Rationing

Local county boards of the Office of Price Administration issued every man, woman, and child a ration book during the war. The book held stamps which Americans used to buy rationed foods. Government officials rationed some food because of limited supply. So much food needed to be set aside for military use that the government restricted civilian purchases. County boards rationed sugar, coffee, meat, butter, margarine, cheese, canned milk, canned fish, canned fruits and vegetables, soups, and fruit juices.

Shortages of rubber led to the rationing of tires and gasoline. The government also prohibited the making of many household appliances because of a lack of metals. Americans could not buy hot water heaters, refrigerators, stoves, lawn mowers, vacuums, irons, radios, and toasters. The government needed rubber and metals to make airplanes, trucks, tanks, ships, and rifles. The rationing of food and materials by everyday Americans helped win the war.

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University of Wisconsin students register for
ration books in Madison, February 1943
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
# LC-USW3-18344-D

Health for Victory Club ration cook book, October 1942
Loan from Josephine Carpenter

Recipes in this book offer women options for cooking without sugar. The Office of Price Administration restricted civilian purchases of sugar because of a shortage. The war in the Pacific slowed the import of sugar into the country.

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Ration wallet and stamps, circa 1943
OCHS # 1996.61.1

These ration coupons belonged to Gordon A. Bubolz of 78 River Drive in Appleton. Bubolz purchased food by turning in these stamps to local shopkeepers.