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GENTLEMEN DO NOT READ EACH OTHER'S MAIL U.S. CENSORSHIP IN WORLD WAR II
The U.S. Intelligence apparatus that had been developed during World War I was largely dismantled by the early 1940's due to a feeling that such practices were improper. However, as the events in the world indicated that the United States might again find itself at war, the Army was given the task, in late 1940, of developing a mail censorship program. In June 1941 President Roosevelt approved a general wartime censorship program. Orders were transmitted on December 11-12 to begin postal censorship within 48 hours. Shortly after, the President signed an Executive Order establishing the Office of Censorship reporting directly to the President. This organization was headquartered in Washington, D.C. Major censorship stations were established at New York, Miami, New Orleans, San Antonio, El Paso, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, San Juan, Balboa and Honolulu. At its peak more than 10,000 civilians were employed by the Postal Division of the Office of Censorship. This exhibit portrays samples of a larger study of U.S. civilian censorship during World War II. The general development is along the lines of Broderick and Mayo, Civil Censorship in the United States During World War II.
Outline: The exhibit follows along the following categories. Executive Order 8389 Provisional Handstamps Regular Handstamps Travelers Handstamps Privileged Mail Handstamps Provisional Labels Regular Labels Regular Label Usages Return Label Forms Provisional Enclosure Slips Enclosure Slips
Updated: 29 March 2004 Copyright © 2004