Report of the Chief of the Weather Bureau

The meteorological service was transferred from the U.S. Army Signal Corps to the Department of Agriculture in 1891, and funds were made available to increase the distribution of forecasts and storm warnings in the agricultural districts of the country. Professor Mark W. Harrington from the University of Michigan faculty was appointed the first civilian Chief of the Weather Bureau. In 1940 the Weather Bureau was transferred to the Department of Commerce.

A Special Report, dated October 1, 1891, which included a general summary of the operations of the Weather Bureau since its transfer, was submitted by the Chief of the Weather Bureau to the Honorable J. M. Rusk, Secretary, Department of Agriculture. Since that initial report, each subsequent annual report features both the practical and theoretical aspects of the work of the Bureau: forecasts, warnings, weather maps, flood and frost warnings, climate research, meteorological records, the State Weather Services, instruments, soil physics, crop conditions, and more.

Report of the Chief of the Weather Bureau was submitted by Professor Mark W. Harrington, 1891-1894; Professor Willis L. Moore, 1895-1913; Professor Charles F. Marvin, 1913-1934; Dr. Willis L. Gregg, 1934-1938; and Dr. Francis W. Reichelderfer, 1938-1963.

Scope of Coverage

The NOAA Central Library maintains the Report of the Chief of the Weather Bureau for the period 1891-1953. The following reports are missing from this collection: 1894, 1902, 1927, 1932, 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1952.

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