Ohio History Journal

SOURCES FOR OHIO WORLD WAR HISTORY IN THE

PAPERS OF THE FOOD ADMINISTRATION

IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

By ALMON R. WRIGHT

Twenty-one years ago, on August 1O, 1917, an executive

order drafted by a native Ohioan, Robert A. Taft, and signed

by President Woodrow Wilson, launched the United States upon

a gigantic program of food conservation.¹ Many volumes have

been written concerning the military campaigns and the diplomatic

entanglements of the period of the great war. The historian

and his reading public are turning from these phases of the con-

flict to the less spectacular, but no less vital, participation of the

civilian population. It is a significant fact that the first large

collection of documents to be classified in The National Archives

pertains to this side of World War history. In January, 1936,

the records of the Food Administration were moved to the

new archive of the Nation where they now lie ready for

the scholar's use.

Among the hundreds of file cases and boxes which contained

this collection, one group of boxes attracted special notice. These

were the smoothly finished boxes of oak in which the papers of

the Ohio Food Administration were forwarded to Washington

in the spring of 1919. As a consequence of the careful pack-

ing and the substantial character of the containers, these records

successfully withstood the perils of seven years of confinement

in the White House garage. The volume of those papers which

were shipped amounts to enough to fill possibly twenty-five four

drawer filing cases. For the most part, these represent the admin-

istration at Columbus; the remainder constitute the residue of the

papers of the county administrations and of certain town organiza-

tions. The records from the counties and towns are disappoint-

ing, since they are incomplete and since the local agents frequently

1 Robert A. Taft to Almon R. Wright, March 4, 1938.

355

356 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

forwarded only such material as unused stationery and franked

envelopes. Indeed, one lady remitted twenty-five cents as the

proceeds from the sale of the papers to the rag man. On the

other hand, there is a wealth of material for the historian, the

economist, or the student of government in the ninety-four series

of documents from the state offices. Possibly even more varied

and rich in materials for Ohio war history are the many series

of records of the national administration which pertain to Ohio.

Of these about ninety series are especially usable because of their

arrangement by states.

Perhaps the most obvious field of research for which this

collection serves is the study of public opinion. We rarely asso-

ciate with the Food Administration any measures of compulsion.

This attests to the success of the Government in maintaining a

spirit of patriotic conservation of food and a repugnance for the

non-conformist. The Education Division of the Food Adminis-

tration developed an elaborate organization for influencing the

press. A regular service to newspapers supplying cuts, photo-

graphs, matrices, and plates was established. The correspondence

which passed between Washington and Ohio newspapers is illumi-

nating of what the press and Government thought the public

wanted and ought to have. It reveals to some extent the popu-

larity of the war in towns such as Marion, Middletown, New-

comerstown, and New Philadelphia.²

In the fine collection of newspapers which the Ohio State

Archaeological and Historical Society preserves may be seen the

results of these efforts at a pictorial and literary presentation of

propaganda material. The two collections complement each other

in showing the whole process from beginning to end. In the

Education Division at Washington, sections were created primarily

to reach different occupational and racial elements of the popula-

2 For correspondence with newspapers concerning cuts, see The National

Archives, FA 12HC--A9; for that concerning photographs, see FA 12HC--A12; matrix

service, see FA 12HC--A10; plate material, see FA 12HC--A7. The classification

plan embraces two factors: the government agency is indicated to the left of the

dash and the document group and number indicated to the right of the dash. Thus

FA is the abbreviation for Food Administration; 12H is the symbol of the Education

Division; C is the Illustrations and Plate Section of that division; to the right of

the dash the letter A is the symbol for the group of documents, in this case, corre-

spondence; 9 indicates the ninth series of records in this group.

SOURCES FOR OHIO WORLD WAR HISTORY 357

tion. The excellent lists of farm journals in Ohio which the

Food Administration assembled are of interest.³Similarly, lists

of the foreign language papers and of the religious journals were

compiled through which food conservation could be taught.⁴Some

correspondence exists which shows an effort to reach negro jour-

nals and trade and technical papers.⁵

In the days when the speed of the automobile was such as

to make it possible to read a billboard in passing, the Food Admin-

istration tried, through pictures of the needy orphan or of the

courageous doughboy, to induce the public to eat food substitutes.

Such advertising was not always welcome. Some, as in Cin-

cinnati, protested ostensibly against the violation of their aesthetic

sensibilities which this propagandizing involved.⁶Others objected

to paying for space on a billboard only to see their advertising

covered up by conservation posters from the Food Administra-

tion. The appeal was also carried to the silver screen, at that

time a little more unsteady than now and completely silent.⁷ Per-

haps the student would find in these files at Washington interest-

ing sidelights on the struggle over censorship which occurred in

Ohio shortly before this time.⁸The co-operation of the banker,

of the retailer, and of the school superintendent was eagerly

sought. How were they addressed; what differences in tech-

nique were employed?9

One of the most frequently employed ways in which to in-

fluence the opinion of the public was through the speaker's plat-

form. A study of the speaking campaigns for food conservation

brings a speedy realization of the sweeping changes which the

radio has wrought. The files of correspondence and memoranda

of the Conservation Division at Washington show the activity

behind the scenes--the imperious demands of women's clubs and

chambers of commerce, the compiling and assembling of publicity

material in the form of biographical sketches, photographs, and

3 FA 12HF--G1.

4 FA 12HM--D1, FA 12HO--B2.

5 FA 12HN--A5, FA 12HG--A1.

6 For correspondence with mayors and chambers of commerce concerning adver-

tising, see FA 12HK-A5, on poster distribution, see FA 12HK--A14.

7 FA 12HC--A4.

8 FA 6H--A3.

9 FA 6H--A1, FA 6H--A2, FA 6H--A3.

358 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

negotiations for newspaper space.1⁰Then the records reveal the

close watch which the officials kept of the public's response to

this type of appeal and to some extent the attitude of the speakers

themselves on their successes and failures.11

We are prone to take the popularity of the war as a matter

of course. The test of that feeling came when the time or eco-

nomic interest of the individual was concerned. The series of

correspondence pertaining to serving on county or town food ad-

ministration committees and that on serving as inspectors show

to some extent the spirit behind the war.¹²Even more revealing

is the correspondence between these committees and the Columbus

headquarters.13 These papers pertain largely to the urban middle

classes. The industrial and agricultural groups displayed their

interest in the war by the manner in which they complied with

the rules and regulations. The Food Administration established

an elaborate system of reports by which the production and dis-

tribution of food stuffs could be determined and then partially

controlled. The files pertaining to delinquency in making these

reports reveal negligence, indifference, and opposition.14

The failure to make the required reports was a minor in-

fraction of the rules. Strict orders were enforced against ex-

cessive use of sugar and wheat and also against the hoarding of

wheat and profiteering. Most of us recall vividly the difficulty

which mother had in obtaining sufficient sugar for the daily needs

of the family and for the canning season. And how devastating

were those subtle rumors that some farmer living out on the pike

was a hoarder! What does the record show as to the compliance

of the farmer, the miller, the feed store merchant, or the baker?15

What truth was there in the talk that wheat was destroyed by a

lurking incendiary? How alarming were the reports of finding

ground glass in our food! To what extent was it war hysteria

which transmuted sand, clean, harmless sand, into a deadly weapon

of the enemy?16

10 FA 5HB--A5, FA 5HB--B2.

11 FA 5HB--A7.

12 FA 136A--A6, FA 136A--B3, FA 136B--B9.

13 FA 136G--A1, FA 136G--A2.

14 FA 136C--C1, FA 136F--A1.

15 FA 136E--A1 to FA 136E--A15.

16 FA 136E--B1.

SOURCES FOR OHIO WORLD WAR HISTORY 359

The records of the Food Administration reveal much more

than the mere compliance of producers and distributors of food.

Indeed the history of Ohio agriculture during the war may be

founded upon the data contained in these series. Among those

classified in the papers of the Cereal Division of the Washington

offices are series on grains: wheat, corn, rye, oats, barley, corn

products, and feeding stuffs.¹⁷The reports came from millers,

brokers, and commercial merchants. In them in summary form

are to be found the amounts on hand, purchased, and sold. From

these weekly, monthly, or quarterly statements may be traced the

transactions of any one or all the business firms engaged in the

grain trade. Or, one may turn to the series in the Ohio collec-

tion and find these reports in a form which would lend itself to

a comparative study of the grain transactions by counties.¹⁸The

statistician could use the data to prepare maps to show the areas

in Ohio where the most corn, or rye or wheat was produced.

The agricultural historian may find reports not only from

those in the grain trade but also from those in the creamery busi-

ness.¹⁹The local historian may find interesting the records of

a condensing plant, once the town's chief business but whose

smokeless stacks now stand as a symbol of the concentration of

business. A large amount of historical material awaits the student

whose field of research is the development of the American attach-

ment to canned foods as a swift and easy way to get meals. A

large number of reports was sent from canners of tomatoes, of

string beans, of peas, of apples, of strawberries, and of many

more vegetables and fruits.²⁰So great was the task of keeping

track of these firms and so complicated their needs that a Tin

Plate Section was organized in Washington to aid them.

The consumption of wheat flour and sugar by bakers made

them particularly subject to regulation by the Food Administra-

17 For corn, see FA 8HA--C1, FA 8HA--C10, FA 8HA--D7, FA 8HA--D29;

for rye, see FA 8HA--C17, FA 8HA--C28; for oats, see FA 8HA--C2, FA 8HA--C13;

for barley, see FA 8HA--C3, FA 8HA--C14; for corn products, see FA 8HA--C6,

FA 8HA--C15; and for feeding stuffs, see FA 8HA--C4, FA 8HA--C9, FA 8HA--C11,

FA 8HA--C12, FA 8HA--C16, FA 8HA--C21, FA 8HA--C24, FA 17H--B1.

18 FA 136A--B1; this series includes wheat whereas the Washington offices left

the matter of wheat largely to the Grain Corporation.

19 For butter, see FA 17H--B3, and for cheese, see FA 17H--B4.

20 FA 17H--B11, FA 22HD--A4, FA 22HD--A6, FA 22HD--A8, FA 22HD--A15

FA 22HD--A23, FA 22HD--B2, FA 22HD--B3.

360 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

360 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

tion. A wealth of information may be found concerning them,

their prices, the licensing system as applied to this class of indus-

try, their compliance with the regulations of the Government, and

the amount of business transacted.²¹These records may con-

tribute to a study of the decline of local business enterprises and

the expansion of the great chain food distributors. For the per-

son who will peruse these papers, interested in what they may

show concerning his home town, he will find many reminders of

conditions of twenty years ago in the reports and letters of such

acquaintances as the confectioner, the hotel manager, and the

grocer.

The economist and historian may inspect to advantage the

files concerning prices. Much is available in printed form on this

subject, but using the letters and lists of the many persons who

reported prices of commodities has a certain fascination which

the printed page lacks. Usually it represents first hand informa-

tion on what the one reporting had to pay or what he found to

be true in the local stores.²²Variations from town to town and

county to county are shown. Differences in living costs between

urban and rural populations may be seen. Although price ranges

have an inherent value and interest, they become more significant

when compared with salaries and wages. The Food Administra-

tion was not primarily concerned with these statistics, and, with

the possible exception of the baking industry, it did not compile

data on this subject. Nevertheless, the personnel records of those

employed in this branch of government service reveal interest-

ing details of salary standards for white collar workers.²³

Ohioans, like Americans in general, are afflicted by that in-

fectious inclination to join some organization which may appease,

however slightly, their vanity. The Food Administration recog-

nized this innate characteristic and saw in it an instrument to

spread its campaign of conservation. Here we may find lists of,

21 For bakers' reports see FA 136A--B2, FA 17H--B8; for correspondence of,

see FA 136E--A7, FA 136H--A3; for bakers' prices see FA 136J--A2.

22 The general correspondence file of the Ohio enforcement division contains

data on prices, FA 136E--A10, as does that of the division of prices, FA 136J--A1;

for general reports, see FA 136J--B1, FA 17H--A3, and FA 17H--B30; for milk

prices, see FA 136K--B1; and for feeds, wheat, and coarse grains, see FA 138F--B2.

23 For lists of personnel, see FA 19H--C7, FA 19H--C8; for certificates of

appointment, see FA 19H--C1, FA 6H--A14; for the pay roll records, see FA 4H--C1.

SOURCES FOR OHIO WORLD WAR HISTORY 361

and some correspondence with, a large number of clubs, fraternal

organizations, and religious groups. For the historian of our

social proclivities, this information on boy scouts, chambers of

commerce, and college fraternities, to mention only a few types,

is indispensable.²⁴

Few states boast of more institutions of higher learning than

Ohio. Naturally, the Food Administration saw the advantage to

be gained by their co-operation. To a great extent the success

of the efforts for conservation was due to college men who filled

important positions in the organization. The contribution of Ohio

State University was especially noteworthy.²⁵The files show,

however, that college presidents throughout Ohio were busy

recommending speakers and that in virtually all of the small col-

lege towns faculty members served on committees.²⁶Courses on

food conservation were introduced into the curriculum, and a

record was kept in Washington of the numbers enrolled.²⁷The

public schools, likewise, constituted an excellent way by which

parents could be effectively reached through their children.²⁸

The student of government may use the Food Administra-

tion papers in the study of various subjects of political science.

What was the attitude of the national and state governments

toward local government and locally prominent persons? What

was the basis on which appointments were made? Was local

talent used to direct county committees, or was it thought neces-

sary to bring in men from the outside? What attitude was as-

sumed by the Government toward organizations of business men,

such as merchants' associations, trade organizations, and chambers

of commerce? Were they ignored, or was their co-operation

sought and their usefulness recognized? What relations existed

24 For data on clubs, see the large card file FA 43H--D2; for lists of boy

scout organizations, see FA 5HB--D2; chambers of commerce, see FA 5HB--D3;

rotary clubs, see FA 5HB--D6; and general organizations' lists, see FA 136G--B2;

for correspondence with women's food committees, see FA 136G--B1, with fraternal

orders, see FA 6H--A5.

25 This subject is treated at length in Wilbur H. Siebert, The University in

the Great War (Columbus, Ohio, 1934), vol. IV of History of Ohio State University,

ed. by Thomas C. Mendenhall.

26 FA 5HB--D1, FA 5HA--D7, FA 5HA--D8.

27 For correspondence between Washington and college officials, see FA 34H--A3;

for the lists of colleges giving food courses and the enrollment, see FA 34H--B2,

FA 34H--B3, FA 34H--C3.

28 See the list in FA 34H--A4.