Exhibit Overview
Enlarge image
The
threat of Nazi spies lurking in the shadows forced home front Americans
to be careful about what they said about troop movements, military production,
and other sensitive subjects. (Image no. ww1647-87 courtesy Northwestern
University)
Scope and Content
This exhibit and learning resource consists of the equivalent of over 400 printed pages of narrative text augmented by hundreds of images and thousands of pages of original documents describing Oregon before, during, and after World War II. It looks at the lives of
ordinary Oregonians and how
they responded
to
the challenges
of world war.
A bird's eye view
To provide context, the exhibit reviews Oregon life and
the larger world of politics and power before
the war.
It traces how Japanese Americans came to be seen
as a threat and how
they were treated in internment camps. Then, it examines the extraordinary
measures, such as blackouts and incident drills, designed to protect
the state from attack. The exhibit also explores rationing, victory gardens, and other steps aimed at maximizing resources in the war
effort. Meanwhile, Home
front life is the focus of one section that covers topics
such as rumor control, prostitution, and juvenile delinquency.
Returning veterans, the GI Bill, and the advent of the Cold War are a
few of the exhibit subjects describing life after
the war. Finally, researchers can learn
more with
additional resources and Web links.
Exhibit goals
The main goals for this exhibit are to educate and entertain. The exhibit
also uses original records to highlight some
of the research opportunities at the Oregon State Archives. Whenever
possible, it directly quotes from the letters, reports, and other documents
created by people who actively participated in the historical events.
Their actions reveal the full range of human experience -- from selfless
to petty and from heroic to criminal. Their stories are at the heart
of life on the home front and come from every corner of Oregon.
Target audience
While designed for a general audience, this exhibit includes extensive
resources for students. Middle school students and older will find
useful information.
See the "learn more" section
for additional resources.
Axis leaders, such as Adolf Hitler, were portrayed as stupid or evil, or both. (Image courtesy Disney Online)
Content note
Please note that some of the subject matter and images deal with violent
situations. Also, some text and images of the era
portray certain groups, such as German, Italian, and Japanese leaders,
in a
negative light. These portrayals are accurate historical reflections
of the
times and are therefore left intact.
Records
used
This exhibit uses mostly primary records. These consist of original
documents, publications, and other items created during the years surrounding
World
War II. The main focus is on the records of the Oregon State Defense
Council, but many other record groups are used as well. These are documented
in the "learn more" section.
The primary sources are augmented by secondary sources such
as books and periodicals.
Relevant sources are cited in notes at the bottom of chapter pages.
Images and media
Please note that images in this exhibit have been edited for display
purposes. This may include cropping, coloration, and other manipulations
of the original images. Most of the images in this exhibit are from
the records of the Oregon State
Defense Council. These are supplemented by images from other
Oregon State Archives record groups as well as outside sources. All
images with
citations that include "OSA" are available at the Oregon
State Archives. Images lacking any citation are commonly available
on the Web. The exhibit also includes numerous Portable Document
Format (PDF)
resources using
Adobe Reader software and audio and video clips using Real Player
software. This software is available for free download:
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 |
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| Get Adobe Reader | Get Real Player |
Some of these documents and audio clips may be slow to load depending on file size.
We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Please contact us.