Research

Administrative History

The State Property Officer was appointed to oversee the allocation and distribution of protective equipment from the United States Office of Civilian Defense to New York State and nearly 350 of New York's communities. Each community had a local property officer responsible to the federal govenment for the equipment allocated to his community, and the State Property Officer provided technical assistance to local officers in the discharge of their duties.

Generally, various institutions of the State's Department of Mental Hygiene stored gas detection and protection equipment along with medical supplies such as folding and hospital beds, while fire fighting equipment was held in the communities. At the war's end, with the State Property Officer's coordination, surplus equipment was sold to the state and local communities. The liquidation was completed in October 1946.