New York State World's Fair Commission Subject and Meeting Files and World's Fair Exhibit Design and Building Plans A0569

New York State World's Fair Commission Subject and Meeting Files and World's Fair Exhibit Design and Building Plans

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

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. Along with commission subject files and general correspondence, these files include meeting minutes, contracts, bonds, bids and estimates of contractors for exhibit work, accident and insurance reports, photographs, and publications. The records also include blueprints, pencil drawings, and artwork.

Creator:

New York (State). World's Fair Commission

Title:

Subject and meeting files and World's Fair exhibit design and building plans

Quantity:

25 cubic feet

(including approximately 400 plans and drawings)

Inclusive Dates:

1936-1940

Series Number:

A0569

Arrangement

A0569-78:Arranged by type of material (textual or graphic with textual material arranged by subject or chronological and graphic material arranged by blueprint or drawing).

A0569-10:Chronological.

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.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

A0569-78: Container list for 18 cubic feet of files. Very rough container/roll list for graphic material.

A0569-10: Volume list.

Custodial History

Previously unidentified rolled material was added to the series by Archives staff in December 1991 and 03/13/2017. Accretion A0569-10 was transferred to the State Archives by the New York State Library in October 2010.