New York State War Council

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