ft THE JOHW CS^S!S>AJ?. ;| UB3UUSQM» CHICAGO. || .»u«u»)lW UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URDANA-CHAMPAIGN ILL. HIST. SURVEY ON NATIONAL DEFENSE OR EDWARD J. KELLY. C H A 174-176 W. Washington St ei BE Bi 10 gg B H 55 @i@ BOB BIB ill ills II ■it -ft \*<\\ • • • • • CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/chicagocommissioOOchic 1U CHICAGO COMMISSION ON NATIONAL DEFENSE Established by the City Council of the City of Chicago Purposes and Program of Chicago's Agency for National and Local Defense Activity and Civic Co-operation 174-176 WEST WASHINGTON STREET CHICAGO Telephone: Franklin 7560 HEADQUARTERS RANDOLPH _l _l LU 1 r - > > r— r- m WASHINGTON l/l/tvKnlri shows 14-story building at 174-176 West Washington Street, in the loop district of Chicago, which is devoted in its entirety to The Chicago Commission on National Defense, in- cluding The Service Men's Center. In- dicated are the headquarters of the Commission and location of facilities for soldiers, sailors and marines. The building formerly housed the Elks Club and its use was donated to the City of Chicago. (31 @ II B B B1B10 ESQ 19 OB IBliB !!@HS BIHil DBBDD E Ell! IB BflflHI 111 H H in S n [Ml D S]°H a [Bi SSJ IBfiJ [utEj [TO1| |2sJ nnnrnnn sSv^Tt mum 14 DORMITORY )3 DORMITORY |2 DORMITORY DORMITORY AND OFFICE DORMITORY J DORMITORY 8 ORGAN RECITAL HALL ARCHERY RANGE Golf Driving Course GAME ROOM Pool, Pins Pons, Biliurds MENS LOUNGE MUSIC ROOM BALLROOM and AUDITORIUM 3 MIXED LOUNGE 2 GENERAL OFFICES COMMUNITY EVENTS BASEMENT LOCKERS 3 S~J? -?3SS~0?77 d ¥3^ St THE CHICAGO COMMISSION ON NATIONAL DEFENSE I. TO CO-OPERATE with the United States Office of Civilian Defense. II. TO HELP CO-ORDINATE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES of Chicago with the national defense program, by co-operating with established agencies. HI. TO MAINTAIN MILITARY MORALE through opera- tion of The Chicago Service Men's Center and related activities for soldiers, sailors and marines. IV. TO ACT as a CLEARINGHOUSE of INFORMATION, enabling all persons desiring to contribute to the national defense program to secure all necessary information relating thereto. V. TO ASSIST IN CO-ORDINATION OF DEFENSE activities by acting as a clearing house between federal, state and local organizations engaged in defense work. VI. TO SUSTAIN CIVILIAN MORALE, including activities to maintain American ideals of democracy and to promote American Unity. VII. TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION in the national defense program, through establishment of commun- ity units and the development of activity designed for community appeal. VIII. TO PLAN FOR CIVILIAN PROTECTION, by co-ordi- nating facilities of the city government in line with the program of the United States Office of Civilian Defense. ¥ w Ah. Official Acj&ticy OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, CO-OPERATING WITH UNITED STATES OFFICE OF CIVILIAN DEFENSE The Chicago Commission on National Defense is an official agency of the City of Chicago. The Commission was established „^y the City Council of Chicago on December (1831751 GO N B & • SS E a s 8 ■ a s S-* • E a a li O U. *C3 — •^ = 8 = £ Z U S C m • a » » » ° 2 » z 2 z 5 II — OK — T- « -G 7D a G • -« u< I" 5 « .5 G u ,4> i-i •§ J * I o g G 6 ~ o e tJD G .a a. us § o US! s M mi w < Mi < s w W 20, 1940, acting on the suggestion of Mayor Edward J. Kelly, who is chairman of the Commission. The Mayor indicated the scope of the Commission in a letter to the City Council of Chicago, dated December 16, 1940, in which appeared the following: "... It is important to strengthen the spirit of true Americanism and of demo- cratic ideals. We want to avoid hysteria and any other destructive manifestations which might threaten the security and happiness of our people, and I think the Chicago Commission on National Defense can be a potent force for good in this field in our city. As I see it, the Chicago Commission on National Defense will act upon its own initiative and also will serve as a co-ordinating and co-operating agency . . . Above all, the Chicago Commission on National Defense should be effective in placing total resources of this great city — industrial, labor, civic and spiritual, behind what I conceive to be the greatest job confronting America today, that of making our nation so strong that we shall be able to cope with any emer- gency, and do this while maintaining our basic democratic concepts." OUTSTANDING CITIZENS OF CHICAGO PARTICIPATE In a later statement, (Journal of Proceedings of the City Council of Chicago, March 5, 1941, p. 4351.) Mayor Kelly declared: "In establishing the Chicago Commission on National Defense I am asking outstanding citizens to participate in what I believe will be one of the most important present-day civic activities. I am asking outstanding representatives of business, industry, labor, the pro- fessions and civic and cultural groups to serve on this commission. Because of the intimate relationship of the activity of this group and the City of Chicago I shall serve as Chairman and I have asked the Corporation Counsel, Barnet Hodes, to serve as executive vice chairman . . . "I am especially interested in the possibility of this commission for maintaining healthy civic morale. My thought is that our citizens ought to be serious minded about the prob- lems of national defense, but at the same time, that fear and false uneasiness be prevented ..." In authorizing the Mayor to establish the Commission, "as a civic agency officially authorized by the City Council," the Mayor was empowered "to do all other desirable and necessary things for furthering the objectives of the Chicago Commission on National Defense." (Resolution Journal of the Proceedings of the City Council of Chicago, Decem- ber 20, 1940, p. 3633.) THE COMMISSION CO-OPERATES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Upon the formation of the United States Office of Civilian Defense, established through *xecutive order by the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, on May 20, 1941, with F. H. LaGuardia as director, the Chicago Commission on National Defense haped its program to conform to the national civilian defense program. ******** The Chicago Commission on National Defense therefore is Chicago's official agency for co-operating with the United States Office of Civilian Defense and for co-ordinating the program of that office with that of Chicago's. THE COMMISSION IS OFFICIAL "COUNCIL OF DEFENSE" UNDER STATE LAW By a resolution adopted by the City Council of Chicago on July 24, 1941, (Journal of the Proceedings of the City Council of Chicago, July 24, 1941, p. 5205) the Chicago Com- mission on National Defense also was officially designated as Chicago's defense council under the State Council of Defense Act, which was passed by the General Assembly of Illinois and approved by the Governor April 17, 1941. The resolution of the City Council declared that: "WHEREAS, Since the appointment of the Chicago Commission on National Defense the General Assembly of the State of Illinois passed an Act known as the State Council of Defense Act, which was approved by the Governor on April 17, 1941, and which provides for the creation of a State Council of Defense 'for the general purpose of assisting in the coordination of the State and local activities related to National and State Defense', and which also authorized the Mayor of each city to establish a Council of Defense for the city, with like powers and duties within its jurisdiction as are vested in and imposed on the State Council by said Act; now, therefore, be it "RESOLVED, That the Chicago Commission on National Defense be and it hereby is established as the Council of Defense for the City of Chicago, pursuant to the State Council of Defense Act approved April 17, 1941." SERVICE MEN'S CENTER— FOR MAINTAINING MILITARY MORALE As one of its activities, the Commission has arranged for the operation of the Chicago Service Men's Center, where recreational and informational services are provided for soldiers, sailors and marines who come to or are stationed in Chicago. Chicagoans who are cooperating with the Commission may well be proud that the Chicago Service Men's Center has been described as one of the finest in the nation and is a potent force for maintaining all-important morale among the men of the military estab- lishments in the Middle West. The Chicago Service Men's Center was inspected by Brigadier General James A. Ulio, Chief of the Morale Branch, United States Army, Washington, D. C, on August 10, 1941, with the result that a communication was sent from the office of the Commanding General of the Sixth Corps Area, U. S. Army, on August 13, 1941, to Executive Vice Chairman Hodes of the Chicago Commission on National Defense, which stated: "General Ulio requested that your Commission be complimented on the estab- lishment of this Center, and for the patriotism and foresight of those officials of the City of Chicago having to do with its inception. "General Ulio also expressed satisfaction with the personnel in charge, the facili- ties already available for service men, and the plans which have been made for the future." In the operation of the Center, the Commission has the co-operation of the Chicago Recreation Commission and the Federal Works Progress Administration, among others. I CIVILIAN PROTECTION PROGRAM In addition to morale-building projects such as the Service Men's Center, the Chicago Commission on National Defense is organized to carry through in Chicago activities called for by the United States Office of Civilian Defense, ranging from projects like the national aluminum round- up, held in July, 1941, to plans for actual protection of our city and its inhabitants in case of emergency. In line with the preparation-for-emergency program of the federal government, the Chicago Commission on National Defense has provided for a Committee for Civilian Pro- tection. This committee will function, in co-operation with the United States Office of ! Civilian Defense, in establishing the program of civilian protection outlined by that office covering the following subjects: FIRE-FIGHTING SERVICES POLICE SERVICES MEDICAL SERVICES PUBLIC WORKS, STREETS, BUILDINGS, WATER AND SEWERAGE UTILITIES MAINTENANCE OF VITAL SERVICES PUBLIC RELATIONS AND EDUCATION Insofar as possible, the policy of the Commission will be to have these functions under- • taken by or closely co-ordinated with the existing municipal departments, for example, fire-fighting services to be directed by the existing Fire Department of the City of Chicago, police services by the existing Police Department of the City of Chicago, etc. "FOOLHARDY NOT TO BE PREPARED" In planning for such activities, the timing and scope of which will depend upon circum- stances, the Chicago Commission on National Defense is acting on the policy that, even if no emergency occurs or if one is unlikely, it would be foolhardy not to be prepared. Volunteers undoubtedly will be called upon for assisting regular officials in such activities and the Commission will make announcements along this line as the program is developed. OTHER COMMISSION ACTIVITIES Along with its operation of the Service Men's Center and its planning for civilian pro- tection, the Commission is organized to promote American unity — by encouraging patriotic movements and to inculcate increased understanding of democratic ideals — to develop satisfactory Consumer relations — by cooperating with all agencies in regard to conservation, distribution, pricing and related aspects of consumer problems that may arise from the defense program — and to engage in Production promotion, by making known industrial facili- ties which Chicago has to offer for the defense effort and assist in problems that concern various groups, for example the small business man, affected by the defense program. The Commission functions through an executive committee and an advisory committee, the latter being representative of the many communities within the city of Chicago. MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHICAGO The composition of the Chicago Commission on National Defense has been determined to obtain a representative cross-section of the community at large. Thus, the members of the commission include representatives of business and of labor, and of every social and economic status in the community. In addition to the individuals listed, the Mayor has designated as ex officio members of the Commission the following: Commander Cook County Council, American Legion Commander Cook County Council, Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Cook County Council, Spanish American War Veterans Commander Cook County Council, Disabled American War Veterans Commander The Order of the Purple Heart Commander The Legion of Valor President Navy League of the United States State Commander, Jewish War Veterans of the United States President Chicago Bar Association President Chicago Council of Social Agencies President Chicago Urban League Chairman Chicago Chapter, American Red Cross President Chicago Woman's Club President Chicago Federation of Women's Clubs President Chicago Council of Social Agencies President Catholic Charities of Chicago President Jewish Charities of Chicago President Salvation Army of Chicago President Traveler's Aid of Chicago President Y. M. C. A. of Chicago President Y. W. C. A. of Chicago The Commission functions through two important general committees: (1) an execu- tive committee; (2) an advisory committee. Various subcommittees of both groups will coordinate and carry forward the activity of the Commission. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE COMMISSION COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING: Laurance H. Armour H. Leslie Atlass Philip Arzig Mrs. George J. Aste Oscar C. Brown W. McCormick Blair Clifford W. Barnes Britton I. Budd Edward Eagle Brown Van A. Bittner E. A. Cudahy, Jr. Charlotte Carr Champ Carey C. S. Davis Karl Eitel Mrs. Howard W. Fenton Frank G. Fox Frank Folsom Charles F. Glore James E. Gorman George F. Getz Joel Goldblatt Arthur Hammerstein Frank A. Hathaway W. Homer Hartz Abraham Heller Mrs. Walter E. Heller B. E. Henderson Barnet Hodes Albert Kaufmann T. S. Knowlson M. H. Karker Michael Krokidas Anton Kamenjarin William W. Kelly Warren W. Kelly Ernest J. Kruetgen Nathaniel Leverone Frank D. Loomis Leverett S. Lyon Herbert J. Lorber Hughston M. McBain Eugene McDonald David Mayer, Jr. Oscar G. Mayer Mrs. L. Robert Mellin Sterling Morton Joseph W. North Victor Olander R. E. Pritchard Stuyvesant Peabody Karol Piatkiewicz Harris Perlstein Philip D. W. Peck I. K. (Charles) Rozmarek Frank C Rathje George W. Rossetter L. Hubbard Shattuck A. A. Sprague Mrs. William H. Stanley Elmer Stevens W. Ellis Stewart Kenneth J. Stanford B. E. Sunny Carroll H. Sudler, Jr. Silas Strawn Harold Swift William F. Thornton- Merle J. Trees Thomas E. Wilson Percy Wilson C. J. Whipple Albert H. Wetten Lawrence H. Whiting Philip K. Wrigley IOMMISSION ON NATIONAL DEFENSE * John F. Amberg Charles Amenta Abel Berland Victor J. Boyd Owen E. Brumbaugh Dr. F. M. Bulger Dr. Joshua M. Brown Robert L. Berryman A. J. Burke Lieut. H. S. Bottomley Dr. Lewis L. Brown Joseph Block R. C. Burger Carl G. Buck Mike Boyle Joseph Boose l Ken Brettman Clarence Biewald H. J. Blomgren Frank J. Bilek Frank S. Cacciatore Jasper Cunnea Harry F. Chaddick A. P. Conroy Dr. Cono Ciufia James W. Crane Eugene J. Czechorski Joseph Corley Frank Covert Gladys Cooke Leo Roy Cohen Geo. H. Cohlgraff Norman Davis Timothy Dunne Joseph L. DeLacour Harry W. Delano Michael Dwyer Ivar Ericson William Edwards Adolph Erhardt James D. Ellis Eric O. Erickson Lewis P. Emerling E. C. Fahner A. L. Feldman Chas. M. Fasan John M. Falasz Joseph E. Fitzgerald Leonard Fish Henning Feddersen Wade R. Franklin John C. Gordon Rev. Frederick L. Gratiot Otto Gorski William Gunner Gerald W. Getty Mrs. Albert B. George Franklin A. Hahn Witt Hanley John Haderlein John D. Harris Herbert Heidkamp Victor C. Haggenjos Norbert A. Heath George Holme John J. Hanberg Robert S. Harrison William J. Halligan Mrs. Patrick A. Hall Mrs. William A. Hoffman F. M. Iverson Marion W. Isbell Harvey Johnson Mrs. Edith Joyce R. M. Jones Norman W. Johnson Marjorie Stewart Joyner Sidney Kaufman James J. K. Kelly Catherine Kreuz Dr. Harry R. Keiser John F. Krause Harry Lambrecht Richard Lehmhoff Richard Lenihan Leo. A. Lerner Joseph F. Lees John Mannion Arthur P. Murphy Wallace MacClay Ben Mills Arthur McCarthy Al. C. Mayerson R. Lee McCann R. C. MacMullen Joseph Meersman William Murray Frank McGarr James H. Martin Michael O'Malley Wm. F. Morrissey Mrs. Ada S. McKinley James McKeague Justin McCarthy Emerson J. Morris Thomas W. Moore Mrs. Thomas Malzocher David Magee Andrew Nelson Patrick C. Noonan Ethel Osri Charles J. O'Laughlin Edward W. Parlee, Jr. Dr. Samuel Perlman Charles O. Porter J. Peck Clarence Poffenberger John Quinlan John Quigley Winifred Pleimling Frank Rainey Joseph Rolewski George X. Rosenthal Mrs. Earl R. Reynolds Frank Reynolds Rev. Vincent Schaltinga A. R. Sansone Arthur Schimmel Leonard Lambs Serdiuk Ludwig Sussman Anna Steinborn Charles F. Scully Dennis Sherwin Dr. Valentine Siedlinski Fred Slater John M. Smyth James E. Smith Oscar R. Smith David Saper Robert J. Stadler Mrs. Julius Stone Carl Stockholm Henry W. Smith Louis Tops Dr. M. D. Traxler George Tormoehlen E. A. Umlauf Henry Voelker Clarence W. Wermich James Watkins Eva T. Wells Mrs. Bertha Van Wakeman Dr. Emmett R. Watts Joseph Willens The program of The Chicago Commission on National Defense calls for participation by every community in Chicago. All civic, cultural, fraternal and business organizations in the city are invited to be represented on the Organizations Voluntary Participation Committee of the Commission. For purposes of operation, the city has been divided in accord with the following divisions: Neighborhoods represented through members of the Advisory Committee and by various organizations include the following: NORTH SIDE DIVISION SOUTH SIDE DIVISION Near North Side Uptown-Clark Chicago Lawn Laketown Lincoln Park Ravenswood Clearing Town of Lake Clark-Diversey Lincoln Square Brighton Park Tri-Park West Lakeview Devon-Sheridan Archer Heights Stony Island Park East Lakeview Northtown Englewood Woodlawn Sheridan Center Rogers Park-Clark St. Gage Park McKinley Park North Center Howard Business District Hyde Park South Shore Central Uptown Indian Boundary Kenwood Chatham Edgewater Lincoln-Fullerton Bridgeport Grand Crossing Clark-Devon Armour Square Chesterfield Marquette Avalon Park NORTHWEST DIVISION Oakland Ogden Hill Pekin Douglas Albany Park Irving Park Stockyards Washington Park Avondale Jefferson Park Belmont-Cragin Logan Square Edgebrook-Forest Glen- Sauganash North Park Norwood Park Portage Park Mayfair Milwaukee-Armitage- Western Hanson Park Mont Clare SOUTHWEST END DIVISION Beverly Hills Mount Greenwood Auburn Park Ada Wicker Park Edison Park Wrightwood-Fuli.f.rton- Armitage Gresham Brainard Fernwood MORGAN rARK Washington Heights WEST SIDE DIVISION Northwest Town Near West Side SOUTHEAST END DIVISION West Town North Lawndale Austin South Lawndale South Chicago Hegewisch West Garfield Park Lower West Side East Side Calumet Heights East Garfield Park South Deerino SOUTH END DIVISION Pullman West Pullman ROSELAND Riverdale « MAP SHOWING COMMUNITIES REPRESENTED IN THE CHICAGO COMMISSION ON NATIONAL DEFENSE LEGEND 1. NORTH SIDE 2. NORTH WEST SIDE 3. WEST SIDE 4. SOUTH SIDE 5. SOUTH EAST END 6. SOUTH WEST END 7. SOUTH END The above map indicates boundaries of communities in Chicago. One of the largest and finest centers of its type in the nation, the Chicago Service Men's Center represents a contribution of the Chicago Commission on National Defense to our civic and national morale. On August 7, 1941, Mayor Edward J. Kelly, chairman of the Chicago Commission on National Defense, with Rear Admiral John Downes of the U. S. Navy and Major General Joseph M. Cummins of the U. S. Army, formally opened and dedicated the Chicago Service Men's Center. A list of the facilities and activities to be offered by the Service Men's Center follows: TRAVELER'S AID SOCIETY Booth located on lobby floor; public service in- formation; any and all problems of Service men and their families; Free tickets to various events, including theatres, movies, concerts, lectures, sporting events, bowling alleys, tours, skating rinks, Art Institute, Field Museum, Radio broadcasts, Adler Planetarium, parties at other centers for groups, dinners, dances, home and church entertainments. GRAND BALLROOM Saturday night dancing, Music and entertain- ment furnished by service clubs, organizations, camps, etc. CHECKING SERVICE Service men's duffle bags, handbags, etc., to be maintained free of charge. ENTERTAINMENT Theatrical groups to stage performances in ballroom or auditorium. Special performances for Service Men only at Chicago theaters, etc. SUPERVISION OF HOSTESSES, ETC. Providing for selected hostesses for Service Center activities and the furnishing of groups of same or entertainers to camps asking for such service. PERPETUAL ART EXHIBIT SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS Paintings and drawings loaned to Center by individual artists of Chicago, Perpetual art exhibit to be maintained on lobby floor lounge PERPETUAL CAMERA EXHIBIT Leading camera clubs of Chicago to maintain perpetual rotating exhibit of outstanding prints. CRAFTS AND INSTRUCTIONS Trained recreational personnel to give instruc- tions in metalcraft, handicraft, etc. Also in dancing, cards, art, and games. Dormitories on ninth, tenth and eleventh floors, each floor to accommodate about fifty men, sleeping two or three men to a room. Cots and blankets furnished. Small service charge for use of same. SHOWER BATHS To be located in basement. GAMES AND AMUSEMENTS Pool, billiards, archery, checkers, chess, bridge and other cards, table tennis, table baseball, indoor golf, indoor golf driving range, punch and judy, movies, darts, etc. The Center is splendidly furnished through dona- tions of patriotic citizens and business organizations. Chairman, Service Men's Center Committee: Frank D. Loomis Vice Chairman: Frank A. Hathaway CHICAGO COMMISSION ON NATIONAL DEFENSE 495