The Recording of World War II

Extract

The nation at war, in mobilizing its total resources, has called increasingly upon political scientists to contribute their efforts in the public service. In most instances, the political scientist serving the federal government has not come in directly under the banner of his own profession, even though his training may be highly pertinent to his immediate responsibilities. Those who are associated with the historical records program, however, have been especially able to relate their previous preparation to their present work in the federal agencies.

This expanding program reflects the growing appreciation of the need for a full understanding of the way in which the war is being conducted by both military and civilian agencies. Not only is there a widespread desire for more adequate records than we possess of previous wars, but there is also the conviction on the part of many officials that the immediate funding of our administrative experience is essential to successful formulation and execution of policy. While adequate records as an indispensable tool of good management serve current utility, at the same time they contribute to the longer-run task of creating a full and objective account of American participation in World War II. From the standpoint of future study of government and public administration, the work on war records which has been initiated in the federal government shows distinct promise.