Johnstown Flood, 1936 Mimeograph Report
Edward Caswell Shannon, Major-General; Pennsylvania. Militia.; Pennsylvania. Governor (1935-1939). Report of Military Activities in Flood Emergency Relief, March 18 to April 4th, 1936.
Scarce. $450
This is a very uncommon and exhaustive summary of the Pennsylvania state response to the disastrous “Johnstown Flood” of 1936, covering the period March 18 through April 14, 1936. There is a 91-lv section with an hour-by-hour summary of responses by the PA National Guard as well as general announcements that they were reacting to.
11” x 8.5”, 113 leaves (printed one side only). Offset printed—no indicator of printer or author. I suspect that this wasn't so much a “publication” as it was a circular. Gathered at top with a two-pronged metal clasp and in the original heavy manila binder. The text is a solid VG, though the binder has seen better days, as it has dings and tears. The text has been pulled away from the rear of the manila back cover. Overall, still VG.
A typewritten annotation on the homemade/typed paper label on the front cover states “Copy #33”.
NO copies located in WorldCat (currently; an older Google search found two copies listed).
Provenance: Library of Congress, with their tiny 6mm “LC” perforated stamp on the foot of page one and their LC surplus rubber stamp on front top corner page 1.
3pp introduction, followed by:
Overview of troops dispatched and help given, pp 4-9. All 15 sections and commands (Johnstown and Pittsburgh) were evaluated in nine categories of aid and help rendered (including a “remarks”) section, including data of the troops deployed (designated) and who they reported to, area under water (city blocks and %); how many homeless there were and how they how the homeless were fed, clothed, and who housed by.
The next section is a listing of city and government officials and who they reported to and for, pp 10-11, along with a graph of deployment if PA National Guard.
General Order #2: Flood Emergency Mobilization, Flood Emergency Commendation, pp 12-
The last section is a 10pp tabular listing ofg the every day use of the National Guard during the flood emergency, including the units; deployment duties; types of military personnel, location, and casualties.
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