Ration books notice the dates these ration books were issued to doris and montague corri. With the pending capitulation of japan, the printing of ration books for 1946 was halted by the opa on august, 1945. Search this index of over 11,210 wartime records with images. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. A complex system of rationing, administered by the us office of price administration opa, was put in place with stamps, ration booklets and some other similar. The office of price administration opa warned americans of potential. It was thought that even if japan does not fold now, the war will certainly be over before the books can be used. Childrens ration books allowed them more of certain items, such as milk, but less of everything else. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. Wwii ration books provide name, address, age, occupation, and even height and weight. Kennedys ration book issued by the united kingdom ministry of food to institute food rationing policies during world war ii. One way to get rationed items without coupons, usually at greatly inflated prices, was on the. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help.
The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. They had to register and buy their food from their chosen shops. Every man, woman and child was given a ration book with coupons. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during which it must be used. My grandmother recently died peacefully at 95, and while my sisters and i were. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. In january 1940, the british government introduced food rationing. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps for certificates was. On january 30, 1942, the emergency price control act granted the office of price administration opa. Because of these shortages, the us governments office of price administration established a system of rationing that would more fairly distribute foods that were.
During the second world war, you couldnt just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar. Rationing of food lasted for 14 years and ended on july 4, 1954. Every american was entitled to a series of war ration books filled with stamps that could be used to buy. Rationing in the us was introduced in stages during world war ii. This book is the property of the united states government. It is unlawful to sell or give it to any other person or to use it or permit anyone else to use it, except to obtain rationed goods for the person to whom it was issued. Get the best deals on wwii ration book when you shop the largest online selection at. Bread, which was never rationed during wartime, was put on the ration in july 1946. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. In addition to the persons name and address, these books also required a physical description of the individual, their sex, and their age. War ration books were produced by the united states office of price.