 1943-1945. 6 cu. ft.
Arrangement: By topic.
This series contains correspondence, memoranda, pamphlets, reports, and brochures pertaining to the War Transportation Committee (WTC) program and its efforts to conserve transportation resources. Topics covered include school bus use limits; charter bus use; fuel allocation; automobile conservation hints; summer school bus requirements; industrial plants' staggered work hours; and new equipment purchase requests. Materials detailing the WTC's work with its various subcommittees and its advisory committee, as well as the federal Office of Defense Transportation, are also found.
