VICTORY GARDEN COMMITTEE
ORGANIZATION

Helen Marshall Eliason, Chairman, Victory Garden Committee,
War Services, Pennsylvania State Council of Defense

  Victory Garden activities were begun in Pennsylvania almost simultaneously under two auspices, a staff member of The Pennsylvania State College appointed at the suggestion of the United States Secretary of Agriculture, and the State Council of Defense as a part of the Consumer Interests Committee. In order to centralize activities in this field, the leaders of the two groups called a conference on January 22, 1942, for the purpose of making recommendations concerning a State-wide organization. This was done by recommending a Victory Garden Advisory Committee as a part of the organization of the Pennsylvania State Council of Defense.

  On recommendations of this conference, in which were represented the State Council of Defense, the State Department of Agriculture, of Public Instruction, of Health, and of Public Assistance, the United States Department of Agriculture State War Board, The Pennsylvania State College, the School of Horticulture at Ambler, the National Farm School, the American Red Cross, Boy and Girl Scouts, various commercial and amateur horticultural associations, the seed trade, the fertilizer trade, and service clubs and organizations, an Advisory Victory Garden Committee was appointed by Dr. A. C. Marts, executive director of the State Council of Defense, with representatives of the agencies and organizations just listed as members, and with Mrs. H. B. Eliason as chairman and Dr. Warren B. Mack as executive secretary. An order was issued by Dr. Marts to County Councils of Defense to set up county and local Victory Garden Committees, which is quoted herewith to explain the composition and general functions of these committees.