Rutgers Defense Council Records

The Rutgers Defense Council was initiated in response to the threat of enemy action against U.S. coastal residents during World War II. Creation of the council was authorized by university President Robert C. Clothier on December 7, 1941 to safeguard life and property on Rutgers' New Brunswick campuses. The Rutgers Preparatory School and New Brunswick Theological Seminary were also included in the program. The program was disbanded on June 14, 1945.

Chaired by Dean Norman C. Miller, Rutgers divisions represented on the council included: College of Agriculture, College of Engineering, New Jersey College for Women, New Jersey College of Pharmacy, School of Education, University College and University Extension Division. Council members communicated regularly regarding the administrative arrangements required to secure the university.

Important priorities for the Rutgers Defense Council were the assessment of fire equipment, evaluation of potential air raid shelters in university buildings, testing and upgrading of the university's alarm system, and establishment of blackout and air raid procedures. Plans were also made for the training of an auxiliary fire corps, for police training, and for voluntary first aid classes for students and employees.

The university received guidance from the U.S. Office of Civilian Defense, which outlined areas to be addressed by all university defense organizations. Communications from this office stressed fire fighting, air raid shelters and procedures, civilian training in emergency medical care and fire fighting, and maintenance of civilian morale.

Accomplishment of these tasks was not a simple matter. It was determined that there was insufficient shelter space in university buildings, and that the alarm signals in New Brunswick were inadequate for Rutgers' campuses. In addition, the university had no central power station or switch control panel, and a limited number of night watchmen, all of which complicated blackout preparations.

There were also the more intangible problems of uncertainty and upheaval, as the student population became subject to conscription, and enlisted in large numbers. According to Rutgers historian Richard P. McCormick, the faculty faced "unfamiliar burdens and bewilderment, along with an often-frustrated eagerness to make a positive contribution to the nation's war effort."(1) In the Statement of Rutgers Defense Council (January 9, 1942), Dean Miller recognized that a transient and constantly changing student population could not serve in an ongoing civil defense capacity. He stated "the university must rely primarily upon its permanent force such as janitors, guards and buildings men, together with such permanent clerical or staff men as may be available."

Nevertheless, by June 15, 1943 Miller was able to write to President Clothier that "there are no immediate problems awaiting solution."(2) Regulations had been imposed to curtail campus evening activities, air raid shelters had been designated, and successful practise blackouts had been completed. About 200 and bomb-spray pumps had been distributed throughout the New Brunswick campuses, and first aid and fire training programs had been held.

Council members were discharged on June 14, 1945 with the thanks of President Clothier for their efforts.

(1) See Richard P. McCormick, Rutgers: A Bicentennial History (New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers, the State University, 1966), p. 257. (2) Rutgers Defense Council Records, Box 1, Folders 2 and 4.