REC/GOV/030. Defense, Council of.

In April 1917, Governor Marcus Holcomb appointed an eleven-member council under an Emergency Act (Chapter 43, P. A. 1917) passed after the United States declared war on Germany and the Axis powers. The first meeting was held on May 8, 1917. Over time, the Council formed committees to deal with areas such as publicity, Americanization, fuel conservation, food supply, transportation, and military and naval affairs. The Council also formed a Woman’s Division whose members sat on the council’s committees. The Council coordinated, supported, and publicized the work of other war agencies at the state and federal levels. Gradually the committees acquired staffs of their own and an Executive Department headed by a director was formed. The Council was discontinued in March 1919. This large group contains records including administrative files, financial records, correspondence, subject files, and reference files of the council’s executive department and several committees. Formats and types vary but include photographs, posters, newspapers, artifacts, lists, card files, lantern slides, copper and lead cuts and printing plates, sheet music, bulletins, mimeographed circulars, telegrams, and other paper materials.