Check the History Day site.
Here are some very broad ideas to get you started. When you have a focused idea, let us know and we'll see what we might have.
These are examples of some resources covering communication in general.
A Culture of Secrecy
by
LIBGUIDE: "The government is hiding information from its citizens-or so most Americans believe. While even some members of Congress now call for greater access to classified documents, federal agencies continue to withhold a massive amount of information in the name of national security, maintaining a culture of secrecy rooted in the Cold War. This new book examines who in government is hiding what from the rest of us, how they're doing it, and why it should matter to all of us. Contributing scholars, journalists, and attorneys survey the policies of federal intelligence agencies and presidents--notably Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton-to keep information secret. They show how these agencies have gone far beyond legitimate security needs to withhold information, and they describe the frustrations and costs encountered in their own efforts to obtain classified information. The authors review important cases exemplifying State Department, agency, and presidential efforts to withhold, destroy, or delay release of these records. In chapters centering on the Kennedy assassination, the Nixon tapes, and the FBI's files on John Lennon and the Supreme Court justices, readers will find an abundance of startling and disturbing revelations. By citing some of the methods used by agencies like the CIA, NSA, NSC, and FBI to circumvent the Freedom of Information Act--often with the cooperation of the judicial system--these essays clearly show that abuses of secrecy aren't limited to the withholding of information but extend to the absurd lengths taken to avoid disclosure."
The Committee on Public Information (CPI) is often called the Creel Committee, after Chairman George Creel. Sometimes it is called the Public Information Commission. Try searching additional terms as a phrase.
The National Archives site (NARA) states (see link below): "The Committee on Public Information (CPI) was established by Executive Order 2594 as an independent agency in April 1917. The Committee consisted of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of the Navy as ex officio members. Its functions were to release news of the government, issue information to sustain domestic morale, and to publicize America abroad. Domestic activities were discontinued after the Armistice in November 1918 and foreign operations were discontinued in June 1919."
Executive Order 3154 obsoletes Executive Order 2594 of April 14, 1917, which created the Committee on Public Information.
According to Words That Won the War (1939, see link below for more details), only about 25 % of the records of the CPI survived to be transferred to NARA (National Archives) in 1937 and "The Committee was so widespread in its ramifications that the collection touches nearly all phases of American and world affairs for the years 1917 to 1919." (p.viii).
The CPI had a foreign division and a home front division. Chronicling America might be a good resource to see how CPI put its message forth in newspapers.
Related: Woodrow Wilson, Military Intelligence Branch, Four Minute Men.
Note: Before World War II (WWII), World War I (WWI) was called The Great War, The War to End All Wars, The World War , and other such names. It was not called WWI until after there was a second world war. Be sure to use variations in your subject terms when researching.
Be sure to search our catalog for Committee on Public Information. These are only a few examples of what we have.
Not all of our older documents are in our library catalog, so please contact us if you are looking for a specific federal publication or need help finding older state and/or federal documents.
The "State Defense Council is Connecticut Agency of Federal Government. Appointed by Governor Marcus H. Holcomb to Mobilize State's Resources for War and Make Them Available to United States - It is Official Connecticut Arm of Council of National Defense." (Connecticut Bulletin, Vol. 1, no.1. July 13, 1917, p.1). The Council of National Defense was established by an act of Congress August 29, 1916. On April 26, 1917 Governor Holcomb issued a proclamation that appointed people to the newly formed state level council. His authority to do so came from Chapter 44 of the Public Acts of 1917. County and town auxiliary committees were also formed. More detail can be found in Connecticut Bulletin, Vol. 1, no.1. July 13, 1917 (ConnDoc St291c).
Be sure to check our catalog and digital collections for more resources. Those selected below focus on the 2021 theme of communication, for the most part. Many items have been digitized.
Here are a few examples of resources that show Connecticut through magazines, news, movies, etc.
Check the guides and pages on using newspapers, and the page for other institutions' digital collections.
See separate guides and pages for newspapers.
Country Acres and Cul-De-Sacs
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You can also do a subject search in Primo, our library catalog for slang.
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