California State War Council

Agency History

The California State Council of Defense was created in 1941, just at the beginning of World War II. Its function was to plan for the mobilization of agricultural, industrial, communication, and transportation facilities, for the protection of individual rights and consumer interests and for the suppression of sabotage and subversive activities.....( Stats., 1941, Ch. 561, p. 1940).

A significant similar agency, the Council of Defense, was operative during World War I. For information on the Council of Defense see the bibliographic note at the end of the finding aid.

This Council of Defense of 1941 was subsequently abolished in 1943 and its duties and powers were transferred to a newly created organization, California State War Council ( Stats. 1943, Ch. 294, p. 1277). This new body was composed of: the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, State Director of Civilian Defense, State Director of Civilian War Services, and two representatives from city and county governments each, who were to be appointed by and served at the pleasure of the Governor. The War Council was reorganized in 1944. Its membership was to include: the Governor, the Lieutentant Governor, Director of the War Council, Attorney-General, four members of the legislature, and two representatives of city and county governments each ( Stats. 1944, Ch. 55, p. 214). Finally, the duties and powers of the State War Council were transferred to the jurisdiction of the California State Disaster Council, in the Governor's office ( Stats. 1945, Ch. 1024, p. 1973). (26 f, 3/4 c.f.)

This group is classified into two major divisions: (1) general records of the California State War Council including minutes and correspondence and (2) advisory committee records which consist of advisory committee minutes and correspondence to and from the Council and the Governor's Office.

From the guide to the California State War Council Records, 1940-1945, (California State Archives)