« Back to gallery

Object Gallery: Detail

Ration Book, 1940s
Ration Stamps, 1940s
Victory Hair Pins, 1940s

Ration Books and Victory Hair Pins, 1940s

With wartime shortages in effect, Washingtonians learned to save and reuse everything. Ration books, stamps, and tokens were used to purchase gas, rubber, nylon, butter, coffee, liquor, and sugar. Women were encouraged to “help Uncle Sam save steel” by reusing Victory Hair pins like these.

JHSGW Collections. Gift of Edith and Charles Pascal. 1995.03