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Ariano Waiker
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The Central Files Department maintained the core administrative records of the New York World's Fair 1939 /1940 Corporation and served as a vital resource to the hundreds of executives and administrators responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Fair. With few exceptions, the over two-dozen organizational units were required to file significant correspondence and memoranda in Central Files for reference or documentation purposes. Only materials deemed to be of a confidential nature or constituting part of the working records of a department were withheld and maintained within departmental files. At the peak operating period, the eleven employees who staffed the Central Files unit received and managed thousands of documents a week.
Correspondence sent to Central Files was classified, indexed, filed by subject and then cross-referenced by name of individual and organization in an alphabetically-arranged Master Card Index. The card index both facilitated rapid retrieval and guided the clerical staff in the classification and indexing of the steady influx of new documents. The files were arranged by the Fair employees according to a hierarchically-structured, decimal-based classification system that at the highest level, divided into five major units under the headings of Administration, Construction, Maintenance, Participation, Public Relations. This original filing scheme -- which offers insights into the Fair's office management practices and serves as a model of mid-twentieth century recordkeeping systems -- has been preserved along with an electronic version of the card index (worldsfair.nypl.org) providing item-level access to well over one million documents.
There is some overlap of topics between the five sections, so carefully read all the notes to determine which records you may need to consult. The subject headings and associated alpha-numeric codes that appear in the scope notes serve as pointers to the location of the referenced material. For a fuller explanation of utilizing the filing system see: Conducting Research in the Central Files.
This section contains material related to the formation and financing of the Corporation and its functional organization and structure; the internal management, duties and responsibilities of the various divisions, departments and organizational units; the co-ordination of activities between units; and information governing corporate policies and standards. In their totality, these records reflect the ever-evolving organizational structure, the changes in departmental mandates, and the shifting vision of Fair officials between the 1939 and 1940 seasons.
General information on the reclamation of the Corona dump for the Fair ground site, the origins of the Corporation, along with narrative reports and statistical fact sheets are available under the heading of Corporate History [A0.5]. The correspondence of NYWF President Grover Whalen, with its many letters from the public, captures the exuberance and expectancy in the run-up to the opening of the first season and also includes biographical sketches and clippings [A1.100, President]. Communications from Chairman of the Board Harvey D. Gibson, who replaced Whalen at the helm of the Fair for the 1940 season, is located throughout this section; some discrete files of his terse exchanges on cost-cutting can be found under the Board of Director's files [A1.000]. Information on the physical and thematic plan for the Fair and early formulations of the focal exhibits are filed under the heading of Board of Design [A1.13]. The Board's A to Z files contain correspondence between Stephen Voorhees (Chairman of the Board of Design), Robert Kohn (Chairman of the Committee on Theme) and architects and other Fair planners. Additional Kohn correspondence relates to the replacement of the Soviet Pavilion with the Fair-operated American Common exhibit for the 1940 season [A1.130 Committee on Theme]. Also here are photographs and reports on exhibit design and logistical information pertaining to the Paris Exposition. [Additional information on these topics can be found in the Construction and Public Relations sections of Central files].
Elsewhere meeting and conference files offer information about anticipated changes to the Fair from the 1939 to 1940 seasons, including the lowered price of admission; alteration of the theme; and development of amusements and exhibits with greater mass appeal [A1.1520, Exhibits Department]. The Progress Reports provide bi-weekly accounts of the planning and activities of many of the Fair's organizational units from the President's office down. Both statistical and narrative in content, these reports offer a concise review of the workings of the Fair at a departmental level [A1.14]. Finally, under the heading of Corporate Policies there are files related to decency protests documenting complaints against the \"grind\" shows and pervasive nudity in the Amusement Zone; appeals to Fair officials from individuals writing from Germany, Hungary, and Poland for assistance in obtaining entry visas to the United States; and a file titled Negro Policy detailing public protests stemming from the Fair's employment practices [A4].
Documents regarding the development of the Fairgrounds with emphasis upon its planning and design are filed under this heading. This correspondence and reports in this section chronicle the work of the architects, engineers, artists and industrial designers who shaped the total environment of the Fair. This section also contains extensive material related to the thematic content of the Fair, as well as preliminary studies detailing the conception and execution of the iconic Trylon and Perisphere structures of the Fair's Theme Center [C1.0, Design] and the seven focal zones developed by the Fair [C1.02, Focal Exhibits].
Among other materials to be found here are files on the Contemporary Art Exhibit, with extensive correspondence between Fair officials and artists submitting their work for display [C1.0114, Fine & Applied Arts]. Ernest Peixotto served as consultant for mural painting under the Board of Design and his correspondence addressing the selection of artists and discussions on content and style can be found under the heading of Murals [C1.6]. Information on the infrastructure of the Fairgrounds and the creation of roads, bridges and subway lines undertaken in conjunction with the Fair are also documented in this section [C3.0 - C3.85]; notable is Robert Moses' correspondence regarding the improvement of highways and the creation of the Grand Central Parkway extension [C3.403, Streets and Roads].
Items in this section address the general operation of the Fair, with special consideration of the upkeep and protection of property, as well as matters related to public safety and welfare during the Fair period. Included are New York City Department of Public Health Reports [Public Health, M1.0] addressing plumbing, food handlers, meat inspection, and insect control in the reclaimed marshland; files on the first aid stations, which treated sprains, heat exhaustion and gastric discomfort - the latter being the most frequent Fairground malady [Medical Services, M1.02]; fire protection procedures including transcripts of a hearing that took place to investigate a warehouse fire [Fire Protection, M1.10]; and the Lost and Found files dealing both with missing property and wayward children [M1.12].
The flow of vehicles and pedestrians through the Fair was a significant concern of Fair officials and discussions on how to alleviate congestion of walk-ways can be found under the heading of Intra-Mural Traffic [M1.42]. This unit of Central Files also contains material related to the closing of the Fair, including recommendations from the public about possible future uses for Flushing Meadow Park [M2., Demolition]; and information about the removal of sculptures and murals [M2.20, Sculpture; M2.21, Murals] can be found here.
The section documents the solicitation of and granting of rights to foreign and domestic governments, corporations, organizations and individuals to participate in the Fair as exhibitors, concessionaires, vendors, performers and amusement operators. The documents here address the proposal process, contract negotiations, approvals for design and construction, and the planning of special events. While the focus is chiefly on logistical issues surrounding participation, such as space rental, financial arrangements, and maintenance, these files also reveal aspects of the development of the thematic and artistic content of proposed and accepted exhibits and concessions.
Intimations of the unfolding conflict in Europe can be found in the files on Foreign participation including correspondence related to the status of the Czechoslovakian pavilion following that country's invasion by German troops in March, 1939. Files on Germany include letters of public protest responding to the rumored inclusion of a German pavilion, with similar outcry being raised over Soviet participation [P0.3, Foreign]. An extensive section under the heading of Fisheries covers efforts to solicit international participation from commercial and sporting sectors of the fishing and marine industries. There are files on hatcheries, pearl and shell manufacturing, diving and public education [P1.530, Fisheries]. Included under the heading of Amusements are proposals for exhibits, acts and other entertainments. These are well documented in the abundant publicity photographs, flyers and posters. Among these are rides, circus and vaudeville performances, musical reviews and pageants, minstrel shows and aerial acts. A dozen files titled Criticisms include correspondence from visitors registering complaints about vulgar shows, high prices and false advertising [P1.6, Amusements]. Material filed under D.W.F. documents Salvador Dali's \"Dream of Venus\" exhibit and includes an early proposal along with information on Dali's involvement with the project [P1.630, Side Shows]. Gathered under the heading of Freaks [P1.637] and suggestive of the financial desperation of the times is correspondence from individuals seeking payment to display their deformities or those of their children at the Fair. A section on Restaurants [P1.680] chiefly includes information on the leasing of space, construction, violations, repairs, and reports of public dissatisfaction.
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