Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
World War II Scrapbooks, 1942-1945
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- World War II Scrapbooks
- Dates
- 1942-1945 (inclusive)19421945
- Quantity
- 2 cubic feet, including 13 scrapbooks, (4 oversize boxes)
- Collection Number
- MSS WW2Scrapbooks
- Summary
- The World War II Scrapbooks consist of newspaper clippings collected by an unknown compiler located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The collection is comprised of 13 scrapbooks of clippings spanning the period of September 7th, 1942 through September 18th, 1945. The majority of the clippings discuss in detail the military campaigns in the European Theater, the Mediterranean and Middle East Theater, and the Pacific Theater. Additional articles focus on home front measures, as well as relay information about the welfare of servicemembers originally from Sioux Falls.
- Repository
-
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
World War II engaged the majority of countries on two opposing sides, the Allies and and the Axis Powers. From 1939-1945, military battles occurred in the European Theater, Mediterranean and Middle East Theater, and the Pacific Theater. The United States of America entered the conflict after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. In response, the United States rapidly increased military equipment production, amended draft policies, and instituted a rationing program. The Allies celebrated victory in Europe on May 8, 1945 after Nazi Germany's surrender. The United States of America dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, resulting in Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The World War II Scrapbooks consist of daily newspaper clippings covering the military front and American home front. Created contemporaneously, each scrapbook devotes one page to daily news coverage (mainly from the The Daily Argus Leader, the newspaper of Sioux Falls, South Dakota) spanning the period of September 7th, 1942 through September 18th, 1945. There are no clippings for the period of March 25th, 1943 through October 27th, 1943. The articles discuss in detail the military campaigns of the European Theater, the Mediterranean and Middle East Theater, and the Pacific Theater. Related articles discuss conferences between military and political leaders, prisoners of war, Allied and Axis weapon development, congressional appropriations, draft policies, and information about the welfare of servicemembers originally from Sioux Falls. Additional articles focus on home front measures such as blackouts, war bonds, rationing, and military production. The unknown compiler also included handwritten annotations summarizing the articles as well as recording local events.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
World War II Scrapbooks (MSS WW2Scrapbooks), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The scrapbooks are arranged chronologically. The cover of each scrapbook includes a notation of the inclusive dates.
Acquisition Information
The collection was purchased from Browser's Books located in Corvallis, Oregon.
Related Materials
The OSU Special Collections and Archives Research Center holdings include several collections pertaining to the experiences of American servicemembers and civilians during World War II. Related collections are described in the War in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center subject guide. Additional collections include the Mildred and Frank Miles Scrapbook of the Santo Tomás Internment Camp, 1942-1947 (MSS Miles); and United States War Relocation Authority Reports, 1942-1946 (MSS WRA).
Preservation Note
The majority of scrapbooks and newspaper clippings are in fragile condition. Handling and scanning access may be limited accordingly.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Rationing--United States.
- Recruiting and enlistment.
- World War, 1939-1945--Journalism, Military.
Geographical Names
- United States--Armed Forces--History--World War, 1939-1945.
Form or Genre Terms
- Newspapers.
- Scrapbooks.
Finding Aid Authors: Lauren Goss.
2017
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
