World War II Ration Book Four
Scope and Content
This collection contains an American war ration book printed during World War II, issued to Mart Barton of Alton, Missouri. The pages contain printed, rip-out stamps for various rationed items. Some stamps have been torn out. The back of the ration book warns recipients to "NEVER BUY RATIONED GOODS WITHOUT RATION STAMPS" and "NEVER PAY MORE THAN LEGAL PRICE."
Dates
- 1943
Creator
- United States. Office of Price Administration (Organization)
- Barton, Mart, 1879-1962 (Person)
Language of Materials
The materials in this collection are written in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions
may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for
assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or
digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using
our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can
be requested using our publication/exhibition form:
http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Historical Note
During World War II, the shipment of food to troops abroad, rationing of supplies like fuel and rubber, and trade import restrictions caused a shortage of foods and materials in the United States. As a solution, the U.S. government utilized the Office of Price Administration to create a rationing system to evenly distribute foods. Advertisements also urged Americans to use less of foods such as sugar and meat.
External source:
The National World War II Museum. "Ration Books." Accessed October 2022. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/take-closer-look-ration-books
Biographical Note
Mart Barton was born to James and Sarah (Custer) Barton on January 17, 1879. He worked as a farmer in Alton, Oregon County, Missouri. He died on August 29, 1962, and he and his wife Vera May are buried in Cave Springs Cemetery in Alton.
External sources:
"Mart Barton" death certificate in the Missouri, U.S., Death Certificates, 1910-1969 database, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/1837491:60382, accessed September 19, 2023.
"Mart Barton", Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103565513/martin-lee-barton, accessed September 19, 2023.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
This collection contains an American war ration book printed during World War II, issued to Mart Barton of Alton, Missouri.
Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 2005.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the World War II Ration Book Four by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the World War II Ration Book Four was completed in October 2022.
- Title
- World War II Ration Book Four, 1943
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Miranda Christy, Graduate Assistant, and LM Rozema, Archivist
- Date
- 2022 (CC0 1.0)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu