Norfolk War History Commission, World War II, Records, 1941-1946 | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Will Hopkins

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: Norfolk War History Commission, World War II, Records, 1941-1946

ID: 001/01/MSS 0000-167

Primary Creator: Norfolk War History Commission (1944-1951)

Extent: 4.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged by record type.

Date Acquired: 09/29/1948

Subjects: Buildings, Civil defense, Norfolk (Va.), World War, 1939-1945

Forms of Material: Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence, Government records, Military records, Negatives (photographs), Photographs, Posters, Scrapbooks

Languages: English, German

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Four scrapbooks relating to the Norfolk United War Fund from 1941-1945 and the USS Hotel Fairfax Residential Club, circa 1944 in Norfolk, Virginia. The collection also includes a volume titled Record of Publicity, Office of Civilian Defense that largely includes clippings of civil defense activities in Norfolk. Also in the collection is correspondence relating to air wardens and Smith Street U. S. O., along with negatives of local civil defense personnel and facilities.

Biographical Note

The Norfolk War History Commission was created in 1944 by the City of Norfolk under City Manager Charles B. Borland to document the city's contributions and activities relating to World War II. The Commission was originally comprised of the following members: Frank Pace (Chairman), Mary D. Pretlow, E. S. Brinkley, W. H. T. Squires, and Frank Turin. The Norfolk War History Commission was part of the greater Virginia War Commission created by the General Assembly that year. The Norfolk Commission operated until 1951.

Subject/Index Terms

Buildings
Civil defense
Norfolk (Va.)
World War, 1939-1945

Administrative Information

Repository: Sargeant Memorial Collection

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to all researchers.

Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Source: Norfolk War History Commission by donation

Separated Materials: Microfilm: 940.5373 NOR (12 reels) Norfolk War History Commission WWII. Also an additional reel containing an index.

Preferred Citation: Norfolk War History Commission, World War II, Records, MSS 0000-167, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: Processed in October 2019.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[All]

Box 4

Item 1: Record of Publicity, Office of Civilian Defense, circa 1942-1944

"Presented to Norfolk War History Commission by Richard M. Marshall, former coordinator of civilian defense for the Norfolk area."

Book is divided into sections: Civilian Defense News, OCD News Column, Dimouts, Air Raid Wardens, Town Meetings for War, Volunteer Office, "Salvage" News, Auxiliary Police, Auxiliary Firemen, Nutrition, War Housing Center, Rumor Clinic, and [Warning Center]. The back of the volume includes handdrawn posters, full-page newspaper advertisements, and a large book promoting window displays in storefronts in support of the war effort.