Other Materials at the Pennsylvania State Archives Relating to the Era of the New Deal
There are a great many resources held by the Pennsylvania State Archives in addition to the WPA materials that may prove valuable for researching the era of the New Deal in Pennsylvania. The following summary is arranged numerically by Record Group and Manuscript Group.
Record Groups
Record Group 1: Records of the Department of Agriculture
The Administrative Correspondence, 1936-1938, 1941-1956, 1958-1971 1987, 1988, 1997-2003. (71 cartons) {series #1.1} dated prior to 1953 deals almost exclusively with the Farm Show Commission except for several folders dealing with contracts and agreements dated 1936-1938. Press Office Photographs, 1890-2003.(44 cartons & 16 boxes) {series #1.5} depict department executive staff, honored guests, animal and plant diseases, promotions, buildings, exhibits, and agricultural products. Among these are views of the construction of the Department of Agriculture building and Farm Show livestock parades and champions.
Record Group 3: Records of the Civil Service Commission
Originally created in 1939, the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission was activated under the Civil Service Act of 1941 to promote greater efficiency and economy in government by applying a merit system to state hiring and personnel management. The Civil Service originally came into existence in Pennsylvania with the passage of the Liquor Control Act in 1933 that required the Liquor Control Board to select personnel under a merit system administered by the Department of Public Instruction. By 1937, the Employment Board in the Department of Public Assistance and the Board of Review in the Division of Unemployment Compensation and Employment Service in the Department of Labor and Industry were created to administer civil serves rules. The boards operated independently until the Civil Service Commission was given the authority to operate a unified program in 1941. The Minutes, 1942-1969. (2 cartons) {series #3.2} contain the minute books of the State Civil Service Commission covering meetings held from April 16, 1942 through the last meeting of 1969. The series entitled Minutes and Agenda (Rough Drafts) 1943-1966, 1970-2002. (5 boxes and 11 cartons) {series #3.3} cover meetings of State Civil Service Commission from December 31, 1943 to December 15, 1966. The Minutes of the Employment Board of the Department of Public Assistance, 1942 (1 box) {series #3.4} concern the administration of a merit system before the Civil Service Commission began operate a unified program. The Records Relating to the Administration of Merit Systems by the Civil Service Commission and the Departments of Public Assistance and Labor and Industry, 1926-1966. (1 box) {series #3.5} documents the classification system for positions held by Civil Service employees. These materials originated in the Department of Labor and Industry, the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review and the Employment Board of the Department of Public Assistance. Included in this series are various statutes, rules and procedures governing the Commission, annual and biennial reports, and merit system reviews of the State Civil Service Commission.
Record Group 6: Records of the Department of Forests and Waters
The Bureau of Parks within the Department of Forests and Waters was responsible for maintaining state parks and a large number of state forest monuments, natural areas, and state forest picnic areas. The Addresses, Press Releases and Related Correspondence, 1935-1936. (1 folder) {series #6.11} of Eric von Hausswolff and others address trends in camping during the period and ideas on how to make parks self-supporting. The General Correspondence, 1922-1941. (9 cartons) {series #6.12} relates to various state projects, state parks and related state programs including Valley Forge Park, Washington Crossing Park, World's End Park, Whipple Dam, and various Works Progress Administration Projects. The Minutes of Various Park Commissions and the State Park Commission, 1928-1938. (6 folders) {series #6.13} include minutes of the Bushy Run Battlefield Commission, Conrad Weiser Park Commission, Pennsylvania Recreational Council, Valley Forge Park Commission, Washington Crossing Park Commission and the State Park Commission. Information provided is date and location of meeting, names of those present, and a description of the business transacted. The Reports of the Bureau of Parks, 1924-1941. (13 folders){series #6.14} include monthly, biennial and annual reports of the Bureau of Parks and special reports on Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, Delaware State Forest, and the Historical Commission report by J. O. Clarke with reference to the forge dams and races at Valley Forge Creek in 1777-1778. Also present are reports on "General Restoration at Valley Forge Park" (1936), and "Land Acquisitions at Valley Forge Park" (1936-1941). Many reports include maps and blueprints. For related materials see Records of the Valley Forge Park Commission (RG-46) .
The Motion Picture Films [ca. 1930-1950]. (43 16mm reels) {series #6.19} were produced for the purpose of documenting and publicizing the Department's programs. Most are 400-foot silent black and white films depicting such topics as gypsy moth population control, the life cycle of the pine seed, and proper tree trimming practices. Two films show unemployment relief workers cutting firewood and building roads at Birch Run Dam and five others are devoted to Civilian Conservation Corps activities across the state. Among the films designed for public education are such titles as "The Sugar Maple Industry in Pennsylvania," "Trees for Tomorrow," and "The Life of a Seedling." Also present are two forest fire films produced by federal agencies; one entitled "Then It Happened" was produced by the United States Department of Agriculture and one entitled "The Enemy of Fire" was produced by the United States Office of Civilian Defense.
The Photographs and Negatives, [ca. 1890-1971] (16 cartons, 1 box, 36 drawers){series #6.20} include approximately 8,000 photographic prints and over 2,700 matching negatives created by the staff of the Department of Forests and Waters for the purpose of education and publicity. Many of the early photographs were taken by forest rangers such as Joseph Illick, George Wirt, and Henry Clepper. Many later images from the 1930s and 1940s were by staff photographers such as David S. Nace. Integrated into the series are private photograph collections of Pennsylvania Forester Joseph T. Rothrock and Galeton commercial photographer William T. Clarke. Topics include "Camps and Camp Sites," "Demonstration Forests" at Caledonia, Lebo, Sligo and Millstone, "Emergency Conservation Work" depicting Civilian Conservation Corps members living and working at many camps throughout the state, "Farm Woodlots" depicting the use of forests as part of farms, "Floods and Flood Control" depicting flooding along the Delaware Canal and "Forest Conditions" showing the composition of stands of trees, water supply, and natural forest regeneration.
Record Group 9: Records of the General State Authority
The General State Authority was both an independent public corporation and governmental body created in 1935 to enable the Commonwealth to circumvent constitutional restrictions on its borrowing capacity. Since the state could not legally take advantage of federal grant and loan offers from the Public Works Administration, the Authority was given the responsibility of negotiating for the funds needed to expand and modernize state facilities. The objective of the Authority was to build new buildings and remodel old ones that they then leased to the state until the end of their amortization period at which time they would turn the buildings over to the Commonwealth. The General State Authority was abolished in 1945, but the need for additional state facilities led to the creation of another General State Authority in 1949. Though the Department of General Services was created in 1975 to replace the General State Authority and the Department of Property and Supplies, the Authority will continue to function until the outstanding debts from earlier projects are satisfied. The Construction Photographs and Blueprints, 1932-1939. (10 boxes, 4 folders) {series #9.1} primarily consist of 8x10 black and white photographs of construction, expansion, or modernization of various Commonwealth-owned properties. Some blueprints are interfiled among the photographs. Each print is labeled with the job and docket number, name of facility, location, date, name of contractor and the status of construction. Local commercial photographers were often hired and are occasionally identified on the print. Subjects are principally exterior views of construction in progress at Pennsylvania National Guard Armories, hospitals, teachers colleges, prisons and miscellaneous state buildings. Views of armories include those at Altoona, Canonsburg, Clearfield, Coraopolis, Gettysburg, Hamburg, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lewistown, Ligonier, Philadelphia, Tunkhannock, Waynesboro and Williamsport. Hospitals include those at Allentown, Ashland, Blossburg, Coaldale, Connellsville, Danville, Fairview, Hazleton, Locust Mountain, Nanticoke, Norristown, Phillipsburg, Scranton, Torrance, Warren, and Wernersville; the Western Pennsylvania Tuberculosis Hospital in Butler, and the Western Pennsylvania Psychiatric Hospital at Pittsburgh. Teachers Colleges include those at Bloomsburg, California, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester. Prison/Industrial Homes and Schools include the Eastern State Penitentiary, Huntingdon Industrial School, Lawn Maximum Security Prison, Industrial School at Pennhurst, Polk State School and the Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon.
The Minutes of the Board 1949-1980 (57 volumes) {series #9.2} provide budgetary information of the building projects undertaken by the General State Authority. The Reports and Related Records 1935-1940 (4 folders){series #9.3} contains a description of activities and accomplishments of the General State Authority as reported Executive Director Colonel Augustine Janeway. The reports also contain a brief history of the agency's origin and purpose, the budgets for the construction of buildings under the Authority's direction and the accommodation capacities of the structures. Additionally, this series contains reports from the chief engineer of the Authority regarding the effects of contemporary state building codes upon various building projects. A list of names of architects and subcontractors overseeing building projects and their budgets is also provided.
Record Group 10: Records of the Office of the Governor
This record group contains the: Records of the Pennsylvania State Planning Board that was first created by Governor Gifford Pinchot in 1934. In 1936 the State Planning Board was formally established as an independent administrative board by Act No. 32 (July 1936) to conduct research, prepare plans for the physical and economic development of the state, and examine all plans proposed new projects. Studies were conducted concerning economic and agricultural productivity, soil resources, minerals, water and forest products, population growth, employment and income trends, transportation and housing, recreational facilities, flood protection, stream pollution, highway safety, and other fields vital to the public welfare. The Minutes and Agenda 1934-1978 (10 cartons) {series #10.58} document the meetings of the State Planning Board. The Works Progress Administration Bituminous Coal and Coal Mining Maps 1934-1936 (3 microfilm rolls) {series #10.60} depict quadrangle maps of bituminous coal areas drafted by the Works Progress Administration. Each map is drawn on a scale of one inch per mile. The maps provide the WPA project number and the name of the geographic area represented in the map. The legends for the maps provide information concerning active and abandoned oil wells, active and abandoned gas wells, dry holes, shafts, barrier pillars, crop lines, coal contours, drift and slope openings, county lines, township lines, and borough lines.
Record Group 11: Records of the Department of Health
The General Correspondence 1930-1976 (18 cartons, 4 boxes) {series #11.1} contains both routine correspondence and minutes of meetings, personnel rules and regulations, transcripts of speeches delivered by the Secretary of Health, transcripts of speeches delivered by employees of the Department of Health, and miscellaneous reports relating to all functions of the Department of Health. The series is grouped into two periods dating from 1939-1955 and from 1930-1976. The Legal Opinions 1920-1965 (15 folders) {series #11.2} include certificates, letters, memoranda, rules and regulations. Divided by program, each file contains a listing of major decisions or events. Individual file folders are present for the Bureau of Sanitation, chronic diseases, executive correspondence, tuberculosis, housing, industrial hygiene, local health service, maternal and child care, milk sanitation, preventative services, sanatoria and the Crippled Children's Hospital, undertakers, and vital statistics.
The Bureau of Sanitary Engineering was charged with supervision of public water supplies and acted as an administrative arm of the Sanitary Water Board in executing the Commonwealth's Clean Streams Program. This Program involved the examination of plans for issuance permits for sewerage and industrial waste projects and mine drainage projects (except for bituminous strip mine drainage). The Bureau conducted comprehensive water quality studies and developed long range water quality management plans. During periods of flooding, droughts, and epidemics the Bureau supplied resources in assisting with the supervision of emergency sanitation measures. The Civil Works Administration Project Reports 1933-1938 (7 folders) {series #11.33} include a manual and reports concerned with the Abandoned Mine Project for the Civil Works Projects, Federal Security Agency , and the United States Public Health Service. The Manual of Policy, Organization and Uniform Practice for Sealing Abandoned Coal Mines provides information on construction methods, engineering and survey records, a report on purchases and payroll and a report on mine sealing in Pennsylvania that contains maps and charts documenting abandoned mines, and reduction of acid load after mine closures. Also included is another Civil Works Project report on community sanitation throughout Pennsylvania. This includes photographs of unsanitary conditions in company housing and the latrines built for the project. Reports and Correspondence Relating to Floods 1936-1937 (2 folders) {series #11.34} contains several papers delivered by Chief Engineer W.L. Stevenson and Assistant Chief Engineer H.E. Moses at national conventions of the American Water Works Association, American Society for Civil Engineers and New England Waterworks concerning public sanitation problems arising during the floods of 1936 and 1937. Also included is a printed leather bound volume published by the Pennsylvania Water and Power Company concerning ice jams and floods that occurred at Holtwood and Safe Harbor. There are also several papers on flooding that occurred in Kentucky and West Virginia and an abstract of telegrams relating to post flood conditions in Pennsylvania in March 1936. Related materials can be found in the: Records of the Department of Public Welfare's State Emergency Relief Board, 1932-1937 (series #23.354-series #23.359) .
Record Group 12: Records of the Department of Highways
The Annual and Biennial Report Books, 1905-1942 (18 volumes) {series #12.1} are liberally illustrated with photographs depicting bridge and road construction and reconstruction projects and also with tables revealing such types of information as the number of miles of public roads, number of miles of toll roads, area in square miles, mileage per square mile, and population density for each county. The Correspondence and Miscellaneous Records Relating Primarily to Toll Bridges 1925-1959 (2 boxes) {series #12.3} relate rates charged and acquisition of toll bridges by the Commonwealth from private companies. Among the materials present are various monthly editions of A Directory of Bridges, Ferries and Steamship Lines, Schedules and Rates published by the National Touring Bureau of the American Automobile Association (Washington, D.C.: 1932, 1933). Also present are copies of House Bill 932 introduced by Mr. Coulson on March 3, 1943 "Directing the Department of Highways to acquire all toll bridges within the Commonwealth providing the procedure therefore and the cost of construction, maintenance, and repair of such bridges. . . " and House Resolution 69 introduced by Mr. Coulson May 3, 1943 that reads "The People of Pennsylvania by a majority vote have approved of the purchase by the Commonwealth of the few remaining privately-owned intrastate toll bridges in the state and have authorized the issuance of ten million dollars of bonds for that purpose." The last folder contains miscellaneous undated materials including samples of coupon ticket books for the Clark's Ferry Bridge, Sunbury Bridge, Point Marion Bridge, Walnut Street Bridge, and Market Street Bridge.
The Main File of Black and White Prints and Negatives [ca. 1924-1956] (61 boxes, 40 drawers){series #12.10} initiated by the Department of Information contains more than 37,000 negatives, of which most are 8x10s, with matching contact prints for many, but not all, items. The prints are mounted on cards providing such descriptive information as negative number, subject, location, and name of photographer. Six log books list the negatives numerically and provide similar descriptive information. The Photographic Unit's Construction File 1938-1961 (8 drawers) {series #12.11} contains more than 2,500 negatives of highway construction projects concentrated primarily in Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties during the period 1944-1960. Some negatives will also be found for highway construction projects in Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Carbon, Chester, Clearfield, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Franklin, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Lycoming, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, and Perry Counties. The Photographic Unit's File of Mounted and Unmounted Prints [ca. 1913-1932] (17 boxes){series #12.12} was formerly known as "The 5x7 File" and primarily covers the period 1913-1932.
Record Group 14: Records of the Department of Internal Affairs
The Annual Reports of Manufactured Gas Companies 1931-1936, 1939-1955 (3 cartons) {series #14.10} were submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs by manufactured gas companies. Information provided is date of report, name and address of home office, amount of capital invested in Pennsylvania, names and addresses of officers, rate schedule, estimated population in area served, average number of male and female employees, total wages and salaries paid to male and female employees, and a breakdown of natural gas production by county. A breakdown is provided for the volume and value of each type of gas and gas byproduct manufactured. These include carbonized coal in net tons, coke products in net tons, tar products in net tons, water gas produced in millions of cubic feet, coke oven gas produced in millions of cubic feet, still gas produced in millions of cubic feet, water gas purchased in millions of cubic feet, coke oven gas purchased in millions of cubic feet, still gas purchased in millions of cubic feet, ammonia products in pounds, benzol products in pounds, naphthalene produced in pounds, gas brought into Pennsylvania in millions of cubic feet, and gas sold outside Pennsylvania in millions of cubic feet. Also given are statistical breakdowns of gas sales, length and dimensions of transmission lines, and a list of the cities, towns and political subdivisions served.
The Annual Reports of Motor Vehicles 1935-1938, 1954-1955 (9 folders) {series #14.11} contain balance sheets filed with the Department of Internal Affairs by common carriers for motor vehicles. Information provided is name and address of carrier, date of incorporation, assets, liabilities, fixed capital, cost of fixed capital, fund assets, property abandoned, proprietorship (for individuals and partnerships), funded debt, judgments, reserve and depreciation, depreciation rule reserves, comparative income statement, surplus, profit and loss, operating revenues, operating expenses, rent for lease of property, insurance, motor vehicles employed in bus and taxicab service, summary of vehicles employed in each service, and various other operating statistics. The Annual Reports of Municipal Water Systems 1931-1935, 1939-1955 (10 cartons) {series #14.13} were filed with the Department of Internal Affairs by municipal water systems and generally give the date of the report, name of respondent making the report, address of the home office, names and addresses of officers, location of the water plant, estimate of population in territory served, rate schedule, and a statistical breakdown of water sales.
Annual Reports of Natural Gas Companies, 1931-1936, 1939-1955 (9 cartons) {series #14.14} were submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs by natural gas companies and generally provide the date of report, name and address of the home office, amount of capital invested in Pennsylvania, names and addresses of officers, rate schedule, estimated population in area served, average number of male and female employees, total wages and salaries paid to male and female employees, and a breakdown of natural gas production by county. The natural gas production breakdown by county gives the number of acres owned, the number of acres under lease, the number of gas wells owned and operated, the number of million cubic feet of gas purchased, the number of million cubic feet of gas produced, the number of productive wells drilled, the number of non-productive wells drilled, the number of gas wells abandoned, the number of million cubic feet exchanged with other companies, the number of wells sold, the number of million cubic feet of gas imported to Pennsylvania, and the number of million cubic feet exported from Pennsylvania. Also given are statistical breakdowns of gas sales, length and dimensions of transmission pipelines, and a list of the cities, towns and political subdivisions served.
Annual Reports of Passenger and Street Railway Companies,1861-1955. (142 cartons) {series #14.15} were filed with the Department of Internal Affairs by passenger and street railway companies. Information provided is date of report, name of company, names and residences of officers, location of general offices, history of organization and construction, capital stock, debt, and a description of the characteristics of the line such as the number of car houses, sheds, stables, depots, and first and second class passenger cars together with the capacity of the cars and the number of cars propelled by electricity, horses, and mules. Also given are the number of trips per day, the number of miles run each day, average time consumed in passing over the road and the material of the foundation upon which the rails were laid. Finally, there is a monthly statement of the number of passengers carried, rate of fare, expenses and receipts, summary of payments, general balance sheet, a statement of stock and dividends, and an account of important changes made during the year.
Annual Reports of Private and Municipal Electric Light, Heat and Power Companies and Steam Heat Companies, 1931-1965 (7 cartons) {series #14.16} were submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs by private and municipal electric light, heat and power companies and steam heat companies. Information provided is date of report, name and address of electric utility, names of counties served, form of ownership, breakdown of investment in electric plant, breakdown of installed capacity (steam generation, hydro-generation, and internal combustion generation), and the fuel consumption and kilowatt-hour production by type of fuel (anthracite coal, bituminous coal, lignite, fuel oil, gas and hydroelectric production). Also given is a breakdown of operating revenue and sales data for the preceding year (residential, rural, commercial, industrial, public street and highway lighting and railway and street railway). Finally, there is a breakdown of revenue and expenses for the preceding year, average employment and total wages paid for the preceding year, water intake during the preceding year other than from public water systems, and name and address of person to be contacted concerning contents of the report.
Annual Reports of Private Water Companies, 1931-1936, 1938-1955 (17 cartons) {series #14.17} were submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs by private water companies and generally provide the date of the report, the name and address of the company, the names and addresses of corporate officers, the names of cities and political subdivisions served, location of plant, estimated population of territory served, statistical breakdown on each type of consumer, number of gallons furnished, revenue derived from sales, total amount of investment, operating revenue and expenses for preceding year, type of system, type of reservoir, whether chemicals or filtration was used and the length of the distribution system.
Annual Reports of Railway and Street Railway Companies to the Auditor General and the Department of Internal Affairs, 1859-1957 (333 cartons, 1 box) {series #14.18} were filed by railroads and street railway companies and generally provide the date of report, name of company, names and residences of officers, location of general offices, history of organization and construction, capital stock, debt, cost, and a description of the characteristics of the main line, branches and leased lines. The description includes the gauge of the track, length of telegraph lines, description of bridges and trestles, crossings, and doings of the year. Financial information includes earnings for the year, expenditures charged to the cost of the road, real estate and equipment, expenditures charged to operating the line, general balance sheet, and stocks and dividends. Also given are the names of associated express companies and transportation companies and information regarding sleeping cars and carriage of U. S. Mail.
Annual Reports of Telegraph and Telephone Companies, 1868-1871, 1873-1875, 1877-1936, 1939-1965 (41 cartons, 1 box) {series #14.21} were filed by telegraph and telephone companies and generally provide the date of report or return, name and address of company, location of the area served, names and addresses of all officers of the company, and balance sheet summaries with expenses for Pennsylvania only. Records for companies included in the small box are Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Company, Atlantic and Ohio Telegraph Company, American District Telegraph Company, Automatic Telegraph Company, Erie County Telegraph Company, Merchants National Telegraph Company, Philadelphia Local Telegraph Company, Philadelphia, Reading & Pottsville Telegraph Company, and Western Union Telegraph Company.
The Registers of Steam Railroads, Street Railways, Canals, Telegraph and Telephone Companies, 1890-1926, 1932-1936. (3 cartons, 1 box) {series #14.26} provide such information as name of company, location of the general office, date forms were received from the company, the date the receipt that the form was returned, the name and title of the person to whom sent, address to which sent, date report filed, date of charter, and remarks. Local Government Annual Financial Reports, 1935-1965 (79 cartons) {series #14.37} were filed by local governments with the Department of Internal Affairs. Information provided is date of report, name of township and county, statement of revenue receipts from tax and non-tax income, non-revenue receipts from borrowed money and transfers between townships, general fund expenditures, tax statement, debt statement, and certification.
Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Justice
A significant number of records created by the Bureau of Correction and the Bureau of Pardons relating to admissions and discharges, parole and respite books, and minute books may be of interest to scholars conducting research into the era of the New Deal. The appropriate records may be located by browsing the finding aids for the relevant time period.
Record Group 16: Records of the Department of Labor and Industry
The Legislative Voting Records, 1911-1936 (1 folder) {series #16.46} document the voting records of various legislators on labor-related topics such as workers' rights, industry regulation, child and female laborers, pollution, taxation and the elderly. Information generally provided about each legislator's voting record includes the year of the legislative session, type of session (general, special, or extraordinary), bill number, bill title or purpose, legislative journal page, the person's vote and often the total tally of yeas and nays. Legislators represented include: Frank J. Atkins, Frank E. Baldwin, Richard J. Baldwin, Alonzo S. Batchelor, E. P. Brown, James Boyd, J. M. Flinchbaugh, C. R. Griffith and Elder Peelor. Also present are records for various Allegheny County "Members," such as W.B. Benn, H. W. Cromer, W. Dodds, T. P. Geary, W. W. Hamilton, W. J. Howarth, J. C. Kaiser, J. Lauler, W. J. Mangan, W. J. McCaig, W. W. Mearkle, W. C. Murdock, C. E. Staving, J. G. Steedle, A. C. Stein, J. C. Sullivan, J. Swan, N. Vicar, J. W. Vickerman, W. C. Wagner, J. Wettack, N. A. Whitten, J. F. Woodward and J. R. Wylie, as well as Allegheny County Senators, namely W. J. Burke, C. H. Kline, C. J. Magee, W. S. McKee, J. P. Moore and W. H. Semmens.
The Staff Training Bulletins, 1937 (1 folder) {series #16.5} were distributed to employees of the Department's Division of Unemployment Compensation and Employment in order to familiarize them with the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law and its administration. Included among the bulletins is a history of the Unemployment Compensation Law and of public employment services in Pennsylvania. Cancelled Memoranda and Bulletins, 1937-1951 (2 cartons) {series #16.8} were issued by the Bureau of Employment Security and the United States Employment Service of the War Manpower Commission that announced policies, procedures, rules, and regulations for the operation of public assistance programs. The memoranda and bulletins are grouped topically and relate to work projects, public assistance, administrative instructions, employment service procedures, unemployment compensation procedures, training registration, placement procedures, fiscal affairs, office management, statistical record keeping, field accounting procedures, and appeals to the Board of Review. In addition, Executive Director's bulletins for 1938 through 1951 provide administrative guidelines for the operation of the Bureau of Employment Service.
The World War Informational Films, [ca. 1941-1943] (10 reels) {series #16.14} were obtained by the Bureau of Employment Security from federal government agencies. Most were made during World War II and deal with such topics as the role of women in the war effort and the use of railroads by the military. Titles include: "All Out for Victory," "Glamour Girls of 1943," and Women on the Warpath," produced by the United States War Manpower Commission; "Community at War," Railroaders Always," and "Women Power" produced by the U.S. Army Pictorial Service (Signal Corps); "Lifeline of the National Railroads" produced by Carl Dudley Productions; and "Your Job Insurance," ca. 1936, produced by the U.S. Social Security Board that explains the procedures for obtaining workman's compensation in Pennsylvania. The latter includes footage of President Roosevelt and Pennsylvania Governor George Earle. The Press Releases, 1939-1952 (6 volumes) {series #16.15} issued by the Office of Employment Security cover such topics as unemployment rates, unemployment compensation contributions, expanding the interstate job placement service, the Governor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, the meeting of the IAPES Institute at Hershey and the National Employ the Physically Handicapped Essay Contest.
The Bureau of Mediation mediates disputes between unions and employers in the public sector under Act 195 and in the private sector under the Mediation Act of 1937. It also furnishes the names of arbitrators for arbitration panels upon the request of either party to a collective bargaining agreement under Act 195, provides grievance mediators upon request, and encourages cooperative relationships between workers and management in plants, schools, and other places of work. The Labor Dispute Case Files, 1938-1943, 1951-1953 (12 boxes) {series #16.16} contain preliminary reports and summary final reports, memoranda, and correspondence concerning mediation of labor disputes. Information given includes the case number, the name and location of the company, the type of industry, the nature and cause of the dispute, the craft concerned, and the duration of the dispute. The final disposition reports reveal terms of the final settlement, the number of employees affected (broken down by gender), and the number of firms or employers affected by the dispute.
The Industrial Board consists of five members, four of whom are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Secretary of Labor and Industry is the ex officio member and the Board is assisted by four advisory boards consisting of technical experts in the areas of boiler operations, elevators, buildings, and power actuated tools. The Board holds hearings regarding laws affecting labor upon appeals from either employees, employers, or the public and decides upon disposition of such appeals, approves rules and regulations established by the Department, and makes suggestions for formulating rules and regulations. The Accident Prevention and Industrial Hygiene Training Course Book for State Factory and Building Inspectors, 1937 (1 volume) {series #16.19} was used for a course conducted under the joint auspices of the United States Department of Labor's Division of Labor Standards, the Institute of Local and State Government, the University of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State College and the University of Pittsburgh. Subjects covered include basic safety inspection requirements, the fundamentals of conducting safety inspections, maintaining good housekeeping, the use of safety guards, and restricting access to areas where machinery is operating. There is also material relating to safety issues in particular industries such as woodworking, metalworking, foundry work, laundry printing, and textiles. The Digest of the Industrial Board Minutes, 1937-1944 (1 box) {#16.40} contains summaries of Industrial Board meeting minutes providing the date and time the meeting was convened, names of the members of the board in attendance, old and new business covered, a listing of the cases discussed which includes the case number, petitioner, subject and action taken; and devices approved. The Minutes, 1914-1986. (6 cartons and 15 boxes) {series #16.22} of the Industrial Board reveal decisions of the Board.
The Monthly Bulletin Books, 1914-1934 (21 volumes) {series #16.28} contain public information bulletins issued by the Department of Labor and Industry. Information is given on rules and regulations issued by the Industrial Board, decisions of the Workmen's Compensation Board, labor legislation, industrial statistics, proceedings of conferences, and activity reports of the Department and its bureaus. Information is also found concerning a variety of safety issues, accidents reported, employment statistics, sanitation, child labor, workmen's compensation, health, industrial relations, and related topics. The Pennsylvania Labor and Industry Review Books, 1939-1945, 1947-1949 (24 volumes) {series #16.31} contain public information pamphlets published quarterly by the Department of Labor and Industry. These reviews generally provide summaries of the functions and activities of the various boards and bureaus in the Department, rules and interpretations issued by the Industrial Board, and lists of departmental publications. The Reports File, 1906-1958 (4 cartons) {series #16.32} contains reference reports and studies maintained by the library of the Department of Labor and Industry. The reports relate to such topics as accidents and safety, asbestosis, building permits and housing, unemployment rates, disabled and older workers, interstate cooperation and compacts, labor unions, industrial disputes, and public assistance.
Selected Readings on Apprenticeship Training [ca. 1940] (3 volumes) {series #16.33} edited by J.C. Phillips, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania and a technical adviser for the Works Progress Administration Project #16712, contains readings that were designed to assist in planning apprenticeship and training programs. The three volumes cover such subjects as the need for apprenticeship training, the historical background of apprenticeship training programs, planning and methods used in apprenticeship training, case histories in specific industries, legislative and administrative experiences in America and abroad and the role of America's public schools. Selected Readings on Occupational Diseases, [ca. 1940] (3 volumes) {series #16.34} edited by J.C. Phillips, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania and technical adviser for Works Progress Administration Project #16712, contains readings that were designed to help define occupational diseases for the purpose of determining appropriate compensation. The readings define the scope of the problem of occupational disease, provide a classification of occupational diseases, describe experiences in specific industries, provide technical analyses of various types of occupational disease, explore the methods of dispensing occupational disease compensation, and give a legislative and administrative history of occupational diseases in America and abroad. A section is devoted to women and occupational disease and methods are given for reporting and conducting statistical analyses of such diseases to assist in achieving more timely diagnosis, prevention and control.
Special Bulletin Books, 1924-1963 (11 volumes) {series #16.35} contain public information bulletins published by the Department of Labor and Industry on specific topics. Among the topics covered are union wage scales and hours of labor, industrial home work in Pennsylvania, a state-wide safety conference, a conference on women and children in industry, industrial home work and child labor, workmen's compensation laws, Philadelphia migratory child workers and school attendance, and the history of child labor legislation in Pennsylvania. The United States Department of Commerce Census of Manufactures, 1939 (2 cartons) {series #16.36} contains a census taken on manufacturers in the United States by the Bureau of Census in the United States Department of Commerce. Census data is given for such industries as steel, lumber, lacquer and veneer, automotive accessories, hardware, plumbing, and logging among others. There are statistical breakdowns of the number of industrial establishments, the number of salaried and wage employees, salary and wage levels, the volume of work load reported, the value of the product manufactured, the value added by labor, and the cost of materials.
The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board consists of three members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate to administer the Public Employee Relations Act of 1970 (Act 195) governing labor relations between public employees and their employers and the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act of 1937 which covers small private sector employers over which the National Labor Relations Board does not exercise jurisdiction. The Annual Reports, 1937-2005 (5 boxes) {series #16.47} of the Labor Relations Board represent a nearly complete run of reports dating from the inception of the Board in June 1937. The style of the reports varies over the years, although the type of information contained in them remains basically unchanged. There was a year-by-year volume numbering system utilized until it was discontinued in 1977, with subsequent reports containing one, two, three or even four years in one single document. The studies include data on the cases which were heard during the course of the calendar year or years, both specific and cumulative, a general accounting of the overall activities for the time period in question, as well as information related to new laws enacted which had a direct impact on the Board and its work. The initial report from 1937 is very informative, in laying out the reasons for the Board's creation as well as the specific duties it was charged with carrying out. The Legal Files, 1937-1968 (18 cartons){series #16.37} contain legal briefs, appeals, court opinions, court orders, and related court papers concerning adjudication of cases brought before the Labor Relations Board that were appealed in the judicial system. The cases concern employee representation, collective bargaining, and unfair labor practices. The Minutes, 1937-1977 (4 cartons) {series #16. 38} of the meetings of the Labor Relations Board generally provide the date, location, and identification number of the meeting, the names of the members and administrative staff in attendance, and a summary of the motions approved by the board.