NJDARM: Archives Collection Guides: American Fair Exhibit Commission, Report, Photographs of Displays, Press Releases, etc., 1931

Record Group:	American Fair Exhibit Commission
Series:	Report, Photographs of Displays, Press Releases, etc., 1931
Accession #:	1993.060
Series #:	SZAMF001
Guide Date:	7/1993 (JK)
Volume:	0.25 c.f. [1 box]

Content Note | Contents

Legislative History

The "American Fair" was established during the summer of 1930 in Convention Hall, Atlantic City, as a national exposition of industrial and agricultural products. The state's participation the following year was authorized by an act of the legislature, passed 27 April 1931, which created New Jersey's American Fair Exhibit Commission (Laws of 1931, chap. 21). The commission, consisting of three members appointed by the governor, was to supervise the production of exhibits suitably representing the fair's host state. For the job, Gov. Morgan F. Larson chose Charles D. White (chairman), Harry Hackney (vice chairman), and John E. Beer (secretary).

In the next few months, the commission arranged for displays by most of the departments of state government and several permanent state commissions (see below). During the 1931 season, 16 July to 26 August, an estimated 1,168,725 visitors attended the fair. The commission made its official report to Gov. Larson on September 3rd, noting that the cost of participation by the state amounted to $19,000, though $25,000 had been appropriated.

Content Note

Included in the records of the American Fair Commission are: the report to Gov. Larson, 3 September 1931; forty-two photographs of displays by state government agencies; press releases; and the opening dinner program. Originally bound together in one volume presented to the governor, these items have been foldered (for the purposes of preservation) as shown below.

Contents

a.

Report of the commissioners to Gov. Morgan F. Larson, 3 September 1931.

b.

42 B&W photographs of state agency displays by the Firestone Photo Service of Atlantic City, 8"x10"
on canvas backing:

	1-2.		Introductory display.
	3-5.		Gov. Morgan F. Larson, Mayor Harry Bacharach, and unknown man.
	6-9.		Department of Conservation and Development display (installed by State Museum; includes New Jersey Forest Fire Service).
	10-15.		Fish and Game Department display.
	16-18.		Department of Motor Vehicles display.
	19-20.		State Highway Commission display.
	21.		Traffic Commission display.
	22.		State Police Department display.
	23-24.		Shell Fisheries Department display.
	25-31.		Department of Health display.
	32.		New Jersey Extension Service in Home Economics display.
	33.		Department of Agriculture display.
	34.		Agricultural Experiment Station display.
	35.		Public Library Commission display.
	36.		Rehabilitation Commission display.
	37-38.		Department of Public Instruction display.
	39-40.		Department of Institutions and Agencies display.
	41.		Department of Labor display.
	42.		Civil Service Commission display.

c.

Press releases.

	1.		22 June 1931 [re: opening of state exhibit].
	2.		28 June 1931 [re: Shell Fisheries Department display].
	3.		3 July 1931 [re: Department of Motor Vehicles/Traffic Commission displays].
	4.		7 July 1931 [re: Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Experiment Station displays].
	5.		11 July 1931 [re: opening ceremonies].
	6.		[1-?] July 1931 [re: Department of Conservation and Development/Fish and Game Department displays].
	7.		22 July 1931 [re: Public Library Commission display].
	8.		30 July 1931 [re: Department of Health display].
	9.		1 August 1931 [re: Department of Education display].
	10.		15 August 1931 [re: Department of Institutions and Agencies/ Civil Service Commission displays].
	11.		22 August 1931 [re: State Police Department display].

d.

Program, opening dinner sponsored by the commission, Hackney's Restaurant, Atlantic City, [16 July 1931].

e.

Original report cover.

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Created April 2004

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