Evening star., 1941-12-19
U. 5. May Build
Vaults 10 Guard
Vital Papers
Survey Under Way
To Protect Relics
From Bombs


Federal and private agencies has
been named to survey needs for
the protection of important docu-
ments necessary to the conduct OF
the Government 1t is estimated
that 13,458,373 cubic feet of space
is occupied here, by such papers and
museum pieces.
Consideration is being given the
proposed construction of at least
two bomb-resistant shelters in
nearby areas for these vital objects.
1t is not planned to move the
Governments files to which daily
reference must be made. They will
be kept open but under better
safety provisions, it was said.
England's Experience Cited.
1t has been urged that at least
one of the proposed bomb-resistant
shelters be made of material recon-
mended by those who have viewed
damage in Great Britain. This
vault would house documents and
objects deemed Of vital importance
to the Nation.
Classification has been made In
these categories: records, books.
paintings. museum objects; each in
dexed according to whether the ma
terial must be kept on hand daily
for reference, held in readiness for
occasional consultation, and those
which may be stored away for the
| duration of the war.
In this connection, it was pointed
out that the United States does not
intend to repeat the mistakes made
by Great Britain when that nation
during the hysteria of the early va.
days, destroyed as wastepaper many
valuable documents which were &C
tually needed for the conduct OF
national affairs.
All Agencies Covered.
Ofhcially designated as the Com
mittee on Conservation Of Cultura
Resources, the group has tabulateo
cultural, scientific, and historical
material here with the view to hav.
ing a definite pattern worked out
for the emergency use of these items
The broad survey. just completed
covered all Federal agencies located
here as well as such private deposi.
tories as the Freer. Corcoran, Folgel
and the Phillips Memorial Art Gal.
leries.
1t was noted in the survey thai
the White House had 5000 cubic
feet Of material on hand, but tina
these were of the current files ane
were not selected for deposit in ar
out-of-town shelter. The larges
was the General Accounting ONO,
with 1,768, ,658 cubic feet of spac,
occupied; followed by the Smith,
sonian Institution with 1853, ,783
Veterans Administration, l,004, ,378
War Department, TAG, ,440; and Nav,
Department, 656,228.
Materials essential to an agenc,
In the performance of its function.
must be given protection for thai
reason alone regardless of historical
cultural or scientific value, it wa.
stated. Materials not essential te
the agency in the performance of it.
functions need only be given pro.
lection if of scientific, historical. OF
cultural value, and the degree OF
protection may vary with the de.
gree OF value, the committee wa,
warned at the time the survey wa.
initiated
Protective Measures.
The Government has informed
archivists, librarians, manuscript
custodians, public records official,
and museum directors that it viii
assist in taking protective meas
ures" for the care of valuable docu
ments and cultural materials dur.
Ing the emergency Further. i
was recommended that each loca
group establish committees which
should Immediately confer with thu
director OF the State Defense Coun.
Gil and the State Works Project
Administrator to develop an appro
pirate program of action"
The conservation committee con.
sists OF public and private agencies
from the Office of Civilian Defense
National Archives, Library of Con.
gress, Smithsonian Institution, Wa
Department, National Park Serv
ice, Public Buildings Administra
ton, American Library Association
American Association of Museums
American Institute of Architects
Society Of American Archivists ant
the American Council Of Learned
CnriofioS