Again, in my constant search for items of interest, … related to Ephemera of course … I am always scouring the internet.
Today I ran across a website that has lots of photos of the books that were used during the Second World War (WWII) to ration everything from sugar to meat to rice and even gasoline and nylon stockings. Regardless of your finances, you were only allowed to buy small amounts and on a specific time line. Rationing was the only way to be sure everyone got their fair share. In addition to the ration books the government also issued ration coins (or tokens) that allowed retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps.
Thanks to the Ames Historical Society in Ames, Iowa, and a 
collection they have named “Ames Iowa Remembers World War II”, we are able to look at a large number of not only Ration Books and Ration Coins but also stickers, magazine articles, stamps, registration forms, War Bonds and War Savings Stamps.
Also on the site is a list of all rationed items (with dates of the duration) as well as sections from a 1943 Sears Roebuck catalog containing a list of all rationed farm equipment and an article that tells the reasons and benefits of rationing.
I have by no means finished perusing the site… but I sure plan to in the next few days. If any of this interests you, I’d suggest stopping by at the Ames Historical Society Exhibit.. for a visit. The true Ephemerist will, I’m quite sure, find it a very interesting site.
I’m Tom Murphy and thanks for helping me give Ephemera the encore it deserves.
Tom
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