THE 1940'S:
A DECADE OF STAMPS
By Tom Nichols
There was the post-great depression era, World War II and the post-world War II era all in one decade. What I wanted to accomplish is an all-inclusive collection of the different types of postal material published over such a varied decade of turmoil and new beginnings in order to better understand how U.S. philately was affected by those world events.
I have found so far while taking this deep dive into the 1940’s some 15 different categories of postal material that can be collected and over 175 postal items issued. What I am attempting to do with this exhibit is to highlight many of those different collecting categories and focus on the great series of stamps and postal events that occurred doing the 1940’s.
President: Franklin D Roosevelt
Vice President: John N. Garner
Population: 132,122,446
Selective Service Act signed.
The first Social Security benefit checks are paid out (Jan 30).
The Pennsylvania Turnpike opens. It is the first multilane U.S. superhighway.
The first Los Angeles freeway opens.
The first McDonald's hamburger stand opens in Pasadena, Calif.
President: Franklin D Roosevelt
Vice President: Henry A. Wallace
Population: 133,402,471
Roosevelt enunciates "four freedoms" in his Jan. 6 message to Congress.
Congress passes the Lend-Lease Act, giving President the power to sell, lend, and lease war supplies to other nations.
President: Franklin D Roosevelt
Vice President: Henry A. Wallace
Population: 134,859,553
More than 120,000 Japanese and persons of Japanese ancestry living in western U.S. moved to "relocation centers," some for the duration of the war (Executive Order 9066).
Coconut Grove nightclub fire in Boston kills 491.
Women's military services established. Background: Female Military Personnel on Active Duty by Grade, September 1998.
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, first health maintenance organization (HMO), begins in Oakland, Calif.
President: Franklin D Roosevelt
Vice President: Henry A. Wallace
Population: 136,739,353
President freezes prices, salaries, and wages to prevent inflation.
Withholding tax on wages introduced. Background: History of the Income Tax in the United States
The Pentagon is completed and becomes the largest office building in the world.
The Chinese Exclusion Acts of 1882 and 1902 are repealed permitting immigration and naturalization of Chinese.
President: Franklin D Roosevelt
Vice President: Henry A. Wallace
Population: 138,397,345
GI Bill of Rights is passed, providing benefits for armed-service veterans.
FDR is reelected, beating Republican challenger Thomas Dewey.
President: Franklin D Roosevelt
Vice President: Harry S Truman
Population: 139,928,165
FDR dies (April 12) and Harry S. Truman becomes president.
Manhattan Project tests first atomic bomb in Alamogordo, New Mexico (July 16).
A B-25 bomber flies into the Empire State Building, damaging the 78th and 79th floors and killing 13 (July 28).
President: Harry S Truman
Vice President: none
Population: 141,388,566
US Atomic Energy Commission is established.
Benjamin Spock's childcare classic published.
Worst work stoppages since 1919, with coal, electrical, and steel industries hit hardest.
First automatic electronic digital computer, ENIAC, dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania.
President: Harry S Truman
Vice President: none
Population: 144,126,071
President Harry S. Truman outlines the Truman Doctrine to the United States Congress.
U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall announces the “Marshall Plan” to the public
The Polaroid Land Camera is first demonstrated
Chuck Yeager, a United States Air Force Captain and World War II veteran, becomes the first person to break the sound barrier
President: Harry S Truman
Vice President: Alben W. Barkley
Population: 146,631,302
Truman ends racial segregation in the U.S. military.
Margaret Sanger founds the International Planned Parenthood Federation
Communists seize power in Czechoslovakia
Israel is declared as an independent state
The First Polaroid Camera goes on sale at the Boston Jordan Marsh department store for $89.75.
President: Harry S Truman
Vice President: Alben W. Barkley
Population: 149,188,130
US recognizes the state of Israel.
Truman proposes Point Four program to help world's less developed areas (Jan. 20).
Twelve nations sign the North Atlantic Treaty establishing NATO (Apr. 4).
