Oregon. State Defense Council. Lane County records , 1942-1944

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Oregon State Defense Council; University of Oregon
Title
Oregon. State Defense Council. Lane County records
Dates
1942-1944 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 linear feet, (4 containers)  :  4 manuscript boxes
Collection Number
Bx 035
Summary
The collection contains records from the Lane County division of the Oregon State Defense Council. The collection (1942-1944) contains meeting minutes, correspondence, test reports, and manuals from committees, police reserves, University of Oregon, and also includes photographs of cantonment sites in Oregon.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Oregon State Defense Council of World War I was formed in April 1917. The Council ceased to function on January 1, 1919.

The Defense Council was re-created on June 1, 1941 by Executive Order of governor Charles A. Sprague. The Defense Council organized civilian services including salvage, rationing, public welfare, child care, recreation, and health services. The Defense Council also concerned itself with the fighting of forest fires and blackout and dimout testing.

In June 1942, the Defense Council changed its organizational structure to conform with the United States Office of Civilian Defense guidelines. Two major divisions, the Civilian Protection Division and the Civilian War Services Division, were organized.

The Civilian Protection Division consisted of several subdivisions including Emergency Food and Housing, Evacuation, Camouflage, Aircraft Warning Service, Lighting, Public Utilities, Sanitation, Decontamination, Shore Patrol, Civil Air Patrol, Emergency Medical Service, and the Forest Fire Fighter Service.

The Civilian War Services Division operated primarily as a liaison between federal bureaus and local defense councils. This Division helped counties organize civil defense service programs, set up volunteer bureaus, and establish Block Leader systems. The subdivision of the Civilian Protection Division included defense housing, salvage, consumer interests and rationing, agriculture and victory gardens, and health and welfare services. In July of 1942, the Information and Public Relations Division was formed. After 1943, the Defense Council's activities diminished rapidly and by 1945 the Defense Council ceased to exist.

[Source: Oregon State Archives]

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection (1942-1944) contains meeting minutes, correspondence, test reports, and manuals from committees, police reserves, University of Oregon, and also includes photographs of cantonment sites in Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Barracks--Oregon--Photographs
  • Civil defense--Oregon
  • Civil defense--Oregon--Lane County
  • World War, 1939-1945--Oregon
  • World War, 1939-1945--Oregon--Lane County

Corporate Names

  • Oregon State Defense Council--Records and correspondence
  • University of Oregon

Geographical Names

  • Lane County (Or.)--History--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Manuals (Handbooks)
  • Photographs