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Temporary State Housing Rent Commission records

 Collection
Identifier: RG036

Scope and Content

The record group contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, instructions, hand written notes, minutes of meetings and agendas, rent surveys, subject files, rent case docket registers, and statistical analyses and working papers concerning demographics and housing and rental units in Connecticut. It also includes federal manuals, bulletins, circulars, files of the Hartford Area Rent Office (1942-1953), and papers of an attorney who handled questions of compliance with U. S. regulations giving preference in housing to veterans.

Dates

  • 1942-1956
  • Majority of material found within 1952-1955

Language of Materials

The records are in English.

Restrictions on Access

These records are stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.

See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.

Historical Note

Like other prices during World War II, housing rents were limited and policed through Federal Government agencies, the Office of Price Administration and its predecessors. Rent controls began in Connecticut in June and July 1942 under the Office of Price Administration-directed area offices, and these offices continued after the war ended, as local arms of new Federal agencies - the Office of the Housing Expediter, the Office of Rent Stabilization, etc. Even at the end of 1952, Federal control extended over 48 "critical area" towns and 39 other towns which requested it.

In anticipation of the expiration of United States authority, the General Assembly enacted a series of standby rent control laws beginning in 1947. Under one of these, Chapter 356 of the 1951 Supplement to the General Statutes, the Governor set up Temporary State Housing Rent Commission. Beginning on October 1, 1952, it was to work at first primarily in the 82 towns where Federal controls no longer existed. The first commissioner, James T. Sullivan, and his successor in 1953, James L. Delucia, had both been officials (and Director) of the Area Rent Control Office in Hartford. The Temporary Commission appears to have ended its work on April 1, 1956.

Extent

5 cubic feet

Abstract

During the Second World War, national rent controls began under the Office of Price Administration-directed offices. In 1947, anticipating the end of national controls, the Connecticut General Assembly enacted a series of standby rent control laws. One of these, Chapter 356 of the 1951 Supplement to the General Statutes, created the Temporary State Housing Rent Commission.

Provenance

After the Temporary Commission ended its work on April 1, 1956, the records were presumably turned over to the State Library soon thereafter, but substantial parts may have been lost or destroyed.

Related Material

RG 005, Office of the Governor, records of various governors under relevant headings ("housing", "rent control", "Temporary Rent Commission", etc.)

RG 035, Connecticut Office of Price Administration.

Title
RG 036, Temporary State Housing Rent Commission
Subtitle
Inventory of Records
Author
Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.
Date
2007
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Connecticut State Library Repository

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