New York State War Council

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Maurice Neufeld worked in New York State's Division of Commerce and became the assistant to the State War Plans Coordinator in 1941 with the creation of the State War Council. Lieutenant Governor Charles Poletti was the first State War Plans Coordinator; later Oswald D. Heck, speaker of the assembly, served. Neufeld served in his position throughout the war, and though he had authority over certain issues, primarily he served to direct decisions to the appropriate agency heads.

From the description of Assistant to the state war plans coordinator's information and coordination files, 1941-1945 (bulk 1942). (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 80637320

Abbot Low Moffat was an assemblyman from New York City (15th District) from 1929 to 1943. From 1938 to 1939, he served as the chair of the Ways and Means Committee. From 1941-1943, he also served on the War Council.

From the description of Abbot Low Moffat's advisory correspondence, 1941-1943. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 81403041

In addition to its normal duties of promoting mental health in the State of New York, the Department of Mental Hygiene assisted the State with various wartime mental health-related tasks during World War II; primarily, it conducted psychological screening of recruits for the Selective Service. As with several other state agencies, the department's war work was conducted in conjunction with and under the auspices of the War Council, which coordinated all of New York's home front activities.

The Department of Mental Hygiene provided over 40% of the total psychiatric personnel at the military's induction stations who conducted brief questioning sessions with each recruit to determine if he was a possible psychological liability. From this session, a further background check would be completed on recruits suspected of having psychological problems, including consulting with other state agencies to ascertain if a recruit had ever been hospitalized for a previous mental condition. During the war over 450,000 men were examined, and 3,200 identified as probable liabilities.

Besides screening recruits, the department also transferred three institutions with a total of over 5,000 beds to the Army for use as general facilities. The department also undertook to educate the public to meet the strain of the war by providing lectures and radio talks to air-raid warden and defense groups. It also produced several well-received pamphlets on citizen morale.

From the description of Hospital staff draft status classification and recruit screening files, 1941-1945. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 81820600

FUNCTIONS. The War Council was organized to coordinate war-related efforts necessary to ensure State and national defense during World War II. In keeping with that mandate, the council undertook a variety of activities, including conducting research on defense issues, especially those relating to supplying materiel for the war effort; providing the civilian population with civil defense training; administering federal rationing and price control; ensuring an adequate labor supply in war-production industries; and coordinating war efforts among State agencies and local war councils.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY. Governor Herbert H. Lehman appointed a State Council of Defense in 1940, consisting of representatives of industry, agriculture, labor, commerce, and public utilities. It became a statutory body the following year (Laws of 1941, Chapter 22). Following the passage of the New York State War Emergency Act (Laws of 1942, Chapter 445), the Council of Defense was replaced by the New York War Council, a temporary state commission. It was composed of the governor, certain legislative leaders, and ten gubernatorial appointees.

The War Council actively coordinated war-related efforts in State government and cooperated with the federal government and local governments as well. The War Emergency Act had authorized the formation of local war councils; the councils were not mandatory but if formed were responsible to the state council. Over 100 local war councils were formed in counties and cities throughout the state, and their activities were assisted and monitored by field representatives who worked for the various agencies within the War Council. Eventually over thirty War Council agencies and programs were developed, many relating to either civilian protection or war-related production, and most falling under one of three main divisions: the Division of Civilian Protection; the Division of Civilian Mobilization; and the Division of Industry, Labor, and Agriculture. By war's end, agricultural programs were separated from this last division and congregated under the Emergency Food Commission. The Salvage Division acted as a cooperating agency under the War Council's aegis. The War Council was terminated in 1947.

From the description of War Council Agency History Record. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 82342347

Governor Herbert H. Lehman appointed a State Council of Defense in 1940, consisting of representatives of industry, agriculture, labor, commerce, and public utilities. It became a statutory body the following year (Laws of 1941, Chapter 22). Following the passage of the New York State War Emergency Act (Laws of 1942, Chapter 445), the Council of Defense was replaced by the New York War Council, a temporary state commission. It was composed of the governor, certain legislative leaders, and ten gubernatorial appointees.

The War Council actively coordinated war-related efforts in State government and cooperated with the federal government and local governments as well. The War Emergency Act had authorized the formation of local war councils; the councils were not mandatory but if formed were responsible to the state council. Over 100 local war councils were formed in counties and cities throughout the state, and their activities were assisted and monitored by field representatives who worked for the various agencies within the War Council. Eventually over thirty War Council agencies and programs were developed, many relating to either civilian protection or war-related production, and most falling under one of three main divisions: the Division of Civilian Protection; the Division of Civilian Mobilization; and the Division of Industry, Labor, and Agriculture. By war's end, agricultural programs were separated from this last division and congregated under the Emergency Food Commission. The Salvage Division acted as a cooperating agency under the War Council's aegis. The War Council was terminated in 1947.

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV86-A364

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf New York State War Council. Governor's media releases, 1941-1942. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. State Education Department war programs coordinator's files, 1937-1943. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. History of Westchester County defense and war councils, 1940-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Petitions to the attorney general to restrict access to defense installations, 1941-1944. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York (State). Nursing Council for War Service. Recruitment and classification files, 1942-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. State war plans coordinator's correspondence and information file, 1941-1942. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. War Council Agency History Record. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Progress reports of war council and state agencies, 1941-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Social and economic surveys of New York cities, 1942. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Resolutions, 1941-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Printed copies of orders issued, 1942-1946. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Dispensation records and press releases, 1940-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Personnel records, 1942-1945. New York State Archives
referencedIn Charles W. Poletti papers, 1865-1991, [Bulk: 1923-1970]. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf New York State War Council. Scrapbooks, 1941-1942. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Assistant to the state war plans coordinator's information and coordination files, 1941-1945 (bulk 1942). New York State Archives
referencedIn Poletti, Charles, 1903-2002. Charles W. Poletti papers, 1920-1991 [Bulk: 1923-1970]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf New York State War Council. Hospital staff draft status classification and recruit screening files, 1941-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. State Education Department war programs correspondence and field reports, 1941-1944. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Governor's correspondence with citizens on war issues, 1942-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Photographs of War Council agency activities, [ca. 1942-1945] New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. State Education Department's resource management files, 1941-1943. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Abbot Low Moffat's advisory correspondence, 1941-1943. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Petitions from the Bronx Coordinating Committee for Child Care, [ca. 1944] New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Executive secretary's correspondence with civil defense administrators, 1941-1942. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Map of National Guard placements, [ca. 1944] New York State Archives
referencedIn Ostertag, Harold Charles, 1896-. Harold Charles Ostertag papers, 1932-1964. Cornell University Library
referencedIn New York (State). Education Dept. Deputy Commissioner's Office. Correspondence and subject files relating to State War Council activities, 1941-1946. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. State and War Council agencies and local war councils general reporting files, 1942-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Meeting coordination correspondence files, 1940-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. State records program organization files, 1947. New York State Archives
referencedIn New York (State). Governor (1933-1942 : Lehman). Central subject and correspondence files, 1933-1942. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. War information publications file, 1941-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Annual reports and war agency directories, 1942-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York (State). Nursing Council for War Service. Newspaper clippings scrapbook, 1943-1944. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Organizational history research file, 1941-1944. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Citizen assistance and preparation films, 1942-1943. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York (State). Nursing Council for War Service. Nursing Council for War Service Sub-agency History Record. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Executive secretaries' correspondence with state and War Council agencies, 1940-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Organizational letters and releases presenting issues and guidelines, 1941-1942. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. Governor's office correspondence on war issues, 1940-1945. New York State Archives
referencedIn New York State Council of Defense. Local defense council appointment notification and inquiry response correspondence, 1940-1941. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York (State). War Council. New York State War Council records, 1941-1945. Cornell University Library
creatorOf New York State War Council. Executive secretary's correspondence with local war councils, 1942-1945. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York State War Council. General correspondence, 1940-1945. New York State Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Red Cross. corporateBody
associatedWith Bronx Coordinating Committee for Child Care. corporateBody
associatedWith Campbell, Donald A. person
associatedWith Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Conference on Democratic Processes in the State of New York. corporateBody
associatedWith Corcoran, Thomas L. J. person
associatedWith Cornell University. corporateBody
associatedWith Dewey, Thomas E. 1902-1971. person
associatedWith Knopf, Alfred A., 1892-1984. person
associatedWith Kraft, Henry B. person
associatedWith La Guardia, Fiorello H. 1882-1947. person
associatedWith Lehman, Herbert H. 1878-1963. person
associatedWith Meredith, Albert Barrett, 1871- person
associatedWith Moffat, Abbot Low, 1901-1996. person
associatedWith New York Farm Cadet Victory Corps. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Attorney General's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Committee to Study the Evacuation of Cities in Target Areas. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Committee to Study the Evacuation of Cities in Target Areas. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State Council of Defense. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State Defense Council. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Health. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Health. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Health. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Labor. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Labor. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Law. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Mental Hygiene. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Mental Hygiene. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Division of Archives and History. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Division of Housing. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Division of Public Health Education. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Education Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Education Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Education Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Education Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Education Dept. Civilian Defense Training Program. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Education Dept. Deputy Commissioner's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Education Dept. Youth Services Council. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Governor. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Governor (Dewey : 1943-1954) corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Governor (Lehman : 1933-1942) corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Lieutenant Governor (1939-1942 : Poletti) corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Nursing Council for War Service. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Public Service Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Bureau of Rationing. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Committee on Child Care, Development, and Protection. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Committee on Discrimination in Employment. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Division of Public Relations. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Emergency Food Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Emergency Medical Service. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Farm Manpower Service. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Office of Civilian Mobilization. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Office of Civilian Mobilization. Section on Citizen Unity. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Office of Civilian Protection. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Office of Civilian Protection. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Office of Civilian Protection. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. Salvage Division. corporateBody
associatedWith New York State War Council. War Transportation Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Ostertag, Harold Charles, 1896- person
associatedWith Poletti, Charles, 1903-2002. person
associatedWith Polson, Robert. person
associatedWith Schaff, Harold H. person
associatedWith United States. Civil Air Patrol. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Resources Planning Board. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Office of Civilian Defense. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Office of Defense Health and Welfare Services. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Office of Price Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith University of the State of New York. corporateBody
associatedWith Westchester County War Council (N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Winding, Charles A. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)
Lewiston (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
Elmira (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
Massena (N.Y.)
Bronx (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (State)
Long Island (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (State)
Newburgh (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
Rome (N.Y.)
Utica (N.Y.)
New York (State)
Rochester (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (N.Y.)
Sidney (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (State)
Buffalo (N.Y.)
Ilion (N.Y.)
Westchester County (N.Y.)
New York (State)
Albany (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
Syracuse (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (State)
Seneca County (N.Y.)
Orangeburgh (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (State)
Mineville (N.Y.)
New York (State)
Sexually transmitted diseases
Poughkeepsie (N.Y.)
Bronx County (N.Y.)
Schenectady (N.Y.)
Watertown (N.Y.)
Sampson (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (N.Y.)
New York (State)
Subject
Adult education
Education
Agricultural education
Agricultural laborers
Agriculture
Archives
Blizzards
Child care
Child care services
Children with disabilities
Chinese American farmers
Civil defense
Day care centers
Defense industries
Discrimination
Discrimination in employment
Draft
Health
Home economics
Housing
Housing
Housing surveys
Industries
Labor policy
Migrant agricultural laborers
Military nursing
Naturalization
Nursing
Physical education for children
Physical education for children with disabilities
Physical fitness
Politicians
Price regulation
Psychological tests
Psychology, Applied
Public health
Public relations
Public works
Rationing
Records
Recycling (Waste, etc.)
Salvage (Waste, etc.)
School children
School milk programs
Stress in children
Voluntarism
Volunteers
War and emergency legislation
Water conservation
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Youth employment
Occupation
Activity
Administering citizen participation
Administering education
Administering personnel
Communicating
Coordinating agencies
Coordinating citizen participation
Coordinating education
Coordinating meetings
Coordinating war workers
Counseling
Documenting citizen participation
Lobbying
Managing agencies
Planning
Promoting citizen participation
Protecting
Protecting people
Protecting records
Providing labor
Publicizing citizen participation
Publicizing social services
Public safety
Regulating
Reporting citizen participation
Supervising agencies
Supervising citizen participation
Supervising war workers
Surveying cities
Teaching
Teaching people
Testing military personnel

Corporate Body

Active 1942

Active 1945

Information

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SNAC ID: 20180829