Address by Col. E.L. Wilbur
Creator: Wilbur, Colonel E.L.
Date: February 8-11, 1942
Delivered at six regional meetings in Kansas (Dodge City, Salina, Chanute, Hays, Topeka, and Wichita) during the winter of 1942, Col. E.L. Wilbur's remarks strike at the heart of the effort on the home front during World War II. Explaining that the present crisis required more than a military solution, Wilbur extols the virtues and importance of civilian involvement in defense matters.

Anne G. Cravens to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Cravens, Anne G.
Date: August 15, 1944
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, Anne G. Cravens of Santa Monica, California, tells Schoeppel that he should work to establish a "Veterans City" in Kansas where returning soliders could live following the war.

A resolution approving and requesting legislative action on a program of basic military training and drill in the high schools of the state of Kansas
Creator: Sunflower Junior Statemens Club
Date: October 4, 1942
This resolution, produced by the Sunflower Junior Statemen's Club: Alumni Association of Sunflower Boys' State, asks that "a program of military drill and training" be required for all junior and senior high school boys throughout Kansas.

Await a Parsons Boom
Creator: Kansas City Times
Date: July 01, 1941
This article, from the Kansas City Times, details the often significant economic impact associated with the building of military or defense related facilities. In Parsons, Kansas, the most obvious impact of the decision to build a artillery munitions plant was on the area around Parsons where more than 300 homes were built to house the men and women who worked at the plant.

Beulah Mongold to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Mongold, Beulah
Date: January 23, 1942
In this letter to Governor Payne Ratner, Beulah Mongold of Topeka, Kansas, proposes that all vacant lots in town be utilized as Victory Gardens because "every foot of ground should be at work." A complete transcription is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Boom not all joy
Creator: Kansas City Times
Date: September 27, 1941
This article, from the September 27, 1941, edition of the Kansas City Times, addresses the concerns of the residents of Parsons, Kansas, following news that an artillery munitions plant will be built near their town.

Carl Fredin to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Fredin, Carl
Date: January 20, 1942
In this letter to Governor Ratner, Carl Fredin of Wadsworth, Kansas, offers his suggestions and ideas concerning the best way to go about creating Victory Gardens in Kansas. A complete transcription is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Chester Stevens to Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Stevens, Chester
Date: August 02, 1943
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, Chester Stevens of Independence, Kansas, argues that the proposed cut in the value gasoline "A" coupons to the Midwest is unfair due to the great distances between many towns and cities in that area of the country.

Civilian protection organization for a municipality
Date: Unknown
This organization chart depicts the Kansas State Council of Defense structure. Listing the Civilian Protection Organization for a Municipality (Citizen's Defense Corps), the chart details how civilians were to respond in the event of an attack on the U.S.

Claud McCamment to D.J. Fair
Creator: McCamment, Claud R
Date: January 30, 1942
In this letter to D.J. Fair, Director of the Kansas State Highway Commission, Claud McCamment, a Safety Engineer for the State, reports the results of his survey of five Kansas cities in preparation for the Kansas Federal Defense clinics to be held in those cities.

Community Service and War Fund
Date: 1943
This item details the various teams and committees related to the Community Service and War Fund in Kansas for the 1943 drive. Included are the quotas for each team and committee.

Dean H. Umberger to Governor Payne Ratner
Creator: Umberger, Dean H.
Date: August 26, 1942
This letter to Governor Ratner from Dean H. Umberger of the Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in Manhattan, Kansas, details the progress of the Victory Garden Program. Victory Gardens were planted throughout the United States during World War II to help ease the burden on the public food supply in the U.S.

Dr. J.A. Billingsley and Governor Andrew Schoeppel coresspondence
Date: September 22, 1945-September 24, 1945
This correspondence between Governor Schoeppel and Dr. J.A. Billingsley deals with the severe shortage of doctors that Kansas faced throughout World War II. In his letter to Governor Schoeppel, Billingsley explains that his assistant, Dr. John Betz, has been in the military for three years despite health problems. As a result, Dr. Billingsley has had to rely on the help of "two men who are both past sixty-five and are unable to carry the load."

Edward McMaster to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: McMaster, Edward
Date: April 15, 1945
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, Lieutenant Edward McMaster, Information and Education Officer for the Headquarters, 8th Fighter Group, at San Fransico, California, asks Schoeppel for information concerning various fields of employment in Kansas.

E. E. Baird and Governor Andrew Schoeppel Correspondence
Creator: Baird, E.E.
Date: August 20, 1945
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, E.E. Baird of Wichita Kansas, asks the governor to use his "good offices and influence on Washington" to speed-up the return of Kansas soldiers who served in World War II. Like many Americans, Baird was anxious to have the troops home following the official end of World War II. However, as Schoeppel's reply indicates, immediate demobilization for all military members was impossible.

Garold Schneider to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Schneider, Garnold
Date: August 19, 1945
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, PfC Garnold Scheider asks Schoeppel to help facilitate his return to civilian life. Arguing that his experience as a teacher is needed in Goodland, Kansas, Schneider ponders why the school systems in the U.S. have not "banded together and requested the release of men as the railroad and mining industries have?"

Governor Andrew Schoeppel to President Franklin Roosevelt
Date: August 04, 1943
In this telegram to President Roosevelt, Governor Schoeppel transmits the resoultion of the Governors' Committee. The resolution, signed by state governors throughout the midwest and southwest, discusses the impact of gasoline curtailment in those areas.

Governor Andrew Shoeppel correspondence
Creator: Chambers, W. A., 1910-1990
Date: October 07, 1943-October 12, 1943
This correspondence concerns the use of convicted criminals as soldiers in the U.S. military. Mrs. W.A. Chambers asks Governor Schoeppel if he had considered using convicts as soldiers because they "already know the word discipline." Governor Schoeppel's secretary W.F. Turrentine responds by explaining that such men have already been accepted in the military and granted a military pardon in exchange for their service during World War II.

Governor Andrew Shoeppel doctor shortage correspondence
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1943-1947 : Schoeppel)
Date: 1945
This correspondence between Governor Schoeppel and various individuals, including Senator Arthur Capper, addresses the serious shortage of medical doctors in Kansas in the later summer of 1945. Because of the urgent need for trained medical personnel during World War II, thousands of doctors either joined the military or worked in military-run facilities. As a result, many states found themselves lacking the medical personnel that they needed to take care of the civilians not directly involved in fighting the war.

Governor Payne Ratner to the governing bodies of the counties and cities of Kansas
Creator: Ratner, Payne Harry, 1896-1974
Date: January 31, 1942
In this letter to the Governing Bodies of the Counties and Cities of Kansas, Governor Payne Ratner explains that a number of regional meetings of the Kansas State Council of Defense will be held throughout the state in order to "instruct and prepare" officers and members of the local defense councils "for their duties and responsibilities in the defense programs." As with other states during World War II, the Civilian Defense councils in Kansas were designed to ready civilians and civilian agencies for the threat of attack on the U.S.

Governor Prentice Cooper to Governor Payne Ratner correspondence
Creator: Cooper, Prentice, 1895-1969
Date: June 30, 1942-August 08, 1942
Correspondence from Governor Prentice Cooper of Tennessee to Governor Payne Ratner of Kansas addressing the spread of Victory Gardens throughout the U.S. In the letter, Cooper, Chairman of the National Advisory Garden Committee informs Ratner of the progress of the campaign. Correspondence includes the "Report of the National Advisory Garden Committee," dated June 30, 1942.

Ikenberry and Schoeppel correspondence
Creator: Ikenberry, W.D.
Date: August 5 - 7, 1943
W.D. Ikenberry, a carpenter from Hay, Kansas, informs Governor Schoeppel that he believes that the excess lumber being used to construct the many U.S. military facilities in the state of Kansas could be put to use in repairing other useful structures such as farm buildings, gates, and fences. In response, W.F. Turrentine, Jr., informs Ikenberry that Governor Schoeppel has already contacted the federal government about the excess wood and that they are willing to cooperate in the matter.

Ira Howard to Governor Andrew Schoeppel
Creator: Howard, Ira
Date: April 30, 1945
In this letter to Governor Schoeppel, Ira Howard of Gaylord, Kansas, argues that returning veterans from World War II must be given a fair chance at employment after the war. In fact, Howard contends that "thousands of veterans are returning home each month now and I wonder if we are going to sit back and see them pushed around the way they were in this case."

Kansas state highway system. Outline of Ratner-Wilbur civil defense trip
Date: 1942
This Kansas state highway map was used to plan the civil defense trip taken by Governor Payne Ratner and Col. E.L. Wilbur, Regional Liason Officer for the 7th Civilian Defense Region. During their trip, Ratner and Wilbur visited Topeka, Chanute, Wichita, Dodge City, Hays, and Salina.

KMBC of Kansas City: government cooperation report
Creator: KMBC of Kansas City
Date: October 06, 1943
This report, issued by KMBC of Kansas City, details how the station cooperated with the U.S. Government and its agencies during World War II. Included are the number and duration for each announcement.