World War II & Advertising: Trade Organizations

The AAAA records contain interesting articles about the role of advertising during war including "Nothing to Sell, Much to Advertise: Alcoa's View," "Advertising and Its Role in War and Peace," "Comments on the Value of Advertising in Times of Shortages," and "Why Advertise During Wartime Shortages." All of these are located in box VF1 in the Vertical Files Series.

The Advertising Council, once the War Advertising Council, supported government programs during World War II. Campaigns included economic stabilization, food fights for freedom, paper conservation, scrap paper drive, scrap metal drive, security of war information, United Service Organizations (USO), United States Army V- Mail, United States Savings Bonds, Venereal Disease awareness, Victory Gardens, and War to Peace Transition. These are found, alphabetically, within the Campaign Series. Searching by date is encouraged to note additional related campaigns.

On October 7, 1941, the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) issued a unanimous declaration of membership support of government policies in the event that the U.S. entered World War II. The OAAA worked in conjunction with the War Advertising Council in support of the war effort. Evidence of the OAAA's involvement in promoting the war effort is found especially in the Issues and Activities Series, 1920- 1986, boxes IA13-IA17, IA 20, OV6, and OV13. Also, many of the billboard images are described in the ROAD database (see below).

This collection contains miniature reproductions of billboards designed by the War Advertising Council and approved by U. S. government agencies charged with promoting a range of patriotic efforts. These include war bonds sales, civilian employment, food rationing, civil defense, women's military service, and fire prevention.