Arranged by type of record and chronologically or alphabettically thereunder.
There are no access restrictions.
Records of the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense, 1939-1947 (bulk 1942-1944). Accession 22499, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Accession 22499 was transferred by the Virginia World War II History Commission on 8/10/1950
Original folder titles have been retained.
Governor James H. Price created the Virginia Defense Council in May 1940 by Executive Order to aid the National Defense Council by mobilizing the State's resources so that Virginia could effectively organize for protection in the event of an attack on American soil. Colonel Mills F. Neal was appointed the first Coordinator, though he resigned in November of 1940 and was replaced by Brigadier General James A. Anderson. J.H. Wyze was appointed Assistant Coordinator in January 1941. Governor Price originially appointed ten members to the Council, though this number was later raised to sixteen members. The members of the Council represented activities across the state, including industry, labor, welfare, recreation, agriculture, transportation, education and the military. The State was divided into eight Regional Defense Councils (Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia. Radford, Richmond-Petersburg-Hopewell, Shenandoah Valley, Southern Piedmont and Southwest Virginia) to assist in coordinating and managing defense activities across the state. The Council and regional councils were advisory and had no administration authority. The Virginia Defense Council established the Virginia Protective Force to take the place of the National Guard, which had been inducted into the Army; the Aircraft Warning Service; the Air Raid Warning System, with Warning and Control Centers; and Emergency Medical Services, which conducted surveys of medical facilities and personnel to assist in planning for medical services in case of emergency. The Council and regional offices also organized auxilliary police and firemen, home nursing and nutrition classes, and resource conservation activities, and established Recreation Committees to support visiting soldiers. Gen. Anderson resigned in August of 1941 and J. H. Wyze was appointed Acting Coordinator, and served in that capacity until the Virginia Defense Council was automatically dissolved on January 20, 1942, when Governor Price left office, though the Council remained active during an interim period between January 21-February 11, 1942.
The Virginia Office of Civilian Defense was established by an Act of the General Assembly (Chap. 10, Acts of 1942, House Bill 209), on February 11, 1942. Governor Colgate Darden, Jr., appointed J. H. Wyse as State Coordinator with authority to administer Civilian Defense programs at the state level and to organize and direct local defense councils. Rather than organize under the old regional system, the Office of Civilian Defense established local defense councils in counties, cities and incorporated towns throughout the state, with the mayor or chief executive officer as the director of the local council. The Office coordinated the activities, services and programs of the local defense councils, but this system placed responsibility for civilian defense in the hands of local public officials.
Two major divisions of the Office of Civilian Defense were Civilian Protection and Civilian Mobilization for War Services. Civilian Protection activities were carried out by U.S. Citizens Defense Corps and included Air Raid Wardens and Shelters, Aircraft Warning Service, Auxiliary Police, Auxiliary Firemen, Blackout testing, Decontamination Squads, Drivers Corps, Emergency Food and Housing Services, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Welfare Services, Fire Guards, Forest Fire Fighters Service, Gas Program, Plant Protection, Road Repair Crews, and the State Evacuation Authority. Civilian Mobilization for War Services was carried out by the U.S. Citizens Service Corps, which led efforts to keep the homefront strong in areas including Child Care, Consumer Programs, Health and Hospital Services, Housing Services, Library Services, Nutrition Services, Recreation and Youth Group Services, Salvage Programs, and War Bonds and Stamps.
With the defeat of Germany and Japan in 1945 the need for the office came to an end. On November 19, 1945, Governor Darden issued an executive order abolishing the office effective January 1, 1946.
This collection documents the activities of the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense (1942-1945), and also includes some records from the Virginia Defense Council (1940-1942), and the Southwest Virginia Regional Defense Council (1941 Dec-1942). Virginia Office of Civilian Defense records include series for Correspondence, Subject files, Civilian Mobilization, Civilian Protection, State Child Care Committee, Emergency Medical Service, Evacuation Authority, Coordinator fo Negro Civilian Defense Activities, Transmissions and Directives, Financial and Personnel records, History files, Photographs, Posters and Published Materials.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
This series is housed in 29 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by surname of correspondent or by company name. These files consist of copies of the outgoing correspondence of the Director of the Office of Civilian Defense, J. H. Wyse, as well as correspondence from Wyse by others in the office, including J. Linwood Rice (Assistant to the Coordinator), Mary V. Marks (Supervisor of Civilian Mobilization), James F. Nicholas (Supervisor of Negro Civilian Defense Activities), and John Howard (Chief Air Raid Precautions, State Plant Coordinator), among others. Files were kept separately for 1942 and for 1943-1945 (bulk 1943-1944) and that arrangement is reflected in this series. Correspondence, 1943-1945, also includes a notation on each letter as to where copies of the letters are also filed in the Subject Files series. The majority of the correspondence is with local civilian defense council (CDC) representatives and state and federal officials.
This series is housed in 65 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by name of locality, with counties, cities and towns being filed together in one sequence. These files consist of incoming correspondence from localities, copies of the outgoing correspondence from the Office of Civilian Defense, reports and may contain other types of attachments, including agendas, forms, meeting summaries, memoranda, newspaper clippings, press releases, publications. Files were kept separately for 1942 and for 1943-1945 (bulk 1943-1944) and that arrangement is reflected in this series. Most of the copies of outgoing correspondence can also be found in Series I. Correspondence. Outgoing correspondence, 1943-1945, also includes a notation on each letter as to where copies of the letters are also filed in the Subject Files series. The majority of the correspondence is with local civilian defense council (CDC) representatives, but may also include correspondence with state government and federal government officials. The locality correspondence files are also further sub-divided into categories for General correspondence, Civilian Mobilization correspondence, and Civilian Protection correspondence.
The majority of the the correspondence from the Office of Civilian Defense comes from J. H. Wyse, Coordinator; John J. Howard, Director of Air Raid Precautions and State Plant Protection Officer; Mary Marks, Supervisor of Civilian Mobilization; and James F. Nicholas, Supervisor of Negro Civilian Defense Activities.
General correspondence topics may include administrative activities, African American participation, appointments, compensation, conferences, field visits, insignia, meetings, organization, personnel, publications, publicity, Red Cross, service awards, and speaking engagements.
Civilian Mobilization correspondence topics may include appointments, block plans, car sharing, child care, Citizen Service Corps, conservation of critical resources, education, field visits, food preservation, Invasion Day, Junior Citizen Service Corps, nutrition, Office of Price Administration, organization summaries and charts, rationing (food, mileage, point), recreation, salvage, training, victory gardens, war bonds, and the War Fund.
Civilian Protection correspondence topics may include air raid precautions(blackouts, dim outs, equipment, signals, warning districts and warning systems), auxiliary services (fire, police, emergency medical), bomb reconnaissance, civilian protection reporting, federal equipment (borrowing, leasing, using), gas specialists, pennants, plant protection and security programs.
The Defense Act required that local councils of defense be established in each county, city and town in the state and provided that the mayor or chief executive of cities would be named director of the local defense council, and that county boards of supervisors would appoint the director-coordinator of each county defense council. 163 local defense councils in 100 counties, 24 cities, and 39 incorporated towns, covering the entire state were organized.
This series is housed in 66 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by topic. Files were kept separately for 1942 and for 1943-1945 (bulk 1943-1944) and that arrangement is reflected in this series. The subject files include correspondence, publications, and reports on a variety of topics related to civilian defense in general, and specifically to the operation of the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense. Topics cover all aspects of civilian defense and include aircraft and air raid warning, blackouts, civilian defense, civilian mobilization, community organizations, directives, federal equipment, industry, insignia, medical services, procedures, publications, reporting, salvage, state and federal government, supplies, and transportation. The majority of the correspondence in this series are copies, with the original incoming correspondence located the correspondence series (Series I).
This series is housed in 16 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by topic. Correspondence and subject files include incoming and outgoing correspondence, brochures, newsletters, publications and reports. Topics that fall under Civilian Mobilization include agriculture, block leaders, child care, consumer interests, education, food preservation, health services, home demonstration, Junior Citizens Service Corps, nutrition, rationing, recreation and services for servicemen, recreation and youth group services, salvage, victory gardens, and war bonds and stamps.
Civilian Mobilization for War Services was organized to promote strong communities to back up military operations and morale. The state office served as a coordination point for information and , planning and Mary V. Marks served as Supervisor of Civilian Mobilization from July 1942 to October 1944. Local Chiefs of Civilian Mobilization were named in each locality to work with the state office and existing public and private agencies and other organizations within the community to meet local needs. The U.S. Citizens Service Corps was organized to keep the home front strong by leading the fight against ineffiency, insecurity and poor health within the community.
The Civilian Protection series is housed in 18 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by topic or locality. The series includes sub-series for Correspondence and subject files, 1942-1945, and Civilian Defense Reports, 1942-1944.
The U.S. Citizens Defense Corps was established in each local defense council with different units organized for the protection of life and property in the locality. Some of these units included Air Raid Wardens, Aircraft Warning Service, Auxiliary Police, Auxiliary Firemen, Fire Guards, Forest Fire Fighters Service, Messengers, Decontamination Squads, Demolition and Clearance Crews, Drivers Corps, Emergency Food and Housing, Resuce Squads, Utility Repair Squads, and Road Repair Crews. The Emergency Welfare Service was established in Feb 1943 to direct and supervise emergency welfare services of local defense councils, including emergency housing and feeding in the event of attack or other disaster. Dr. William H. Stauffer of the State Dept. of Welfare was appointed State Chief of Emergency Welfare Services and superintendents were named in local target areas.
Correspondence and subject files, 1942-1945, are housed in 16 boxes and are arranged alphabetically by topic. Correspondence and subject files include incoming and outgoing correspondence, brochures, bulletins, communications, conference materials, invitations, lists, memoranda, minutes, newsletters, newspaper clippings, presentations, programs, publications and reports. Topics may include aircraft warning service, air raid shelters, blackouts, chemical warfare, control centers, dimouts, emergency preparedness, federal equipment loaned, fire protection, plant protection, protection mobilization, security, and warning centers.
Civilian Protection Reports, 1942-1944, are housed in 2 boxes and are arranged alphabetically by locality. The pre-printed report forms (OCD Form 1) document numbers of defense staff, and numberd of volunteers in defense and service corps, and and also report on the status of protection plans and preparations (air raid warning systems, blackout systems, and control centers). This series of reports is not complete.
This series is housed in 6 boxes and is arranged alphabetically. These files include incoming and outgoing correspondence, memoranda, minutes, news clippings, publications and reports. Some publications in the series pre-date 1942, but were collected after 1942. Topics may include, but are not limited to: child care (facilities, training, operation), child welfare during wartime, counseling, day care and nursery schools for children of working mothers, extended school services, federal funds, surveys, and workshops.
The State Child Care Committee was organized under the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense to stimulate interest and understanding of child care needs in Virginia; to assist localities in planning a comprehensive program of services for the care of children; and to foster and promote the coordination of efforts among public and private agencies dealing with child care, particularly in those areas in which the needs have grown as a result of the increased employment of women. The establishment of a state child care committee was a prerequisite to obtaining federal funds to care for the children of employed mothers. The committee was tasked with determining the needs for child care; reviewing and passing local plans concerned with child care where federal funds were used from the the President's Emergency Fund; assisting in the organization of local child care committees under the local defense councils; serving as a clearinghouse for information on child care throughout the state, and interpreting and disseminating this information; and preparing plans and suggestions to promote the proper use of existing facilities to meet the increasing demand of proper child care for children during war time.
Members of the State Child Care Committee included: R.N. Anderson, State Dept. of Education; May O. Hankins, Children's Bureua of the the Dept. of Public Welfare; Dr. Lorin A. Thompson, State Planning Board; John Hopkins Hall, Labor Commissioner; Dr. A. L. Carson, Jr., Dept. of Health; Maude Wallace, VPI Extension Service; Frank A. Cavedo, U.S. Employment Office; and Mary V. Marks, State Office of Civilian Defense and Supervisor for Civilian Mobilization. Etta Rose Bailey, State Board of Education, served as the Executive Officer of the Committee. Others who were highly involved with the Committee include: M. Frances Cromwell, State Supervisor of Extended School Services; Ruth Henderson, Supervisor of Elementary Education for the State Board of Education; and Dr. Dabney s. Lancaster, Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State Board of Education.
This series is housed in 12 boxes and is arranged alphabetically. This series includes sub-series for general correspondence, correspondence with localities, and subject files. The majority of the correspondence is with Edgar C. Harper, MD, Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services, and Sarah R. Radcliffe, RN, Nurse Deputy of Emergency Medical Services and local civilian defense councils. These files may include incoming and outgoing correspondence, bulletins, circulars, forms, incident reports, instructions, memoranda, minutes, news clippings, notices, oaths, orders, plans, publications, questionnaires/surveys and reports. Topics include but are not limited to: Affiliated Hospital Units, appointments (Emergency Medical Officers and local Nurse Deputies), Army hotel hospitals, blood plasma, chemical warfare, emergency base hospitals, equipment and supplies, establishment of local units, evacuation of casualties, federal government, home nursing, hospitalization, medical field units, meetings, nursing aides, organization of EMS and nurse services, policies and procedures, recruitment of staff, and transportation.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was responsible for the organization and training of local emergency medical personnel, preparation of hospital facilities for providing medical services to casualties that may result from bombing or sabotage, evacuation of casualties, supplying blood plasma and other medical supplies and equipment, setting up emergency base hospitals, and furnishing medical teams to areas in distress. EMS was also responsible for the preparation of plans designed to prevent or alleviate any medical or public health hazards to which the civilian population may be exposed, and acted as liaison with federal agencies concerned with public health and medical care. EMS was led by Dr. I.C. Riggin, Chief Emergency Medical Services, Deputy Director E.C. Harper, Hospital Officer M.H. Coleman, and State Nurse Deputy Sarah R. Radcliffe, who assisted in providing nursing services for emergencies. Local EMS plans consisted of field casualty service, casualty receiving hospitals, ambulance transport, and emergency base hospitals to receive patients transferred from casualty receiving hospitals. Local Chiefs of Emergency Medical Services were appointed in localities and Emergency Medical Field Units organized personnel, transportation, medical and surgical equipment, casualty stations and first aid posts, decontamination stations, and rescue squads and stretcher teams.
Correspondence files, 1942-1944, consist of 2 boxes and include of copies of outgoing correspondence. Arranged alphabetically by the surname of the recipient.
Correspondence with localities, 1942-1944, consists of 5 boxes and includes incoming correspondence and copies of outgoing correspondence. Counties, cities and towns are filed separately, with each being arranged alphabetically.
Subject files, 1942-1944, consist of 9 boxes and are arragned alphabetically by topic.
This State Evacuation Authority series is housed in 7 boxes and includes sub-series for subject files, locality files, correspondence, and evacuation facility files. These files include incoming and outgoing correspondence, forms, meeting records, maps, memoranda, minutes, news clippings, plans, publications and reports.
The State Evacuation Authority was created by Civlian Defense Executive Order No. 88 on August 12, 1942, to cooperate with national regional evacuation authorities and to establish evacuation programs in the state in the event of bombings or other disasters. The Authority was charged with making surveys and plans and setting up area or local evacuation authorities in order to expedite the evacuation of the civilian population in case of attack or other emergency. Concerns during an emergency evacuation including housing, medical assitance, and food for evacuees. The Authority was also charged with cooperating with the federal government and act on their behalf in the expenditure of federal funds. Members included Chairman, J. H. Wyse, State Office of Civilian Defense; Hon. Gordon B. Ambler, Director, Richmond Office of Civilian Defense; Brig. Gen. James A. Anderson, State Highway Commissioner; Dabney S. Lancaster, State Superintendent of Public Instruction; William L. Leap, General Field Representative, Eastern Area, American Red Cross; Raymond B. Long, Director, State Planning Board; Dr. William H. Stauffer, State Commissioner of Public Welfare; L. M. Walker, Jr., State Commissioner of Agriculture; Maude Wallace, Assistant Director, V.P.I. Extension Service; Brig. Gen. S. Gardner Waller, Adjutant General of Virginia and Major C. W. Woodson, Superintendent, Virginia State Police.
Subject files, 1942-1943, are housed in 4 boxes and are arranged alphabetically by topic. Includes of correspondence, maps, meeting records, minutes, plans, publications, and reports. Topics include evacuation planning and logistics, area evacuation authorities, evacuation authorities in other states, housing, and meetings.
Locality files, 1943, consist of 3 boxes and are arranged alphabetically by locality. Includes correspondence of Julian Brooks, Exective Officer of the Virginia Evacuation Authority, both incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence with local civilian defense councils. May also include a few publications, ephemera, maps, and proclamations. Topics include facilities for evacuees, housing surveys, meeting planning and notes, organization of local evacuation committees, and various topics of local interest.
Correspondence, 1942-1944, is housed in 1 box and is arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Correspondence is between Julian Brooks and Virginia Evacuation Authority members or other evacuation officials, and covers topics such as meetings, evacuation planning and organization, and publication distribution.
The Evacuation Facilities files, 1943, are house in 1 box and are arranged alphabetically by locality. These files include correspondence, data and survey forms, maps and reports. The majority of the correspondence is between Julian Brooks and local officals. Data forms include information about a locality, including names of civilian defense officials, population, names of local government officials, and meeting notes. American Red Cross survey forms of local chapter resources include address, population served, names of committee chairmen, and specific information about the Disaster Committee, and food, shelter, clothing, transportation and medicial aid organization, and personnel analysis. Reports contain information about localities and facility capacity.
The Negro Civilian Defense Activities series is housed in 7 boxes and includes sub-series for correspondence with localities, and correspondence and subject files. These files were maintained by Coordinator James F. Nicholas and include incoming and outgoing correspondence, meeting and conference notes, memoranda, news clippings, publications and reports. Topics include local representatives (appointments, recommendations, resignations), programming, reporting, training, meetings and prospective visits, and issues of local interest. Original folder titles have been retained.
Special interest items include: Program and Proceedings of the 38th Annual Session Grand United Order of Moses, Charlotte Court House, 1942, and Program of the 39th Annual Gathering of The Grand United Order of Moses, Charlotte Court House, 1943 (Box 212, Folder 16); Program of the 66th Annual Celebration of the Emancipation of the Colored People in the USA (Emancipation Proclamation Association), Tappahannock, 1943 (Box 212, Folder 23); Pamphlet - Fairfax County Colored Citizens Assocaition, 1941 (Box 212, Folder 24); Program - Tenth Annual Commencement Exercises of the Medical College of Virginia, St. Philip School of Nursing, 1944 (Box 215, Folder 13); Pamphlet - The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, n.d. (Box 215, Folder 13); Program - Dedication of Service Flag, Manassas Industrial School, 1943 (Box 215, Folder 13); Program - Thirtieth Annual Meeting of the Negro Organization Society of Virginia, Chatham, 1942 (Box 215, Folder 15); Silver Jubilee Program of the Twenty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Negro Organization Society, Charlotte Court House, 1937 (Box 215, Folder 15); and Pamphlet - Negro Organization Society, n.d. (Box 215, Folder 15).
James F. Nicholas was appointed Coordinator of Negro Civilian Defense Activities in June of 1942 and tasked with coordinating African American participation in protective and war service activities. He worked with local defense councils to secure African American represenation and to increase volunteer involvement in local war time endeavors. He also worked closely with the Racial Relations Advisor of the Third Civilian Defense Region. Nicholas resigned in August 1944 to take a position at Virginia State College.
Correspondence with localities, 1942-1944, consists of 3 boxes and includes incoming correspondence and copies of outgoing correspondence. Counties, cities and towns are filed separately, with each being arranged alphabetically.
Correspondence and subject files, 1941-1944, consists of 4 boxes and includes incoming correspondence and copies of outgoing correspondence, lists, newsletters, reports, transmissions from the U.S. Office of Civilian Defense (bulletins, digest, notices, operations letters, orders) and the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense (correspondence, instructions, memoranda, publications, reports), topical files, and reports. Arranged alphabetically. Some items may pre-date 1942, but all files were created 1942-1944.
The Virginia Office of Civilian Defense Transmissions and Directives series is housed in 8 boxes and consists of official communications sent out by the VAOCD. Includes bulletins, exectuive orders, informational memoranda, memoranda, operations letters and transmittal letters.
Bulletins, 1942-1945, consist of 1 box and include communications sent by J. H. Wyze, State Coordinator. The majority of the bulletins are addressed to local defense coordinators. Arranged in bulletin number order.
Executive orders, 1942-1945, consist of 1 box and are arranged by order number. The executive orders are signed by Governor Colgate W. Darden, with the majority of the orders issued in 1942. Topics include the establishment of local defense councils and metropolitan areas, air raids, blackouts, dimouts and evacuation authority. Executive order No. 91 has not been located.
Informational memoranda, 1942-1945, are housed in 3 boxes and are arranged by memoranda number. The informational memoranda are from J.H. Wyse, Coordinator of the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense, or his designee, and are mainly directed towards executive officers, local directors and coordinators, and local government officials. Several memoranda are missing from this sequence. Also includes a chronological list of informational memoranda (1 v.)
Memoranda, 1942-1943, are housed in 1 box and are arranged chronologically. The memoranda are sent by J.H. Wyse, Coordinator of the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense and the majority are directed to local coordinators and directors. Some memoranda include referenced attachments. It is not known why these particular memoranda were separated out and filed together as a series by the Office of Civilian Defense, as many other memoranda were also sent.
Operations procedures, 1943-1944, are housed in 1 box and are arranged in procedure number order. The operation procedures are sent by J.H. Wyse, Coordinator of the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense, and the majority are directed to local coordinators and directors. These procedures include information on general operations and regulations, and any changes to those.
Transmittal letters, 1943-1944, are housed in 1 box and are arranged in letter number order. The transmittal letters are sent by J.H. Wyse, Coordinator of the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense, and the majority are directed to local coordinators and directors. These directives are generally cover letters for other material, notices of shipments or an explanation of supplies or publications transmitted to local councils. Some letters include referenced attachments.
Transmittal memoranda, 1942-1943, are housed in 1 box and are arranged in memoranda number order. Only includes No. 16-20. The transmittal letters are sent by J.H. Wyse, Coordinator of the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense, and the majority are directed to local coordinators and directors. These memoranda are generally cover letters for other material, notices of shipments or an explanation of supplies or publications transmitted to local councils. Referenced attachments are not included.
The U.S. Office of Civilian Defense Transmissions and Directives (USOCD) series is housed in 4 boxes and consists of official communications issued by the USOCD. Includes administrative orders, bulletins, circulars, notices and opertions letters.
Administrative orders, 1941-1944, consist of 1 box and are arranged in amendment number order. The following administrative orders are not included in this series: 7, 8, 10, 17, 22, 28, 35, 36 and 37.
Bulletins, 1944, consist of 1 box and are arranged by type of bulletin, and by bulletin number thereunder. Includes general, protection and war services bulletins. Incomplete series. Bulletins replaced operations letters nad circulars on April 13, 1944.
Circulars, 1942-1944, consist of 1 box and are arranged by type of circular, and by circular number thereunder. Includes general, medical, mobilization, protection and war service series of circulars. Incomplete series. Circulars were replaced by bulletins on April 13, 1944.
Manual, 1943, consists 1 compiled volume and includes circulars, memoranda, regulations, instructions and forms related to federal equipment and the duties of property officers.
Notices, 1942-1944, consist of 1 box and are arranged chronologically.
Operations letters, 1941-1944, consist of 1 box and are arranged numerically by letter number.
Financial records, 1942-1946, are housed in 2 boxes and document fiscal matters related to the Office of Civilian Defense, including appropriations, budgeting and expeditures. Includes allotments, budgets, correspondence, instructions, ledgers, memoranda, published material and reports.
Personnel records, 1940-1945, are housed in 2 boxes and arranged alphabetically. These records document personnel and compensation responsibilites of the Office of Civilian Defense, including hiring, payroll, salaries and benefits, and resignations. Includes applications, correspondence, forms, memoranda, procedures, publicationas, reports, rules, and regulations.
History files are housed in 3 boxes and provide a chronology and narrative account of the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense. This series includes A Brief History of Civilian Defense in Virginia, May 30, 1940-June 30, 1943, and the multi-part Data for History of Civilian Defense in Virginia, which is divided into nine books and also includes draft files. The history is divided into three distinct periods: Period I, May 30, 1940-Jan 20 1942 (Virginia Defense Council); Period II, Jan 21-Feb 11, 1942 (Interim period); and Period III, Feb 11, 1942-June 30, 1943 (Virginia Office of Civilian Defense). The history files cover organization, membership and staff of the Virginia Defense Council and Virginia Office of Civilian Defense and provide detailed summaries of activities and services.
A Brief History of Civilian Defense in Virginia, May 30, 1940-June 30, 1943, was compiled by Virginia Office of Civilian Defense staff and covers Period I, Period II, and the beginning of Period III.
Data for History of Civilian Defense in Virginia: Book No. 1 (p.1-129) covers Period I and includes chapters on Organization and Activities; Period II; and Period III, which includes chapters on Organization, U.S. Citizens Defense Corps.
Data for History of Civilian Defense in Virginia: Book No. 2 (p. 130-209) covers Period III and includes chapters on Other Activities, Air Raid Precautions, and State Control Center.
Data for History of Civilian Defense in Virginia: Book No. 3 (p. 210-367) covers Period III and includes Governor Darden's Executive Orders related to civilian defense.
Data for History of Civilian Defense in Virginia: Book No. 4 (p. 368-443) covers Period III, specifically Section II. Civilian Mobilization, and includes chapters on Civilian Mobilization and Negro Activities.
Data for History of Civilian Defense in Virginia: Book No. 5 (p. 444-602) covers Period III and includes Memoranda issued by the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense.
Data for History of Civilian Defense in Virginia: Book No. 6 (p. 603-649) covers Period III and includes Miscellaneous topics.
Data for History of Civilian Defense in Virginia: Book No. 7 (p. 650-772) covers Period III and includes Related Activities.
Data for History of Civilian Defense in Virginia: Book No. 8 (unnumbered) covers Period III and includes Information Memoranda issued by the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense, No. 86 (July 3, 1942) to No. 242 (July 8, 1944).
Data for History of Civilian Defense in Virginia: Book No. 9 (unnumbered) covers Period III and includes memoranda, bulletins, transmittal letters, and operations procedures issued by the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense.
Photographs, 1940-1945, are housed in 1 box and appear to be photographs that were used in the Civilian Defense newsletters. When identified by individual, topic or poster title, photographs are in alphabetical order within each type, with miscellaneous, unidentified photographs being grouped together in the last folder.
Posters, 1940-1945, are housed in 2 boxes and are arranged alphabetically. Includes posters, broadsides, and advertisements.
Published materials include books, brochures, bulletins, journals, newsletters, pamphelts, reprints of articles, and other publications. These materials were boxes separately from the rest of the collection and other published materials can be found throughout the collection.
Brochures and pamphlets, 1941-1944, consist of 1 box and are arranged alphabetically. Includes educational and promotional brochures and pamphlets, as well as advertisements, recipe booklets and small informational broadsides. These items were found loose at the end of the collection, but these types of materials are also found throughout the collection, especialy in the various subject files series.
Newsletters and journals, 1942-1944, are housed in 3 boxes and are arranged alphabetically. This collection of bulletins, journals, and newsletters was found boxed together at the end of the collection and presumeably include articles of interest to the Office of Civilian Defense. Numerous other periodicals can be found filed throughout the entire collection. See specific subject files of interest.
Publications, 1939-1947, are housed in 8 boxes and are arranged alphabetically. These publications were found boxed together at the end of the collection and presumeably include publications of interest to the Office of Civilian Defense. Numerous other publications can be found filed throughout the entire collection. See specific subject files of interest.
Scrapbooks, 1940-1945, are housed in 5 boxes and are arranged chronologically. These scrapbooks were maintained by the Virginia Defense Council and later the Virginia Office of Civilian Defense, and contain newspaper clippings of articles related to civilian defense activities from various newspapers throughout the state.
This series is housed in X boxes and is arranged alphabetically. This series includes sub-series for correspondence, subject files, and minutes.
Correspondence files, 1940, consist of 1 box and include both incoming and outgoing correspondence of various Virginia Defense Council members, including Mills F. Neal, Coordinator of the Virginia Defense Council.
Correspondence files, 1940 Dec-1941 Dec, consist of 3 boxes and include of copies of outgoing correspondence from General James A. Anderson, Coordinator; and J. H. Wyse, Assistant Coordinator, and later Acting Coordinator. Arranged alphabetically by the surname of the recipient.
Correspondence with Regional Defense Councils, 1941-1942, is housed in 2 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by name of defense council. Includes incoming and outgoing correspondence of J. H. Wyse, Acting Coordinator (later Coordinator of the Virginia Office Office of Civilian Defense), as well as memoranda and reports.
Memoranda, 1940-1942, are housed in 1 box and are arranged numerically by memoranda numer. Includes memoranda from the Virginia Defense Council Coordinator to all Virginia Defense Council members.
Minutes, 1940-1942, are housed in 2 boxes and are arranged chronologically. Includes one volume of official minutes with attachements, and loose materials that include copies of minutes, drafts, memoranda, reports, agendas and newspaper clippings. Includes minutes for the full Virginia Defense Council, as well as the Executive Committee.
Subject files, 1940-1941, are housed in 2 boxes and are arranged alphabetically. Files were kept separately for 1940 and for 1941 and that arrangement is reflected in this series.
This series is housed in 10 boxes and sub-series are arranged alphabetically. This series includes sub-series for correspondence, correspondence with local councils, and subject files. These files were kept by Thomas P. Shelburne, Jr., Executive Secretary of the Southwest Virginia Regional Defense Council, between 1941 Dec and mid-1942, and appear to have been forwarded to Office of Civilian Defense. The reason for this is unclear, as no other records kept by Region Defense Councils were found in this collection.
Correspondence files, 1941-1942, consists of 4 boxes and is arranged alphabetically. Includes both incoming and outgoing correspondence of Thomas P. Shelburne, Jr., Executive Secretary with local, state, and federal officials, as well as Southwest Virginia Regional Defense Council members and local area coordinators. Topics include appointments, blackout ordinances, defense bonds and stamps, logistics, meetings, rationing, reporting, transition to new local defense council model, and other topics of local interest. Files may also include reports and publications.
Correspondence with local councils, 1941-1942, consists of 2 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by local defense council. Includes both incoming and outgoing correspondence between Thomas P. Shelburne, Executive Secretary, and local defense council coordinators. The majority of the correspondence is related to administrative and logistical matters. May slso include membership lists, organization charts, plans, precinct information, reports, and checklists for coordinators, which include detailed information about each local council. Folder titles include the county, local area council and coordinator.
Subject files, 1941-1942, consist of 4 boxes and are arranged alphabetically. These topical files include correspondence, lists, memoranda, minutes, publications, and reports. Topics include civilian protection, coordination of local councils, health, rationing and salvage, among others.
There are 5 oversize boxes that consist of larger size materials pulled from throughout the collection. Separation notices in collection will point to the correct oversize box.