–527-1,073 Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.

— 527 Excessive Heat. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the [US] 1939, Part I. p. 27.[2]

Summary of State Breakout Below

Alabama 14

Arizona 15

Arkansas 27

California 546 (Los Angeles area, Sep 15-23 heat wave, excess deaths.)

Connecticut 2

District of Col. 2

Florida 7

Georgia 10

Idaho 1

Illinois 32

Indiana 14

Iowa 8

Kansas 22

Kentucky 15

Louisiana 15

Maine 2

Maryland 8

Massachusetts 6

Michigan 10

Minnesota 7

Mississippi 9

Missouri 37

Montana 1

Nebraska 16

Nevada 1

New Hampshire 3

New Jersey 12

New York 18

North Carolina 8

North Dakota 3

Ohio 27

Oklahoma 18

Pennsylvania 16 Utah 1

Rhode Island 1 Vermont 1

South Carolina 5 Virginia 10

South Dakota 3 Washington 3

Tennessee 6 West Virginia 2

Texas 42 Wisconsin 15

Breakout of Heat-Related Fatalities by State

Alabama ( 14)

— 14 Excessive Heat. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the [US] 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 356.

Arizona ( 15)

— 15 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 357.

— 1 26 miles west of Blythe, CA in AZ desert. Heat exhaustion, D.C. Putnam, prospector.[3]

Arkansas ( 27)

— 27 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 357.

California (546) [546 refers to excess deaths attributed to heat 10 days in Sep. in LA]

— 88 State. Blanchard tally of breakouts below.[4]

— 53 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 357.

— 8 “ Sep 15-19. UP/Sullivan. “8 Die, Schools Close, Crops Suffer in Heat.” 9-19-1939.

— 44 “ Sep 15-21. Hayward Review, CA. “3-Year Heat Record Here; State Death Toll 44.”

“ –34 in Southern California (9-21-1939, p. 6, continued from p. 1)

“ –10 in Northern California (9-21-1939, p. 6, continued from p. 1)

— 55 “ Sep 15-21. Berkeley Daily Gazette. “Heat Wave Toll Grows…now 55.” Sep 21.

— 60 “ Sep 15-22. UP. “Heat Wave’s Death Toll Swells to 60.” 9-22-1939, HDR, p. 1.

— 64 “ Sep 15-22. UP. “Mercury Refuses to Stay Down; 64 Dead.” Berkeley Gazette, Sep 22, p. 1.

— 85 “ Sep 15-23. UP. “85 Dead as Heat Wave Continues.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, 9-22-1939, 1.

“ –65 in Southern California

“ –20 in Northern California

— >1 Alameda, Sep 22. Notes new death reports from number of cities, including Alameda.[5]

— 1 Berkeley, Sep 20. Walter Harkness Austin, 55; “heart attack brought on by the heat.”[6]

— 1 “ Sep 21. Walter Sorensen, 69, Heart attack, indirectly attributed to the heat.[7]

— 1 “ Sep 23. C. F. Scammon, 88.[8]

— 1 “ Sep 26. Mrs. Lillie B. McLaurin, 82, after prostration from intense heat.[9]

— 4 Long Beach, by Sep 21.[10]

–546 Los Angeles/Orange Co. AP/Schmid. “Heat’s heavy toll counted in lives.” 7-24-1998, B3.[11]

–546 Los Angeles & Orange Counties. Excess Deaths, 9 days late Sep. Oechsli and Buechley.[12]

— 34 “ by Sep 21. Corona Independent, CA. “Heat Wave Death Total Said 34.” 9-21-1939, p. 1.

“ — 6 Sep 18-19. UP. “Los Angeles Heat Wave Causes Six More Deaths..” 9-19-1939, 1.

“ –17 Sep 19-20. United Press. “50-Year Records For Heat Broken.” 9-20-1939.[13]

“ — 9 Sep 21. Hayward Review, CA. “3-Year Heat Record Here; State Death Toll 44.” 6.[14]

— 13 “ Sep 22.[15]

— 1 Niland, Imperial County, July 14. Severo Marquez, 24, railroad section hand.[16]

— 1 Oakland, Sep 27. William Butnop, 41.[17]

— >1 San Diego, Sep 22. Notes new death reports from number of cities, including San Diego.[18]

— 5 San Francisco, by Sep 20. Hayward Daily Review, CA. “Heat Kills S.F. Man.” 9-21-1939, 1.[19]

— >1 “ Sep 22.[20]

Connecticut ( 2)

— 2 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 364.

District of Columbia ( 1)

— 1 District. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 365.

Florida ( 7)

— 7 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 365.

Georgia ( 10)

— 10 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 365.

Idaho ( 1)

— 1 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 365.

Illinois ( 32)

–32 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 372.

— 3 State, July 8. UP. “Death Toll…Midwest Heat…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-8-1939, 1.

Indiana ( 14)

–14 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 372.

— 1 “ July 8. UP. “Death Toll…Midwest Heat…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-8-1939, 1.

Iowa ( 8)

— 8 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 373.

— 5 State, July 8. UP. “Death Toll…Midwest Heat…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-8-1939, 1.

Kansas ( 22)

–22 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 373.

— 2 “ July 8. UP. “Death Toll…Midwest Heat…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-8-1939, 1.

Kentucky ( 15)

— 15 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 373.

Louisiana (15)

— 15 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 373.

Maine ( 2)

— 2 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 380.

Maryland ( 8)

— 8 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 380.

Massachusetts ( 6)

— 6 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 381.

Michigan ( 10)

–10 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 381.

— 3 “ July 8. UP. “Death Toll…Midwest Heat…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-8-1939, 1.

Minnesota ( 7)

–7 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 381.

–2 “ July 8. UP. “Death Toll…Midwest Heat…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-8-1939, 1.

Mississippi ( 9)

— 9 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 381.

Missouri ( 37)

–37 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 388.

— 2 “ July 8. UP. “Death Toll…Midwest Heat…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-8-1939, 1.

Montana ( 1)

— 1 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 388.

Nebraska ( 16)

— 16 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 388.

Nevada ( 1)

— 1 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 389.

New Hampshire (3)

— 3 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 389.

New Jersey ( 12)

— 12 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 389.

New York ( 18)

–18 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 396.

— 6 State, by July 27. UP. “Damage Mounts as Eastern States Swelter; Six Dead.” 7-27-1939.

North Carolina ( 8)

— 8 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 396.

North Dakota ( 3)

— 3 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 397.

Ohio (27)

— 27 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 397.

Oklahoma (18)

— 18 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 396.

Pennsylvania (16)

— 16 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 404.

Rhode Island ( 1)

— 1 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 404.

South Carolina (5)

— 5 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 405.

South Dakota ( 3)

— 3 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 405.

Tennessee ( 6)

— 6 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 405.

Texas (42)

— 42 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 405.

Utah ( 1)

— 1 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 412.

Vermont ( 1)

— 1 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 412.

Virginia (10)

— 10 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 412.

Washington ( 3)

— 3 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 413.

— 1 Yakima, July 28. Isham Smith, 70, “heart attack induced by 108-degree temperature.”[21]

West Virginia ( 2)

— 2 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 413.

Wisconsin (15)

–15 State. Census Bureau. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Table 14, p. 413.

— 4 State, July 8. UP. “Death Toll…Midwest Heat…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-8-1939, 1.

Narrative Information

AP/Schmid: “Washington — Heat waves don’t have the catchy names of hurricanes or the dramatic television footage of tornadoes or earthquakes. But they are the deadliest form of weather. A hurricane that killed 6,000 people in Galveston, Texas, in 1900 is often ranked the nation’s worst natural disaster. But more than 9,500 people died a year later when a heat wave settled in the Midwest. The 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco claimed 452 lives, fewer than Los Angeles-area heat waves that caused 546 deaths in 1939; 946 in 1955, and 580 in 1963, according to a study in the journal Environmental Research.” (Associated Press (Randolph E. Schmid). “Heat’s heavy toll counted in lives. ‘Deadliest weather’.” Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, PA, 7-24-1998, B3.)

Oechsle and Buechley: “….Excess mortality must be estimated on the basis to total mortality from all causes since certification of death as due to excess heat is rare….

“Summertime climate in the Los Angeles basin is fairly consistent and uniform most years. The mean maximum temperatures at Los Angeles throughout the summer months are usually in the range of 80° to 85°F. Infrequently…an unusual late summer weather situation develops in which a high remains stationary over Nevada for several days bringing hot dry air to Los Angeles from the Southeast. Maximum temperatures go over 100°F and minimum temperatures may not go below 80°….Three such September hot spells were the basis for choice of time periods to be studied. In 1939, the maximum temperature in late September on successive days was 100°, 104°, 107°, 106°, 103°, and 101° at the Los Angeles [end of p. 277] Civic Center Weather Bureau station….

“Copies of death certificates were obtained for all deaths occurring among persons aged 50 and over in Los Angeles and Orange Counties from August 21 through October 10….

“In 1939, total mortality increased with maximum temperature with an obvious 1-day time lag. An initial peak in temperature at 103°F was followed 1 day later by a peak in total mortality of 193% of expected. The later peak in temperature of 107° was followed 1 day later by a peak in mortality of 271% of expected. With some irregularities, the mortality ration in the various age groups increases with increasing age. Some effect is noticeable in the 50-54 age group with a peak mortality of 245% of expected; for the 85 and older age group, mortality rose to 570% of expected. Expected total daily mortality is only 55.9 persons. The total excess mortality was 546 deaths or about 61 deaths per day for the 9-day period of the hot spell. The hot spell broke with the most unusual weather in Los Angeles history. A tropical storm dumped 5½ in. of rain and its accompanying winds of 47 miles an hour killed 45 people, about 10% of the number killed by the hot spell….[22] [page 278]

Newspapers at the Time

July 8: “Cooling breezes and scattered thundershowers brought relief to Mid-western states today as the summer’s severest heat wave kept temperatures in the 90’s through the Southwest, South and East. Twenty-two persons died from the heat in eight midwestern states yesterday [July 7]. Thirty-two persons have died in a heat wave that has had New Englanders wilting for four days and may not end until tomorrow night….There were five heat deaths in Iowa, Wisconsin had four, Illinois and Michigan three each, Minnesota, Kansas and Missouri two each and Indiana one. Scores of heat prostrations were reported throughout the Midwest….” (UP. “Death Toll in Midwest Heat Wave Reaches 32.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-8-1939, p. 1.)

July 14: “Los Angeles, July 14 (U.P.) — The second death was reported today in a heat wave that raised the temperature above 120 degrees in some regions. Severo Marquez, 24, a railroad section hand, succumbed to the heat at Niland in the Imperial Valley. Blistering heat continued in the valley, with El Centro reporting 121 degrees yesterday, hottest for the summer and only a degree below the all-time high. Blyth, on the California-Arizona border, reported 115; San Bernardino, 100; and Las Vegan, Nev., 112, the hottest day of the summer. Sea breezes cooled the western portion of Southern California and Los Angeles’ maximum for yesterday was 89, compared with 83 the day before.” (UP. “Heat Causes Second Death.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, 7-14-1939, p. 3.)

Sep 18, CA: “Third day of the week-end heat wave came Monday [Sep 18], with a shade temperature of 80 recorded at 2 p.m., compared to a maximum of 91 Sunday, 2 degrees under the summer’s record….In Los Angeles it was reported official shade temperature was 102.5 degrees, and on the street 112.” (Hayward Review, CA. “Heat Wave Relief Seen Tuesday.” 9-18-1939, 1.)

Sep 19, CA: “California sweltered today in the fifth day of a record-breaking heat wave which has taken at least eight lives, caused unestimated damage to late crops, closed schools, and forced one town to conserve its water supply….Temperatures began climbing upwards at dawn today and steadily approached the high marks which had shattered all September records for the past 22 years. Low Angeles had early readings of 85 to 90 degrees….At noon the temperature in Los Angeles reached 104 degrees, one degree higher than yesterday’s maximum, reached an hour later….It was a humid, stagnant heat, sticky and uncomfortable. Clouds blocked out the direct rays of the sun over most of the State. Under the cloud blanket the air was thick and damp….Southern California felt the worst impact of the wave….Six of the eight deaths occurred in the south; two in the north. The victims were elderly persons suffering from heart ailments aggravated by the extremely high temperatures. Others collapsed on the streets but were revived in emergency hospitals.

“Work in the film industry was virtually suspended because of the extreme heat of the sound stages under the klieg lights. Two actresses, Martha Raye and Ellen Brew, collapsed yesterday…

“The highest official temperature recorded yesterday was 107 degrees at Duarte in Southern California. Los Angeles had a maximum of 103; Fresno, 103; San Francisco, 88; San Diego, 96; Redding 99; and Sacramento, 100. These were readings taken mainly in the above-street offices of weather stations. Down in the streets themselves it was five degrees warmer. The Weather Bureau attributed the heat wave to the presence over the State of an extreme high pressure condition. The air pressure pushed out the cool sea breezes and lie in the hot air from the desert.”

(United Press/James A. Sullivan. “8 Die, Schools Close, Crops Suffer in Heat. L.A. Area Worst Hit; Relief Predicted.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 9-19-1939.)

Sep 19, Los Angeles: “Authorities today ordered schools closed, water curtailed and rushed corps of fire fighters into tinder-dry mountain areas, as a precautionary measure as Southern California began its fifth day of an unprecedented heat wave with dawn temperatures ranging from 85 to 90 degrees. Six persons were dead from heat prostrations in the immediate vicinity of Los Angeles. Scores were treated in emergency hospitals for effects of the heat….At 12 o’clock the latest temperature reported was 104 degrees.” (United Press. “Los Angeles Heat Wave Causes Six More Deaths.” Oxnard Daily Courier, CA, 9-19-1939, p. 1.)

Sep 20, Los Angeles: “Searing heat scorched California for the sixth straight day Wednesday [Sep 20] in blasts of high temperatures which broke September heat records for 50 years, caused at least 17 deaths, burned crops, started forest fires and closed schools….Wednesday was hotter than Tuesday, despite the momentary relief brought by showers along the coast and thunderstorms in the foothills and mountains late Tuesday. Los Angeles thermometers, which reached 104 Tuesday crossed the 107-degree mark at noon Wednesday and were expected to go even higher…” (United Press. “50-Year Records For Heat Broken.” Hayward Review, CA, 9-20-1939, p. 1.)

Sep 21, CA: “Sticky, stifling heat beat down today on California in the seventy day of a record-breaking heat wave which has taken at least 55 lives. Today promised to be the hottest day of all in many areas and no relief was in sight….In Oakland a new record was set when the thermometers reached 100 degrees. Superintendent of schools Joseph Nourse ordered all schools closed at 1 p.m. Santa Cruz…temperatures reached 102 yesterday…” (Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA (James A Sullivan, United Press). “Heat Wave Toll Grows; Is Now 55.” 9-21-1939, p. 1.)

Sep 22, CA: “The death toll of an unprecedented heat wave rose to 64 in California today, the eighth day of high temperatures and high humidity. New Death reports came from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Alameda as temperatures soared again to the high 90s and over the 100 degree mark. Scores of persons were stricken with prostration in the streets, in offices and factories, and in schools before they closed for the afternoon. The clang of ambulance bells became as common as the din of street cars in the streets of the larger cities….Los Angeles recorded 103 fat noon and 101 an hour later….” (United Press (James A. Sullivan). “Mercury Refuses to Stay Down; 64 Dead…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 9-22-1939, p. 1.)

Sep 23, CA: “Temperatures bumped the top of the thermometer again today in the ninth day of a record-shattering heat wave in California. A sudden rise occurred around the noon hour after readings had run three to seven degrees below those of yesterday during the morning hours. San Francisco recorded a peak of 96 at 12:40 p.m. It was only one degree less that the maximum for the year recorded three times this week. Twenty minutes alter the mercury fell five degrees to 91 as slight breezes from the sea came in… Los Angeles thermometers suddenly shot upwards to 101 at 11:30 a.m., within two degrees of yesterday’s high. Then they receded and at 1 p.m. it was 97 and getting comparatively cooler. Elsewhere in the State readings in the 90’s and over 100 were reported in the continuation of the hot spell which has lasted longer than any other in State history….

“The death toll reached 85, with 13 deaths in the Los Angeles area yesterday bringing the Southern California total to 65 and two in the San Francisco area lifting the Northern count to w0. The new Northern victims were Mrs. Elizabeth Ross, 60…and George Walsh, 40…” (United Press (James A. Sullivan). “85 Dead as Heat Wave Continues.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA, 9-22-1939, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press (Randolph E. Schmid). “Heat’s heavy toll counted in lives. ‘Deadliest weather’.” Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, PA, 7-24-1998, p. B3. Accessed 1-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=224880002&sterm=heatstroke+death

Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Death of Oakland Man Laid to Heat.” 9-28-1939, p. 2. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/09-28/page-2?tag

Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Find Desert Victim.” 8-23-1939, p. 5. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/08-23/page-5?tag

Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Former Berkeley Contractor Dies.” 9-25-1939, p. 13. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/09-25/page-13?tag

Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Heat Causes Death of Walter H. Austin.” 9-21-1939, p. 11. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/09-21/page-11?tag

Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Heat Hits 96 in Berkeley; 1 Dead, One Prostrated.” 9-22-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/09-22?tag

Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Heat Wave Toll Grows; Is Now 55.” 9-21-1939, p. 1.

Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/09-21?tag

Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Hold Services for Mrs. L.B. McLaurin.” 9-27-1939, p. 13. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/09-27/page-13?tag

Bureau of the Census, United States Department of Commerce. Vital Statistics of the United States 1939, Part I. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1941. Accessed 1-18-2017 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/VSUS_1939_1.pdf

Corona Daily Independent, CA. “Heat Wave Death Total Said 34.” 9-21-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/corona/corona-daily-independent/1939/09-21?tag

Hayward Review, CA. “3-Year Heat Record Here; State Death Toll 44.” 9-21-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/hayward/hayward-daily-review/1939/09-21/page-2?tag

Hayward Review, CA. “Heat Wave Relief Seen Tuesday.” 9-18-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/hayward/hayward-daily-review/1939/09-18?tag

Long Beach Independent, CA. “Wind and Rain Break Hot Wave.” 9-22-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/long-beach/long-beach-independent/1939/09-22?tag

Oechsli, Frank Wm. and Robert Wm. Buechley. “Excess Mortality Associated with Three Los Angeles September Hot Spells.” Environmental Research, Vol. 3, 1970, pp. 277-284. Accessed 1-18-2017 at: https://booksc.bypassed.today/book/15891045

Southern Alameda County News, Hayward, CA. “Heat Kills S.F. Man.” 9-21-1939, p. 6. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/hayward/hayward-daily-review/1939/09-21/page-16?tag

United Press (James A. Sullivan). “8 Die, Schools Close, Crops Suffer in Heat. L.A. Area Worst Hit; Relief Predicted.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 9-19-1939. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/09-19?tag

United Press. “50-Year Records For Heat Broken.” Hayward Review, CA, 9-20-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/hayward/hayward-daily-review/1939/09-20?tag

United Press (James A. Sullivan). “85 Dead as Heat Wave Continues.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA, 9-22-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/09-23?tag

United Press. “Damage Mounts as Eastern States Swelter; Six Dead.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-27-1939, B1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/07-27/page-9?tag

United Press. “Death Toll in Midwest Heat Wave Reaches 32.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 7-8-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-18-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/07-08/page-7?tag

United Press. “Heat Causes Second Death.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, 7-14-1939, p. 3. Accessed 1-18-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/07-14/page-3?tag

United Press, Portland, OR. “Heat Continues.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, 7-28-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/07-28?tag

United Press. “Heat Wave’s Death Toll Swells to 60.” 9-22-1939, Hayward Daily Review, 9-22-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/hayward/hayward-daily-review/1939/09-22?tag

United Press. “Los Angeles Heat Wave Causes Six More Deaths.” Oxnard Daily Courier, CA, 9-19-1939, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/oxnard/oxnard-daily-courier/1939/09-19?tag

United Press (James A. Sullivan). “Mercury Refuses to Stay Down; 64 Dead…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 9-22-1939, pp. 1-2. Accessed 1-19-2017 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/berkeley/berkeley-daily-gazette/1939/09-22?tag

[1] Low-end of range is from Census Bureau and reflects death certificates listing heat as primary cause of death. High-end of range reflects results of Dept. of Public Health funded study of late Sep heat wave deaths in So. CA, in which 546 excess deaths above the norm were reported during 9-day “hot spell.”

[2] From Table XI. Data for all 48 States. Alaska and Hawaii were not States in 1939, and thus are not included.

[3] Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Find Desert Victim.” 8-23-1939, p. 5.

[4] Eighty-five deaths are noted during Sep 15-23; one on Sep 26, one on Sep 27 and one on July 14, for total of 88.

[5] UP (Sullivan). “Mercury Refuses to Stay Down; 64 Dead…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 9-22-1939, pp. 1-2.

[6] Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Heat Causes Death of Walter H. Austin.” 9-21-1939, p. 11.

[7] Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Heat Hits 96 in Berkeley; 1 Dead, One Prostrated.” 9-22-1939, p. 1. Notes his was “second death attributed at least indirectly to the heat” in Berkeley.

[8] Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Former Berkeley Contractor Dies.” 9-25-1939, p. 13. Writes: “The extreme heat of the past week is believed to have hastened the death of C. F. Scammon…”

[9] Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Hold Services for Mrs. L.B. McLaurin.” 9-27-1939, p. 13.

[10] Long Beach Independent, CA. “Wind and Rain Break Hot Wave.” 9-22-1939, p. 1. Writes: “Toll of life taken by the heat was four dead up until a late hour last night. Latest heat victim was Eddie A. Beschamps, 37 years old…who collapsed from a heart attack induced by excessive heat. Others who have succumbed in the past few days are: Ernest Stough, 74…Louis Newman, 65…and Mrs. Grace Z. Pratt…all of whom died from causes attributed to the unseasonal heat.”

[11] This number, however, refers to “excess mortality” over previously observed deaths over a similar time-frame. Though not cited, the source most probably is Oechsle and Buechley.

[12] Footnote to title notes that paper is result of a study conducted pursuant to a contract between the U.S. Public Health Service and Robert Buechley. See narrative section below for some discussion.

[13] Though it is not clear, it appears that the 17 deaths noted are for the entire heat wave period starting Sep 15.

[14] “The heat was so intense that nine persons died of prostration in Los Angeles Thursday morning [21^st]. Three persons, minds unbalanced by the heat, killed themselves. Three others, in bathing, were drowned.”

[15] United Press (James Sullivan). “85 Dead as Heat Wave Continues.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA, 9-22-1939, p. 1.

[16] United Press. “Heat Causes Second Death.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, 7-14-1939, p. 3.

[17] Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Death of Oakland Man Laid to Heat.” 9-28-1939, p. 2. Reportedly collapsed due to high heat and struck his head.

[18] UP (Sullivan). “Mercury Refuses to Stay Down; 64 Dead…” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. 9-22-1939, pp. 1-2.

[19] Writes that the death of Fred Stearns, 72, of San Francisco, “was the fifth victim of the present heat wave.”

[20] United Press (James Sullivan). “85 Dead as Heat Wave Continues.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA, 9-22-1939, p. 1.

[21] United Press, Portland, OR. “Heat Continues.” Berkeley Daily Gazette, 7-28-1939, p. 1.

[22] See our Sep 25, 1939 entry. Our account, though, shows 93 deaths, mostly drownings, for the greater Los Angeles area.