On June 13, 1942, seven months after the bomb-
ing of Pearl Harbor, the Office of War Information (OWI) was created. An important U.S. government propaganda agency during World War II, the OWI supported American mobilization for the war effort by recording the nation's activities. OWI photographers documented American life and culture during the early years of World War II, concentrating on such subjects as aircraft factories, training for war work, women in the workforce, and the armed forces. The photographs, shown here with their original captions, aimed to inspire patriotic fervor in the American public.In addition to waving the flag and promoting a vision of apple pie America, OWI photographers covered less happy occasions including the relocation of Japanese Americans in internment camps. The OWI also documented social change including the massive movement of women into the work force and the advancement of African Americans in the military. The gains made by women and minorities during the war years would influence America in the second half of the twentieth century.
- Search on women, war work, pilot, high school or other keywords in FSA/OWI Color Photographs, 1938-1944, for interesting photographs of Americans contributing to the war effort.
- Visit the National Archives and Records Administration online exhibit A People At War highlighting the contributions of thousands of Americans, military and civilian, who served the U.S. during World War II.
- View the exhibition Women Come to the Front to learn about women journalists during the Second World War.
- Search the Today in History Archive on the terms World War II or Franklin Roosevelt to learn more about WWII.
