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Guide to the Air Raid and Civil Defense Collectio BHC-MSS 0165
Summary Information
- Repository:
- Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library
- Creator:
- Bridgeport War Council
- Title:
- Air Raid and Civil Defense Collection
- ID:
- BHC-MSS 0165
- Date [inclusive]:
- 1941-1945
- Physical Description:
- 5 Linear Feet
- Language of the Material:
- English .
- Abstract:
- As a manufacturing city during World War II, Bridgeport was a logical target should the warfront move to the east coast of the United States. The Bridgeport War Council, which oversaw the city's defense and preparations, devoted special resources to air raid preparation, defense, and recovery. This collection heavily focuses on the individual zones that Bridgeport was divided into, who was in charge of each zone, and how the city prepared for air attacks should they ever come.
Preferred Citation
Air Raid and Civil Defense Collections (BHC-MSS 0165), Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library.
Biographical / Historical
Bridgeport is primarily known for its manufacturing role during World War II. This is thanks to the number of industries that mobilized during the war, including the Bullard Machine Tool Company, Bridgeport Brass, and Sikorsky Aircraft, among many others. The shortage of male workers at these companies also allowed women to work in industry in far greater numbers than they had before. However, manufacturing was not the sole focus of Bridgeport during the war. Due to all the manufacturing going on in the city, there was reason to see the city as a target, should action ever move towards the east coast of the United States. As a result, Bridgeport actively organized it's home front, working with the State of Connecticut's defense council in order to establish means of defense. Concerns regarding air raids on the city – especially the potential for bombing factories that helped supply the United States' war effort – were high, and a section of the Bridgeport War Council was devoted to air raid preparation, defense, and recovery. This work relied heavily on volunteer efforts, with the city being split into different zones that were headed by wardens. Those wardens helped to ensure that their area knew the correct safety protocols, kept them compliant with certain regulations such as those regarding blackouts at night, and other concerns. While the work of this group concluded with the end of the war, the Cold War would see the Civilian Defense Council rise up to address concerns about atomic bombs and attack by the USSR instead.
Scope and Contents
Most prevalent in the collection is information regarding Bridgeport's different zones, and who was in charge of each. This permits a complete picture of how the city was divided and prepared for any potential attacks, especially by air. Other information relates to preparedness warnings, schools, policies and procedures, and other concerns.
Administrative Information
Publication Statement
Bridgeport History Center, Bridgeport Public Library
Bridgeport History CenterBridgeport Public Library925 Broad StreetBridgeport, CT 06604Business Number: 203-576-7400 (Extension: #7)URL: https://bportlibrary.org/hc/
Collection Inventory
Series I, Subject files | |||
---|---|---|---|
Title/Description | Instances | ||
Awards, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 1 | ||
Air raid damage report forms and memos, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 2 | ||
Air raid manuals,, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 3-4 | ||
Air raid policies, procedures, etc., 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 5 | ||
Air raid precautions, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 6 | ||
Air raids shelters, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 7 | ||
Aid raid signals, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 8 | ||
Air raid tests, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 9 | ||
Aid raid wardens certificates, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 10 | ||
Aid raider warden letters, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 11 | ||
Air raid warden maps, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 12 | ||
Aid raid warden meetings, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 13 | ||
Aid raid wardens names – zones 1-4, not by zone, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 14-18 | ||
Aid raid wardens notebook, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 19 | ||
Aid raid wardens, regional, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 20 | ||
Air raid wardens set up, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 21 | ||
Armbands, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 22 | ||
Banks, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 23 | ||
Blackouts, Bridgeport rules and policies, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 24 | ||
Blackouts, Connecticut and some out of state regulations and memos,, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 25 | ||
Blackouts, correspondence, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 26 | ||
Blackouts, reports and violations, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 27 | ||
Blackouts, test, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 28 | ||
Blind and deaf, lists of residents, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 29 | ||
Bomb reconnaissance agents – active, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 30 | ||
Bomb reconnaissance agents – in active, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 31 | ||
Bomb reconnaissance agents – Bridgeport and vicinity,, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 32 | ||
Bomb reconnaissance agents -local, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 1 | folder 33 | ||
Bomb reconnaissance – handbooks, guides, forms, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 1-2 | ||
Bomb reconnaissance – state, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 3 | ||
Bond sales, 1944 | |||
Box 2 | folder 4 | ||
War Bond drive, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 5 | ||
Buildings and homes, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 6 | ||
Camoflage, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 7 | ||
Chemical warfare and gas, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 8 | ||
Churches, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 9 | ||
Civilian defense, manuals, forms, correspondence, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 10 | ||
Coast patrol,, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 11 | ||
Communications, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 12 | ||
Control center, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 13-14 | ||
Control system guide, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 15 | ||
Correspondence, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 16 | ||
Defense council, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 17 | ||
Defense council – names, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 18-19 | ||
Demobilization, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 20 | ||
Dimout, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 21 | ||
Disaster relief, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 22 | ||
Equipment, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 23 | ||
Examinations, quizzes, etc., 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 24 | ||
Field trials, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 2 | folder 25 | ||
Films, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 1 | ||
Fires, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 2 | ||
Firewatcher, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 3 | ||
First aid, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 4 | ||
Flags, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 5 | ||
Handicapped, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 6 | ||
Helmets, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 7 | ||
"I Am An American" committee, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 8 | ||
Incident officers, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 9 | ||
Identification cards, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 10 | ||
Identification numbers, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 11 | ||
Industrial plants, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 12-13 | ||
Industries – Underwood Elliott Fisher Co., 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 14 | ||
Inspections, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 15 | ||
Inspection tour, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 16 | ||
Insurance, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 17 | ||
Juvenile delinquents, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 18 | ||
Maps, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 19 | ||
Messengers, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 20 | ||
Mutal aid, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 21 | ||
Nurses' aides, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 22 | ||
Parade, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 23 | ||
Parking, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 24 | ||
Police, auxiliary, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 25 | ||
Police, radio, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 26 | ||
Pumps, stirrup, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 27 | ||
Publicity, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 28-30 | ||
Red Cross, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 31 | ||
Releases, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 32 | ||
Reports, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 33 | ||
Rescue squad, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 34 | ||
Russia, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 35 | ||
Sand, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 3 | folder 36 | ||
Schools, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 1 | ||
Sector posts, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 2 | ||
Sector post - finances, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 3 | ||
Sector wardens, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 4 | ||
Snow, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 5 | ||
Speakers, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 6 | ||
Telephone, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 7 | ||
Theatrics, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 8 | ||
Training schools, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 9 | ||
Uniforms, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 10 | ||
V-Day, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 11 | ||
Vehicles, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 12 | ||
Volunteers, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 13 | ||
War council, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 14 | ||
War records, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 15 | ||
Warning center, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 16 | ||
Zone wardens, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 17 | ||
Zones, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 18-19 | ||
Tags for "injuries" , 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 20 | ||
Notebooks with names and numbers, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 21 | ||
ook, "Names of those who served in various Civil Defense positions in zone 2 ,Bridgeport, CT", 1942-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 22 | ||
Clippings, aid raid wardens, 1942-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 23-24 | ||
Posters with air raid information, 1942-1945 | |||
Flat file D, drawer 5 | folder 20 | ||
Armbands, 1942-1945 | |||
Flat file D, drawer 5 | folder 21 | ||
Series II, Objects | |||
Title/Description | Instances | ||
Glass jar with token, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 25 | ||
Bolts and hardware from signs, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 4 | folder 26 | ||
Aid raid shelter sign, 1941-1945 | |||
Box 5 | |||