Pennsylvania Defense Council News

The Pennsylvania State Council of Defense, also referred to as the Pennsylvania Council of National Defense, was a Commonwealth civilian organization started during World War I, in March 1917. Cooperating with the Federal Council of National Defense and advising the governor, the Council assisted civilian affairs such as business and wartime industry to ensure safety and security in Pennsylvania. The Council also worked to promote war bonds, drafting, Red Cross initiatives, and other aspects vital to wartime efforts. The Council was essential in organizing the Commonwealth's industrial and civilian personnel for wartime preparations in the years preceding and during World War II. The organization was phased out in post-war years in favor of other organizations, such as the State Council of Civil Defense resulting from federal legislation.

The newsletters of the Pennsylvania State Council of Defense found here are of the World War II era, dated between 1941 to 1945. The digitized newsletter holdings are split between these issues and issues found on the Internet Archive, also made available by the State Library of Pennsylvania.