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John Reynolds Ernest papers

Notifications

Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

John Reynolds Ernest was a Newark, Delaware, resident who was actively involved with the Civil Defense program in the Newark area during World War II. In 1942 at the age of 51, he resided at 45 West Park Place. Ernest was a section warden for Air Raid Zone 7 (or occasionally number 3) of Newark. Zone 7 included the area bordered by Main Street on the North, West Park Place on the South, South College on the East, and Elkton Road on the West (see map in F11). Ernest's post was the corner of Orchard Road and West Park Place.

This collection includes several identification cards belonging to John R. Ernest, including an Aircraft Warning Service card which bears a photograph of Ernest (F47).

The collection also includes several items contributed by William Ditto Lewis, University Librarian at Delaware from 1930-1958 (F45, F47).

Biographical information is derived from the collection.

The collection consists of a variety of letters, bulletins, documents, and memorabilia relating to the United States Army Aircraft Warning Service and the Newark Council for Civilian Defense for the period 1941-1944. Gathered by John R. Ernest, who served in these programs, the papers consist primarily of letters, memoranda, schedules, and training material directed to John Reynolds Ernest and others in their official capacity with the United States Army Aircraft Warning Service and with the Newark Council for Civilian Defense.

Individuals whose names appear with frequency in the material include Ernest, who served as a Newark Air Raid Warden; T. Russell Silk, Personnel Director for the Newark Council for Civilian Defense; Almar A. Reiff, Jr., Senior Air Raid Warden for Newark; F. Allyn Cooch, Chief Observer for observation post #10-A at Newark; and John R. Fader, District Director, First Fighter Command, Ground Observation Section, Philadelphia Fighter Wing.

Also included in the Ernest papers are an assortment of government training publications and ephemeral material related to civilian defense, war bonds, and rationing during World War II.

The collection documents the Civil Defense activities in Newark, Delaware, during World War II and serves as a good example of the Civil Defense activities which were taking place throughout the United States during this period. As a coastal area, Delaware and the surrounding region was regarded as a potential target for enemy air strikes, and the papers reflect the seriousness with which this potential threat was taken by regional residents and national civil defense coordinators.

Boxes 1-3: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes

Box 4: Shelved in SPEC MSS record center cartons

Gift.

Processed in July 1988 by Eric Wittkoff and revised by Anita Wellner April 1993. Encoded by Special Collections staff, 2017.

Publisher
University of Delaware Library Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
Finding Aid Date
2017 June 26
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S.Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

Primarily internal in nature, this series includes items directed to John Reynolds Ernest and others in their official capacity with the United States Army Aircraft Warning Service and the Newark Council for Civilian Defense. Documents in the series detail the procedures to be observed during the formation and functioning of these organizations and the administration of their activities, which included meetings, training and drills, fundraising, public relations, and various personnel issues.

1941 April.
Box 1 Folder F1
Scope and Contents

Address delivered at State Educational Conference for High Schools titled "Fitness for the National Emergency."

Physical Description

1 item

1941 August-October.
Box 1 Folder F2
Scope and Contents

Information on radio programs pertaining to air defense exercises and the American Legion.

Physical Description

4 items

1941 October 14.
Box 1 Folder F3
Scope and Contents

Contains instructions related to the organization of an aircraft observation post for observers and a list of the Newark civilian observers.

Physical Description

13 items

1941 October-December.
Box 1 Folder F4
Scope and Contents

Record of flash messages sent in October

Physical Description

12 items

1942 January-February.
Box 1 Folder F5
Scope and Contents

Includes article and paper relating to incendiary bombs and the observers' schedule for the Chestnut Hill Post

Physical Description

8 items

1942 March-April.
Box 1 Folder F6
Scope and Contents

Includes material on air raid signals, lists of air raid wardens for Zones 5 and 7

Physical Description

7 items

1942 May.
Box 1 Folder F7
Scope and Contents

Includes U.S. Army Aircraft Warning Service Assistant Chief Observer Identification Card and list of eligible Newark observers.

Physical Description

5 items

1942 June.
Box 1 Folder F8
Scope and Contents

Includes operating manual for section nine of the Mount Pleasant Defense Council, New Castle County, Delaware and a list of the Messenger Force for Newark.

Physical Description

4 items

1942 July 1-7.
Box 1 Folder F9
Scope and Contents

Includes memoranda regarding problems in the Newark organization and operation.

Physical Description

9 items

1942 July 13-24.
Box 1 Folder F10
Scope and Contents

Information about Zone 1

Physical Description

11 items

1942 July 24.
Box 1 Folder F11
Scope and Contents

Information about Zones 2, 3 (7), and 4.

Physical Description

6 items

1942 July 24.
Box 1 Folder F12
Scope and Contents

Information about Zone 7 (3)

Physical Description

6 items

1942 July 24.
Box 1 Folder F13
Scope and Contents

Information about Zones 10 and 11.

Physical Description

5 items

1942 July 24.
Box 1 Folder F14
Scope and Contents

Information about Zones 12, 13, and 14

Physical Description

10 items

1942 July 25-31.
Box 1 Folder F15
Scope and Contents

Includes National Liberty Insurance Company Fire Insurance Policy for Newark Observation Post #10-A and a list of auxiliary police.

Physical Description

4 items

1942 August-September.
Box 1 Folder F16
Scope and Contents

Includes "Instructions for Chief Observers" and fund raising materials.

Physical Description

7 items

1942 September 17.
Box 1 Folder F17
Scope and Contents

Financial documents pertaining to Newark Aircraft Warning Service Observation Post #10-A.

Physical Description

10 items

1942 October-November 3.
Box 1 Folder F18
Scope and Contents

Minutes of meetings of the civilian defense staff of Newark

Physical Description

8 items

1942 November 10-December.
Box 1 Folder F19
Scope and Contents

Minutes and the official oath for observers

Physical Description

7 items

1943 January.
Box 1 Folder F20
Scope and Contents

Regional bulletins

Physical Description

7 items

1943 February 3-4.
Box 1 Folder F21
Scope and Contents

Information about the 1943 Victory Book Campaign

Physical Description

5 items

1943 February 7.
Box 1 Folder F22
Scope and Contents

Includes flyer, "Meet Your Air Raid Warden."

Physical Description

19 items

1943 February 7.
Box 1 Folder F23
Scope and Contents

Includes flyer, "How to Black-out Windows."

Physical Description

11 items

1943 February 10-April 8.
Box 1 Folder F24
Scope and Contents

Includes flyer, "Air Raid Signals" and information on gas rationing.

Physical Description

8 items

1943 April 9-May.
Box 1 Folder F25
Scope and Contents

Includes bulletin, "How to Protect Yourself Against War Gas."

Physical Description

11 items

1943 June.
Box 1 Folder F26
Scope and Contents

Includes flyer, "New Air Raid Signals at a Glance."

Physical Description

8 items

1943 July-September.
Box 1 Folder F27
Scope and Contents

Information of reduction of observation personnel to free manpower for direct war effort.

Physical Description

11 items

1943 October-November.
Box 1 Folder F28
Scope and Contents

Letters concerning the reduction

Physical Description

6 items

1944 January-May.
Box 2 Folder F29
Scope and Contents

Bulletins, including one on gas defense

Physical Description

5 items

1944 July-December.
Box 2 Folder F30
Scope and Contents

Includes fire insurance policy for Newark Observation Post #10-A and a flyer, "Are You Risking Your Right to Drive?"

Physical Description

11 items

Undated.
Box 2 Folder F31
Scope and Contents

Information regarding auxiliary air wardens

Physical Description

12 items

Undated.
Box 2 Folder F32
Scope and Contents

Information regarding auxiliary police

Physical Description

5 items

Undated.
Box 2 Folder F33
Scope and Contents

Material regarding bomb reconnaissance and practice alerts

Physical Description

10 items

Undated.
Box 2 Folder F34
Scope and Contents

Includes bulletin, "Summary of Important Chemical Agents."

Physical Description

4 items

Undated.
Box 2 Folder F35
Scope and Contents

Includes blank identification tags for simulated war casualties, "Information for War Loan Workers," and instructions for filing Delaware tax returns.

Physical Description

11 items

Undated.
Box 2 Folder F36
Scope and Contents

Instructions for civilian defense workers

Physical Description

1 item

Scope and Contents

Includes newspaper clippings, government pamphlets, other printed materials, and artifacts relating to Civil Defense procedures and activities gathered by Ernest during the course of his work.

Newspaper clippings.
Box 2 Folder F37
Scope and Contents

Includes a copy of

The Observation Post (1942) Physical Description

9 items

Pamphlets, 1941-1944.
Box 2 Folder F38
Scope and Contents

Copies of "A Job Only a Woman Can Do," "A Handbook for Air Raid Wardens," and "Display Your Colors."

Physical Description

3 items

Booklet, 1941.
Box 2 Folder F39
Scope and Contents

Copy of

Blackouts Physical Description

1 item

Pamphlets, 1941-1942.
Box 2 Folder F40
Scope and Contents

Copies of "A Handbook for Fire Watchers," and "Air Raid Precaution Services."

Physical Description

2 items

Pamphlet and Directory, 1941-1943.
Box 2 Folder F41
Scope and Contents

Copy of "Administrative Manual for the Air Raid Wardens Unit," and

Telephone Directory for Newark, Delaware. Physical Description

2 items

Printed Material, [n.d.].
Box 2 Folder F42
Scope and Contents

Blank ticket books for contributions to Newark Area Civil Defense Fund

Physical Description

2 items

Printed ephemera, 1941-1945.
Box 2 Folder F43
Scope and Contents

Includes war bond recruitment material

Physical Description

7 items

Armbands, [n.d.].
Box 2 Folder F44
Scope and Contents

Worn by Civil Defense personnel

Physical Description

4 items

Ration books and applications, 1942-1945.
Box 2 Folder F45
Physical Description

13 items

Ration books, coupons, and tokens, 1945.
Box 2 Folder F46
Physical Description

18 items

War-related identification, 1942-1945.
Box 2 Folder F47
Scope and Contents

Includes Ernest's membership cards for the Delaware Council of Defense and the Aircraft Warning Service. The latter bears a photograph of Ernest. Also includes Ernest's Selective Service card and an identification card for William Ditto Lewis

Physical Description

9 items

Log of Observation for Post #10-A, 1942 April-1943 January.
Box 2 Folder F48
Scope and Contents

Includes names of observers and visitors, number of planes sighted, and weather conditions

Physical Description

105 pp

Civilian defense sash, [n.d.].
Box 3 Folder No F#
Civilian defense helmet, [n.d.].
Box 4 Folder No F#

Scope and Contents

Consists of applications for prospective volunteers, lists of personnel, schedules, and blank duty logs.

Notes and schedules, [n.d.].
Box 3 Folder F49
Physical Description

16 items

List of Air Wardens, [n.d.].
Box 3 Folder F50
Physical Description

4 items

List of Civilian Aircraft Observers at the Glasgow Observation Post, [n.d.].
Box 3 Folder F51
Physical Description

1 item

Civilian Aircraft Observer Applications, [1941-1942].
Box 3 Folder F52-71
Scope and Contents

Applications submitted by Newark residents, arranged alphabetically by last name

Physical Description

193 items

Blank duty log sheets, [n.d.].
Box 3 Folder F72-73
Physical Description

3 items

Print, Suggest