Browse Items (1533 total)

Miscellaneous items could be purchased with the use of the stamps marked "Spare."

On November 29, 1942 coffee joined the list of rationed items in the United States. While coffee production itself was not affected by the war, the distribution suffered as a result of the prioritization of the military's shipping needs. Demands…

In early 1942, sugar was rationed; each rationing book contained 28 stamps, each stamp good for one week's ration of sugar. It is estimated that 3/4 pound of sugar was considered aweek's ration. To prevent people from stocking up on sugar, the…

This photograph, taken October 7, 1943, shows Ralph Maddox in his World War II uniform. Photographs of family members, oftentimes in uniform, were mementos cherished by loved ones back home, as their fathers, sons, brothers, and cousins served…

Physical and mental requirements for service were, and still are, important to the military – as they help to determine how a person will fit into a certain role and the likelihood of success in that field. Physical combat is not the only aspect…

Prior to departure, many officers were provided with checklists like the one here. This was to ensure that legal and medical issues were taken care of so the focus would be on their duty in helping to win the war. This structured list, and ones…

Constructed in 1937, Buchenwald Concentration Camp was one of the largest concentration camps in Germany. The prisoner population was only male until about 1943. Most of the prisoners were political prisoners, Jehovah's Witnesses, German military…

In 1836, Sarah Ann Quarles Chandler reluctantly left Louisa County for Cooper County, Misssouri. To read her full journal in pdf format, click on the associated file tab on the right. Her journal begins:

September 16th 1836:
This day set off…

Victory Mail, also known as V Mail, was the product of a newly adoptedmethod for mail processing and delivery. In 1942, V Mail, originally from England,became an alternative method to first class postal services. Microfilmed reproductionswere created…

This card was mailed to Mr. Persons, of the Bank of Quantico, in Quantico, Virginia. Quantico was, and still is, a marine corps training center located in northern Virginia. Leiutenant Ralph K. Lawson, of the 11th Regiment of the United States…

Joseph Wilson Randolph – a native of Mineral, Virginia – served in the United States Army Air Corps and is now buried in Louisa. His older brother Edward was a serviceman stationed in Hawaii during the Pearl Harbor attack. In December 1942,…

In this photo, one observer – Pauline Towsey – stands inside the shack used by the group during their volunteer time.

The group photo was taken on August 14, 1942 at the Louisa Observation Post; their group name, “Three Roses and Two Thorns”, is written on the back of the photograph, along with their nicknames.

Many young men were absent during this time, leaving young women to take up certain tasks and participate in a home front effort driven by rationing, Victory Gardens, and other activities, such as the Aircraft Warning Service volunteer program. This…

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, many citizens became fearful of additional attack on American soil. While many could not enter into military service, they opted instead to volunteer some of their time to aid from their hometown. A pin and…

This silk scarf, from Japan, was given to Mary J. Jones by her brother Paul Jacoby, who served in World War II. Mr. Jacoby was one of thousands of military personnel who sent postcards, letters, and gifts home to family and friends. This silk scarf…

This series began as the result of a massive project established by the staff members of the Methodist Publishing House in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the growing concern for the thousands of men and women in the armed forces. They…

This document, reproduced at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation (SFPE) in Fort Mason, California on June 29, 1943, reflects the ongoing rationing practices; the people subjected to these procedures and practices included not only American…

These items, part of the Harris family collection, were given to individuals during World War II with the onset of mileage and gasoline rationing. The United States Office of Price Administration (OPA), through local War Price and Rationing Boards,…

“In 1940, prior to U.S. entry into World War II, the first peacetime draft in our nation’s history was enacted in response to increased world tension and the system was able to fill wartime manpower needs smoothly and rapidly after the attack on…