Virginia Council of Defense Records, 1917 - 1918

File — Box: SF073

Staff Only

Records of Superintendent Edward W. Nichols relating to the operation of the first Virginia Council of Defense during World War I. Nichols was Chairman of the first Council.

Dates

1917 - 1918

Creator

Nichols, E. W. (Edward West), 1858-1927 (Person)

Extent

1 boxes

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

The Council of National Defense was created by an act of Congress on 29 August 1916 to coordinate all national resources pertaining to the mobilization and maintenance of the United States armed forces. After the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, the federal government requested that each state create a State Council of Defense to carry out the duties of the National Council. To comply with this request, Virginia Governor Henry Carter Stuart created an several state councils, including the Virginia Council of Defense (26 April 1917 )headed by Gen. Edward W. Nichols of VMI. In addition to Nichols, members included: General Edward W. Nichols, Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute; L.E. Johnson, President of the Norfolk and Western Railway Company; R. Walton Moore, United States Representative; Homer L. Ferguson, President of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company; Colonel Elijah B. White; Rev. Collins Denny; Dr. Ennion G. Williams, State Health Commissioner; James O. Winston; Richard Evelyn Byrd; D. Lawrence Groner; George B. Keezell; John H. Crockett; Jesse M. Jones; and A.P. Walker.

The structure was reorganized by Governor Westmoreland Davis in February 1918 under the Second Virginia Council of Defense.