War Rationing -- When The Greatest Generation Went "All In"

Edna Lillian [Tew] Tarr (1885 -1969) was the older sister of my paternal grandfather.  The above Ration Book from World War II is in the possession of her grandson, my cousin Bruce.  He allowed me to scan the book and the stamps it contained.

Since this summer is the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, I did a little research and was surprised to learn that there was no rationing to speak of in the U.S. during WW I.  During World War I, food rationing was not explicitly imposed in the United States; instead the U.S. Food Administration relied on a public relations "propaganda" campaign and popular slogans to persuade people to self-ration and conserve food resources.  Catchy slogans such as "Meatless Mondays," "Food Will Win The War," and "Wheatless Wednesdays" did in fact help reduce national food consumption by 15%!  

World War II was different.

As early as the summer of 1941, the UK appealed to the United States to conserve food so that more food resources could be contributed to those fighting Germany in Europe.  As a result, on August 28, 1941 a Presidential Executive Order was issued to establish the Office of Price Administration (OPA) within the Office for Emergency Management.  OPA had broad powers that included the ability to place ceilings on the price for all products except agricultural commodities.  On many other items they had the power to ration the supplies available for consumer sales: tires, cars, shoes, gasoline, nylon, and many other products.  At one point all but about 10% of retail food prices were frozen by OPA. 

The first item to be rationed by OPA was tires.  In December 1941 OPA ordered the cessation of tire sales while it established volunteer tire ration boards around the country.  In January 1942 a temporary end of all civilian auto sales was implemented and dealers suddenly had 500,000 unsold vehicles sitting on their lots -- and by early February 1942 the production of civilian automobile models had ceased. Then, by June 1942 companies no longer produced metal office furniture, refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, radios and other products in order to save and divert materials for war production efforts.

Civilian ration books were first issued in May 1942 with the release of War Ration Book Number One, also known as the "Sugar Book." It was distributed through a network of over 100,000 volunteers that included teachers and PTA groups around the country. All sales of sugar were ended on April 27, 1942 and resumed on May 5th after the ration books were out to limit sugar purchases to a half pound per person per week (50% of the previous normal consumption by Americans). Coffee was rationed beginning in late November 1942 and by the end of the year ration coupons had to be used for citizens to buy other items.  Within a year such items as butter, cheese, fuel oil, meat, canned milk, coal, jams, lard, margarine, typewriters, gasoline, bicycles, and shoes were rationed.

Rationing did not end until 1946.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Scan of original War Ration Book No. 3 issued to Edna L. Tarr courtesy of her grandson, Bruce Marquardt.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

Wedding Wednesday (September 4, 2013) -- Edna Lillian Tew and Edward Clifford Tarr

My paternal grandfather's older sister,  Edna Lillian Tew (my grand aunt), married Edward Clifford ("Cliff") Tarr on Wednesday, June 1, 1910 in Providence, Rhode Island.  On her wedding day, Edna was 24 years old and just a few weeks away from her 25th birthday.  Cliff was 26 years old.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Scanned image in the collection of the author.  The scan is from an original announcement in the possession of Edna and Cliff's grandson, my cousin Bruce. 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Immortality (August 19, 2013) -- Edna Lillian (Tew) Tarr

"Immortality Lies in Being Remembered by Family and Friends." -- John D. Tew 

My paternal grandfather's older sister, Edna Lillian Tew, was born 128 years ago today.  She was eleven years older than my grandfather and was the only girl among the five children of John Andrew Tew (1853 - 1903) and his wife Margaret (Conner) Tew (1860 - 1935).  In fact, my grandfather and my grand aunt Edna were the only two of the five children who survived beyond age two!

Arnold G. Tew, Sr. and his older sister, Edna L. (Tew) Tarr circa 1956-57
 [My grandfather died in 1958, so the  Dec. 61 date on the top margin of the photo
is probably when the photo was developed.]

I remember my Aunt Edna and always enjoyed seeing her and being around her.  One of my best memories of her was when we visited her at the cottage she and her late husband, Edward Clifford Tarr, had on Prudence Island in the Narragansett Bay.  [Her grandson, my cousin, still owns that cottage, which has been in the Tarr family for more than 100 years now!  And as this is written my cousin and his wife are being visited on Prudence by my father's sister, my Aunt Priscilla.]

Edna passed away three days after Christmas in 1969 when I was a senior in high school.  In fond and lasting recollection of my Aunt Edna, I present photos of her and will raise a glass in her memory this evening!

 

Edna Lillian Tew, approximately two years old 

Edna L. Tew, age 6

Edna in 1902, age 17

Edna in her twenties -- probably around the time of her wedding to Edward C. Tarr when she was 24 years old

My Aunt Edna on the porch of her cottage on Prudence Island

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

All photos -- many of which were contributed as scanned copies by the grandson of Edna Lillian (Tew) Tarr -- are in the collection of the author.  Thank you Bruce!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Friday Fotos (June 28, 2013) -- Clifford, Edna and Mildred Tarr 1920

Clifford, Edna and Mildred Tarr out on a drive (location unknown)

Judging by the foliage on the trees in the distance and the grass still dark beside the stone wall, this photo was probably taken in the late summer to early fall.  The location is unknown, but the year was 1920.  The drive must have been at a somewhat leisurely pace (or the car was stopped to pose for the photograph) because the woman in the back is not holding on to her hat.  It must have been cool because the driver is wearing an overcoat and the woman in back appears to have a jacket on.  The photograph seems to capture a nice family drive on what probably passed for an improved roadway at the time since it is wide, level and nicely groomed without obvious pot holes or other depressions.

This is a family outing of the Clifford and Edna Tarr family.  Edna, the woman sitting in the back seat, is Edna Lillian (Tew) Tarr, the older sister of my paternal grandfather, Arnold G. Tew, Sr.  Sitting beside my grand aunt is her daughter, Mildred Tarr, who is about 9 years old at the time of this photograph.  The driver is Edna's husband and Mildred's father, E. Clifford Tarr.

Since the Ford Model A did not come out until 1927, the Tarr's automobile is undoubtedly a Ford Model T (also known as the Tin Lizzie).  The Model T was produced from 1908 until 1927 when the Model A replaced it.  By May 26, 1927 some 15 million Model Ts had been produced.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Photograph courtesy of my cousin, Bruce Marquardt, son of Mildred Marquardt nee Tarr (the little girl in the back seat).
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Copyright 2013, John D. Tew
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  

Tombstone Tuesday (April 23, 2013) -- The John and Margaret Tew Family gravestones

Tew Family Plot in Moshassuck Cemetery, Central Falls, Rhode Island

I have written elsewhere at The Prism about the sadness that visited the nuclear family of my great grandparents, John and Maggie Tew.  Of the five children born to John and Maggie, only two survived beyond age two.  Their only daughter and eldest child, Edna Lillian Tew, and my grandfather, Arnold George Tew, survived to adulthood and each married and had one or more children.  The above photograph shows the gravestones of the entire John and Maggie Tew family.

As shown above, the small gravestones to the right are the markers for the first two sons of John and Maggie.  The first-born son, Charlie E. Tew, was born on August 25, 1886.  He died about two months shy of age two on June 15, 1888.  The third-born child and second son, Henry E. Tew, died not quite a year after his older brother Charlie died.  Henry was born June 18, 1888 -- three days after his brother Charlie died!  Close-ups of the brothers' gravestones are shown immediately below.

Gravestones of brothers Charlie and Henry Tew

Gravestone of Charlie E. Tew (1886 - 1888)

Gravestone of Henry E. Tew (1888 - 1889)

The headstone for John Andrew Tew, his wife Margaret "Maggie" (Conner) Tew, the third of their sons to die in infancy, and their two surviving children (and their spouses) is shown below.  As shown on the headstone, the third son of John and Maggie died just shy of eleven months after his father was hit by a train and killed.

One Hundred Twelve years ago today, John and Maggie's third son, John H. Tew, was born (April 23, 1901).
Sadly, he died on December 2, 1903.

The headstone above also shows the two children of John and Maggie who survived to adulthood and married.  These two children and their spouses are buried with John and Maggie.  The only daughter, Edna Lillian (Tew) Tarr, my grand aunt, (1885 - 1969) rests here with her husband, Edward Clifford Tarr (1884 - 1948).  The only son to survive, Arnold George Tew (1896 - 1958), my grandfather, is at peace here with his wife, my grandmother, Huldah Antonia (Hasselbaum) Tew (1898 - 1983).

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

All photographs taken at Moshassuck Cemetery, Central Falls, Rhode Island by the author.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

Immortality -- Mildred Louise (Tarr) Marquardt

"Immortality Lies in Being Remembered by Family and Friends." -- John D. Tew  

Mildre Louise Tarr

Mildred with her mother Edna (Tew) Tarr

Mildred Tarr

Mildred (left) with her mother Edna

Mildred L. (Tarr) Marquardt -- circa 1960

Mildred Louise Tarr is my 1st cousin 1x removed.  She was the daughter of my Grand Aunt, Edna Lillian (Tew) Tarr and her husband, Edward Clifford Tarr.  Mildred was born in N. Attleboro, Massachusetts on March 19, 1911 -- One Hundred Two (102) years ago today!  She grew up in Wallingford, Connecticut and she married Randall Oddy Marquardt there on June 11, 1938.  Mildred died in Wallingford at age 93 on June 9, 2004.  Mildred had one son, four grandchildren and now several great grandchildren.

Tonight we raise a glass in celebration and memory of Mildred!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Photographs in the collection of the author courtesy of Mildred's son, Bruce, my 2nd cousin.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
                                                                                                          

Friday Fotos -- March 15, 2013

Margaret "Maggie" Conner (1860 - 1935)

Maggie (Conner) Tew

Edward Clifford Tarr (1884 - 1948)

Edward Clifford Tarr and his wife, Edna Lillian (Tew) Tarr

My great grandmother, Margaret (Conner) Tew was born on March 6, 1860 in Dedham, Massachusetts.  Both her parents were born in Roscommon County, Ireland. She married John Andrew Tew in Coventry, Rhode Island on August 27, 1882 at age 22. "Maggie" as she was known, must have been a very tough and resilient lady for her life was not easy. She lost three of her five children and her husband all within the space of five years (1888 - 1903). Her husband and her youngest child died within months of one another. [See, "Immortality Lies in Being Remembered by Family and Friends" re: John Andrew Tew posted here January 27, 2013.] Maggie's only daughter was Edna Lillian Tew, born in 1885. Edna is pictured immediately above with her husband, "Cliff" Tarr. Edna is my Grand Aunt, the older sister of my grandfather, Arnold G. Tew.

Clifford Tarr was a master engraver.  He was born on February 10, 1884 in Providence, Rhode Island. He married Edna in Providence on June 1, 1910. Their daughter and only child, Mildred, was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts and later the family moved to Wallingford, Connecticut. Clifford died in Meriden, Connecticut on March 6, 1948. This must have been doubly difficult on my Grand Aunt Edna because this meant her husband died on her mother's birthday!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Copyright 2013, John D. Tew
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Eureka Moments and One Hundred Years Ago Today

What do research scientists, historians, archeologists, miners, detectives and genealogists have in common?  Deep down they all live for the electric thrill and heady rush caused by a sudden discovery.  Sometimes the sensation is achieved by the serendipitous uncovering of a delightful little nugget and other times (much more rare) it is achieved by uncovering a vein of ore so rich it leaves one awestruck.  For the scientist, the rich vein of ore could be a Nobel-worthy discovery that changes the direction of scientific thought.  For the detective, the rich vein could be finding the one clue that unlocks the answer to a horrific crime.  For the genealogist, a rich vein of discovery is breaking through a brick wall to finally unravel the true identity and relationship of an individual or family in the mosaic that is one's family tree. 

This post is NOT about a rich vein discovery.  It is about the delight of having made the serendipitous discovery of a gleaming little nugget of family history.

Arnold G. Tew at Phillips Andover circa 1913.

My paternal grandfather, Arnold G. Tew, attended Phillips Academy, Andover from 1910 – 1914.  During 1913 and 1914 he had what was called “A Line A Day” diary.  It is a small (4 ¾ in. by 5 ¾ in.), leather-bound volume with gilt-edged pages.  The diary was able to accommodate five years of entries with four ruled lines per day.  I came into possession of the diary going on three years ago.  I have transcribed all of his diary entries for the years 1913 and 1914 -- except for those that were erased or presumably torn out by my grandmother decades later due to either her sensibilities or desire to protect the image of a nearly seventeen-year-old boy she never really knew.  The diary is a wonderful trip into the language, teen slang, objects and interests of the period as well as one boy’s experience of prep school life at Phillips Andover at the beginning of the last century.

My grandfather was a regular, but not a perfect daily diarist; after all, he was only 16 - 17 years old.   The diary shows he was very tuned in to the weather, sports, letter correspondence, some academics and, most especially, girls.  From a genealogy point of view, the diary also has references to his family, but they are sadly few and far between over the two years of entries.  This probably is reflective of the priorities of most seventeen-year-old young men – even those of a century ago.

Since the diary starts on New Years Day 1913, it is appropriate to illustrate an example of the diary entries with the entry from January 7, 1913 – exactly 100 years ago today!

To continue the story about the discovery of a little nugget of family history, I need to explain that about a year before I obtained my grandfather’s diary I visited a cousin up in Wallingford, CT.  My cousin is the grandson of my grandfather’s older sister Edna (Tew) Tarr.  Edna was eleven years older than my grandfather and they were the only two children of the five children of John Andrew Tew and his wife, Margaret “Maggie” (Conner) Tew, to survive beyond two years old.  

Edna Lillian Tew

Edna was 18 years old when her father died tragically and her brother, my grandfather, was only 7 years old.  One result of the difference in ages between these siblings was that Edna became something more than just an older sister to Arnold – she was almost like a second mother.  Another result was that Edna, thankfully, was the keeper of many items of the Tew family history that her much younger brother could not yet appreciate.  Edna’s grandson is now the keeper of many items of the family’s past and this led to my April 2009 visit to Wallingford to spend a weekend reviewing and scanning documents and photographs that my cousin was only too happy to make available to me for scanning.   I set up shop at his kitchen table with my laptop and scanner for two days. [THANK YOU yet again cousin!]

That weekend in April 2009 I scanned many documents and photos, including wedding certificates, birth certificates, photos of the children who did not survive, early photos of my grandfather and my Grand Aunt Edna, etc.  There were photographs that were obviously done by studio photographers (and were so designated), but there were also candid photos of family members engaged in everyday activities – including on Prudence Island in the Narragansett Bay where Edna and her husband had a cottage.  

The cottages built by E. Clifford Tarr on Prudence Island

It was impossible to know who took the “candid camera” photos, but they are in many ways so much more interesting and real than the posed studio portraits.   Among the photos were shots of Edna with her daughter Mildred, photos of my father and his brother and sister during their youth, photos of my grandfather from his youth, and photos of my great grandparents (John and Maggie Tew), that I had never seen before.

In August 2010, after obtaining my grandfather’s diary, I began a transcription of the handwritten entries (that were thankfully easy to decipher).  I finally finished in October.   The transcription was a learning process enhanced by my near constant diversions into Google searches of places and things mentioned in the diary pages.  I decided to annotate the diary with explanatory footnotes and photos where I could.  As a result, the transcription grew to 53 pages in length and took up 58 MBs of disk space unzipped.

When I reached the diary entry for July 30, 1913, I transcribed that my grandfather was on Prudence Island at his sister and brother-in-law’s cottage for the first time in two years.  He was recovering from some knee surgery and he had what he called his “Vest Pocket Kodak” with which he took what he referred to as “snaps.”  

A 1913 Kodak "Vest Pocket" camera.

On August 6^th the diary stated, “I took a few snaps of Mildred [his two year old niece -- Edna’s daughter] on the beach with my Vest Pocket Kodak.”   And then . . . the first glint of a possible eureka moment serendipitously arose.  The Saturday, August 30, 1913 diary entry said:

“Edna and I caught only one tautog between us today.  She caught it!  I took a roll of film in my vest pocket Kodak of Mildred today down on the shore and in a row boat.”

I paused and re-read the entry once, then twice.  “In a row boat!”

I immediately jumped to my iPhoto application and went to the collection of photos I scanned while up at my cousin’s house in 2009.   I looked carefully through the photos and suddenly there they were – two candid camera shots by a previously unknown photographer -- two-year-old Mildred in a rowboat!!   

Mildred Tarr on August 30, 1913,  The hand 

written note on the top snapshot was a 

later guess and is in error as the diary demonstrates.

I almost yelled “Eureka!” out loud.  And then there was an instantaneous, almost eerie feeling as I realized I was looking at a moment in time 97 years ago almost literally through the eyes of my sixteen year old grandfather (who died in 1958).  Here were the very photos he wrote about in his diary on August 30, 1913.  I was looking at exactly what he saw as he lined up the candid “snap” of his toddler niece.  THIS is the kind of nugget of discovery that so thrills those of us hooked on genealogy!   

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

John Andrew Tew (August 27, 1853 – January 27, 1903)

                                    married

Margaret “Maggie" Conner (March 6, 1860 – December 8, 1935)

            1.  Edna Lillian Tew  (August 19, 1885 – December 28, 1969)

                                    married

                      Edward Clifford Tarr (February 10, 1884 – March 6, 1948)

                                    (1)  Mildred L. Tarr (March 19, 1911 – June 9, 2004)

            2.  Charlie E. Tew (August 25, 1886 – June 15, 1888)

           

            3.  Henry E. Tew (June 18, 1888 – April 9, 1889)

            4.  Arnold G. Tew (October 15, 1896 – February 28, 1958)  My grandparents.
                                    married
                        Huldah A. Hasselbaum (July 16, 1898 - January 3, 1983)

            5.  John H. Tew (April 23, 1901 – December 2, 1903) 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Copyright 2013,  John D. Tew

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _