Guide to the World War II Rationing Collection
Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8326
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: World War II Rationing Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SC.WWR
Physical Description:
0.05 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1942-1945
Abstract: In 1942, the U.S. government's Office
of Price Administration (OPA) established a system of rationing intended to control supply
and demand by regulating the amount of consumer goods available to Americans. Each American
citizen was issued a series of ration books which contained removable stamps specific to
particular items or types of items, with a designated quantity and time limit for purchase.
This assembled collection consists of War Ration Books 1, 2, and 4 issued in the states of
Maine and Massachusetts, an application for War Ration Book 3, a gasoline puchase permit, a
Maine state driver's license, a War Ration Book holder, OPA coins, and newspaper clippings
regarding ration information.
Language of Material: English
Scope and Contents
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and subsequent entrance of the United States into
World War II, many factories began the process of converting to military production. With
the fear of food shortages and potential for civilian unrest looming, the U.S. government's
Office of Price Administration (OPA) established a system of rationing intended to control
supply and demand by regulating the amount of consumer goods available to Americans. Each
American citizen was issued a series of ration books which contained removable stamps
specific to particular items or types of items, with a designated quantity and time limit
for purchase.
As early as January 1942, the government had imposed restrictions on the sale of cars and
tires. The first War Ration Book was the "Sugar Book," issued in May 1942. By the close of
the War, ration books had been issued for bicycles, gasoline, fuel oil and kerosene, solid
fuels, stoves, rubber footwear, shoes, sugar, coffee, processed foods, meats, canned fish,
cheese, canned milk, fats, and typewriters. In addition to ration books, OPA coins were
issued to retailers in order to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Blue
tokens were used for processed foods and red tokens for meats and fats.
This assembled collection consists of War Ration Books 1, 2, and 4 issued in the states of
Maine and Massachusetts, an application for War Ration Book 3, a gasoline puchase permit, a
Maine state driver's license, a War Ration Book holder, OPA coins, and newspaper clippings
regarding ration information.
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use:
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase, 01/27/2015
General
Other Information:
This collection was purchased with funds generously donated by Gus and Erika Manders.
Preferred Citation:
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
Processing Information:
Holli Teltoe, 2016
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Box 1, Folder 1
[De Mass] Family Ration Books,
ca. 1944
Box 1, Folder 2
Newspaper Clippings and Mailers Regarding Rationing,
ca. 1942-1945
Box 1, Folder 3
Stafford Family Ration Book and Gasoline Purchase Permit,
1945 June 1
Box 1, Folder 4
Taylor Family Ration Books and Driver's License,
1942-1943
Box 1, Folder 5
Wingate Family Ration Books, Documentation for Auto-Related Rationing, Ration
Book Holder, and Office of Price Administration Tokens,
1943-1945
