Research


New York State War Council State Gas Consultant Training and Inquiry Response Correspondence Files


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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:
This series details the work of F. Wellington Gilcreas, appointed State Gas Consultant following world events that pointed to serious consideration of a gas attack against the United States. Included in the series are correspondence, memoranda, releases, publications, and bulletins detailing Gilcreas's work with training programs and local war councils to instruct individuals on the proper response to enemy gas attacks. Material containing technical details regarding various types of gases used in war is also included.
Creator:
Title:
Training and inquiry response correspondence files
Quantity:

1 cubic foot

Inclusive Dates:
1942-1945
Series Number:
A4391

Arrangement

Chronological by quarter year, then by topic.

Administrative History

With the capture of a Japanese cruiser loaded with poison gas canisters at the battle of Midway in 1942 and later German use of V-2 rockets against Great Britain, the possibility of a gas attack against the United States was considered serious. F. Wellington Gilcreas, a chief chemist with the New York State Department of Health, was appointed State Gas Consultant in May 1942 and served until his position's termination in 1945. As part of the War Council's Division of Civilian Protection, he worked closely with state and federal agencies to coordinate instruction concerning the identification of, and proper response to, enemy gas attacks. In addition, he assisted local war councils' gas officers with training and provided technical advice.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains correspondence, memoranda, releases, publications, and bulletins detailing the State Gas Consultant's work with training programs and local war councils to instruct individuals on the proper response to enemy gas attacks. The State Gas Consultant collected a significant amount of material from other states, individuals, or organizations (such as the U.S. Office of Civilian Defense) containing technical details regarding various types of gases used in war. Other materials detail training programs that the State Gas Consultant either organized or participated in, such as the Office of War Training's Food Control Chemists Institute in January 1943.

Much of the material in this series was marked "Destroy," possibly by the State Gas Consultant himself.

Related Material

A4376 Food and Drug Chemists Institute Organization Files, contains related records.

Processing Information

This series was originally accessioned as box 184 of old collection #77, accession -71.

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Access Terms

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Detailed Description

Dates Contents Box Folder

Accretion: A4391-78
1942 July-December Correspondence 1 1
1943 January-March Correspondence 1 2
1943 April-June Correspondence 1 3
1943 July-September Correspondence 1 4
1943 October-December Correspondence 1 5
1944 January-December Correspondence 1 6
1945 Correspondence 1 7
1942 January-1943 War Training Laboratory for Food Control Chemists Albany 1 8
1943 January School on Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare Held in Chicago (Lectures) 1 9
Miscellaneous Publications - Releases, etc. - New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts 1 10
Bulletins, Memos, etc. 1 11
Schools Lectures Programs, etc. 1 12
Civilian Defense - Memos, Miscellaneous Publications, etc. 1 13