This collection contains federal examination announcements and job descriptions for jobs with the Civil Service from 1949 to 1950. Jobs listed range from support staff to professionial positions in a variety of fields including agriculture, biological sciences, communications, engineering, geology, mathematics, and nursing. Directions and sample questions for some examinations are also included.
The United States Civil Service Commission was established by the Civil Service Act of 1883. The Commission replaced the “spoils system” and democratized the process of hiring for federal jobs; first, because it required that these positions be filled through competitive examinations which were open to all citizens; second, because it required selection of the best-qualified applicants without regard to political considerations. In 1978 the Civil Service Commission was reorganized and renamed the Office of Personnel Management.
The United States Civil Service Commission was established by the Civil Service Act of 1883. The Commission replaced the “spoils system” and democratized the process of hiring for federal jobs; first, because it required that these positions be filled through competitive examinations which were open to all citizens; second, because it required selection of the best-qualified applicants without regard to political considerations.
During World War II, the need for federal employees resulted in an increase in hiring. The number of employees which was about 800,000 strong in 1938, increased to almost 4,000,000 by 1945. However, many of the war-time positions were temporary. During the period after the war, the number of federal employees was reduced, with war-service and temporary appointees being displaced.
The Classification Act of 1949 contained many important features which had long been recommended by the Commission. Among other provisions, it established new and simplified schedules of grades and salaries; provided for three new grade levels at the top of the classification structure; and delegated to each agency the authority to classify its own positions, below the three highest grades. The new Classification Act provided for bringing about 20,000 additional positions under its provisions, and covered about 885,000 positions in the departmental and field services of the Government.
When the Korean emergency began, the federal service was again faced with urgent recruiting needs. To meet this need, the Commission instructed its operating offices to establish boards of examiners to the maximum practical extent. Boards of examiners demonstrated, during the emergency, that they could do a huge competitive recruiting job with speed and effectiveness.
In 1951, the Commission invited agencies to establish boards of examiners in their headquarters offices to give them a greater opportunity to participate in the selection of their own personnel and to get improved and faster recruiting services. After the armistice in Korea, there was a very substantial decrease in the size of the federal workforce. However, the board of examiners program continued to play a large and vital role in the operations of the competitive civil service system.
In 1978 the Civil Service Commission was reorganized and renamed the Office of Personnel Management.
This collection contains federal examination announcements and job descriptions for jobs with the United States Civil Service from 1949 to 1950. Jobs listed range from support staff to professionial positions in a variety of fields including agriculture, biological sciences, communications, engineering, geology, mathematics, and nursing. Directions and sample questions for some examinations are also included.
The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.
[Identification of item], United States Civil Service Commission Announcements and Other Papers, MC 00025, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Processed by Aaron Cusick, 2009 September; Encoded by Aaron Cusick, 2009 September
After review, access to the digital copies may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
The Special Collections Research Center, NC State University Libraries, has digital copies of some or all of these materials.
After review, access to the digital copies may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
The Special Collections Research Center, NC State University Libraries, has digital copies of some or all of these materials.
After review, access to the digital copies may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
The Special Collections Research Center, NC State University Libraries, has digital copies of some or all of these materials.
This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.
For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.
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[Identification of item], United States Civil Service Commission Announcements and Other Papers, MC 00025, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.
