This issue of Retroview looks back at World War II as captured in historical newspapers from ProQuest. Feel free to share this quarterly salute to the past with your colleagues and friends on Facebook and Twitter.
Thank you to the current-day soldiers and their families for their sacrifices and for continuing to protect our freedom today!
The Day After
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, which launched the U.S. into World War II.
The U.S. was primarily isolationist leading up to Pearl Harbor, but the reaction to the attack was swift. The President, Congress, and the media united under the declaration of war, urging the public to follow.
While a message of unity was spread and Japanese-Americans pledged loyalty to the U.S., the government began rounding up hundreds of Japanese-Americans. The West Coast went on alert, and the U.S. prepared for war.
Helped Wanted: Women
Rosie the Riveter is a well-known symbol of the World War II home front. Women worked in traditionally male jobs making bombers, warships, and weapons.
They also were needed beyond the wartime factories. In Chicago, women worked the rails laying track and keeping the trains running. They also played a crucial role on America's farms, which helped feed both soldiers and civilians.
American women became increasingly empowered during the 1940s. They voted in record numbers and became involved in labor unions, setting the stage for the women's liberation movement of the 1960s.
Illustrated War
Before and during World War II, editorial cartoonists were on the job illustrating the dangers and spotlighting the realities of wartime living.
Conservation, 1940s Style
When we recycle, re-use, and conserve items today, it's called "being environmentally conscious." In the 1940s, it was called "helping the war effort." Learn how Americans conserved in order to supply and support the troops overseas.
Selling War
From the soft-sell of a beverage company acknowledging the contributions of women to the war effort, to the in-your-face request for War Fund donations, you'll see from these ads that Madison Avenue had one thing on its mind in the early 1940s: war.
Women's Wear
Textiles were an important resource in World War II. Not only was material needed to outfit soldiers, it also was used in the construction of weaponry.
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