World War II - Society and Culture
Children and Family
Victory Garden Diagram, March 1942
- This diagram displays a suggested layout for a Victory Garden. Victory Gardens were created to solve the food shortage during the war and provide fresh foods for families, who tended their own garden.
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Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 10. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc10.html
Communication Concerning the Dependents of a Naval Enlistee, June 18th, 1942 / Transcription
- This letter to Governor Green is from the wife of a naval Selective Service enlistee who had been called to war, despite the military's reluctance to send fathers to battle. The wife plead for his release to help provide for their children, and argued that he only enlisted to avoid being drafted by the army.
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Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 12. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc12.html
- This Defense News edition features an article about a program that introduced children from the city to farms during the summer, as well as a training booklet created by the University of Illinois. Due to the severe shortage of manpower during the war, training and using students to farm assisted production was encouraged. Illinois was the first state who attempted this effort.
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Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 22. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc22.html
Communication from Mrs. Wm. D. Battey Concerning Day-Care, August 25th, 1945 / Transcription
- This letter from Mrs. William D. Battey to Governor Green asked for help regarding the closing of nurseries after the end of the war. Many women continued to work while waiting on their husbands to return from war, and were not able to stay at home with children.
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Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 47. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc47.html
Education
Communication from Hannah A. Woods of the Illinois Association of Colored Women, August 6th, 1942
- This letter from Hannah A. Woods to Governor Greene of Illinois discussed her appointment as vice-chairman of the Women's Organization of the Illinois State Council of Defense. She also discussed a school she has established for impoverished families that is at risk.
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Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 14. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc14.html
- See above Children and Family section
Religion and Morality
- This communication to Governor Greene from Rev Mueller of Steeleville, IL requested an official statement supporting the return of German-language services at the church at the request of older members, who often spoke little English. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, German-speaking individuals were treated with suspicion.
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Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 17. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc17.html
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This resolution passed by the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America at a convention in Chicago protested the seizing of Eastern Poland by the Soviet Union, and asked for assistance from President Roosevelt. Chicago has historically been home to a large Polish population.
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Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 37. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc37.html
Women and Gender
Mechanic's Suit Description and Illustration, 1942
- This description of a mechanic's suit details an outfit for women going into the mechanical workforce during World War II. Fashions were meant to be practical, but often challenged traditional gender conventions. The teaching package (see link) describes a Chicago ordinance that needed to be amended to allow for new women's attire.
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Citation: Bailey, Robert E.and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 20. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc20.html
Women of Illinois Can Help Win the War, Save All Fats and Greases, 1943
- This poster from the Illinois State Council of Defense promoted the use of extra fats and greases for the war effort. These were used in the production of munitions for the military.
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Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 35. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc35.html
