Ration Book

Ration Book

World War, 1939-1945

Shenandoah County (Va)

Wolfe, Neva

Landis, India

On December 11, 1941 rationing began in the United States when the government created 7,500 ration boards around the country to limit the sale of tires and other rubber products. Between that date and 1946 sales of hundreds of other items, including food, sugar, gasoline, toothpaste, bicycles, and flashlights would be limited.

During this period each citizen was issued a ration coupon book. Inside were stamps that individuals would use when making purchases. These would entitle the individual to anywhere between 50 and 75% of what was considered to be normal consumption. People involved in war production or essential services, such as Civil Defense, firefighting, and medicine received additional items.

This specific ration book was a part of the second series issued. These were the first books to include food. Red books limited meats while blue books covered processed foods. The recipient of this book was Neva Bernice Wolfe who lived west of Mt. Jackson and later moved to Arlington. It was signed by her sister Celia Funkhouser for unknown reasons. The official responsible for issuing the card was India Landis, a local school teacher from Mt. Jackson who died in 1972.

David Markham Collection

Shenandoah County Library

1942