Research

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of the files of the World's Fair Commission, together with contractors' plans and drawings prepared under the authority of the commission for the New York State exhibit at the 1939-1940 World's Fair held in Flushing, New York. The commission was established by Chapter 866 of the Laws of 1936 to prepare plans for the state's participation in the fair.

Along with commission subject files for 1937-1939, and general correspondence, these files include: meeting minutes of the commission's executive committee and board of directors; correspondence, contracts, and bonds relating to various contracts with architects for exhibit design; bids and estimates of contractors for exhibit work, and financial accounts concerning costs for exhibits; accident and insurance reports; and various other reports, photographs, and commission publications.

The records also contain graphic material, including blueprints, pencil drawings, and art work done in crayon. There are approximately 200 floor plans, layout charts, sectional drawings, diagrams, and details of buildings (amphitheater and exhibit hall) and individual state department exhibits prepared by a variety of contractors. There are many blueprints of the exhibit building and amphitheater. Some are apparently extra contractor's exhibit drawings used as office copies for annotation; many are marked as either "revised" or "approved" and some are unannotated. They generally measure 75 x 91 cm, but are as large as 88 x 248 cm.

In addition there are pencil drawings of typical exhibit case layouts for various department exhibits and regional bays; details of floor, table, and geograph cases; and a complete set of blueprint drawings of county seals.

Also included are approximately 20 stylized drawings (33 x 33 cm) and sample poster layouts (82 x 55 cm) done for the exhibit, in crayon, on the theme of mental health and hygiene for children.

A0569-10: This accretion consists of transcripts of meetings of the New York State World's Fair Commission and its various committees and subcommittees, including its board of directors, Executive Committee, Committee on the Use of the Ampitheatre, Subcommittee on Exhibits, and Special Committee in Regard to Electric Signs, Flag Poles and Display. Also included is a transcript of the groundbreaking ceremony at the New York State Ampitheatre and State Exhibit Building, dated April 1, 1938.