France and Britain prepare for war and peacetime shifts
Premier Reynaud resigned as Marshal Petain seeks a peace with honor for France while France fights on against Germany and Italy. Churchill vows continued resistance. Russia moves into Baltic states as Stalin reshapes borders. Italy’s actions, Spain’s Franco stir, and North Africa tensions reshape the Axis balance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Paul Reynaud
France
Marshal Henri Petain
Marshal Petain
Germany
Italy
England
Hitler
Europe
Britain
Russia
Soviet Union
Joseph Stalin
Lithuania
Washingtoniana foreign policies and war talk swirl
A Washingtoniana column covers Roosevelt era debates and policy moves. It notes Senate approval of weapon trading to allies, a duty tax hike, debt limit rise, and talk of expanding armed forces. It cites calls to purge alleged fifth columnists and reports on Leche prison time and ships like the North Carolina.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roosevelt
Hitler
Mussolini
Senate
U. S
England
Birthday revelerWilliam Braun jailed on multiple driving charges
The twenty ninth birthday of apostate N Y butcher boy William Braun is linked to a spree that included consuming about 60 whiskies in 12 hours. He received 30 days for alleged driving while intoxicated, two days for alleged driving without a license, and two days for failing to produce a motor registration card.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
N. Y
William Braun
Army Reissues WWI Poster for 1940 Expansion Drive
The James Montgomery Flagg recruitment poster from 1917-18 is revived in 1940 to support ongoing army expansion. Congress recently authorized the reissue to bolster enlistments as national defense intensifies.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James Montgomery Flagg
U. S. Army
Army
Congress
Embargo Plans Rise Over Scrap Iron Trade
The Roosevelt administration reportedly eyed an embargo on American scrap iron to influence Allied access while Germany and Italy alter trade flows. A New York boy, eight year old Alfred Pat Ritter, died in air raids near Ulm, prompting grim commentary on Hitler’s blitzkrieg tactics and wartime journalism.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roosevelt
Japan
Italy
U. S
England
France
Germany
America
Alfred Pat Ritter
New York City
Stuttgart
Washington State Department
Ulm
Reich
Hitler
Alfred
Mussolini
Record Reserve Agriculture Notes Large Grain Stocks
The Department of Agriculture says ever normal granary reserves held by the Commodity Credit Corporation total about one billion dollars in value. Cotton, corn, wheat and tobacco lead, with smaller amounts of peanuts, rye, barley, butter and wool. Loans set at 64 cents per bushel for 1940 wheat and 35 cents for rye. 30 cents for barley. cotton 8 cents per pound and corn 57 to 62 cents per bushel. War disruptions may push Europe to rely on American food stocks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Department of Agriculture
Commodity Credit Corporation
Americas
Federal gun registration urged by attorney general
Washington brief notes Attorney General Bob Jackson backs a federal registration law for privately owned firearms to curb fifth column risks. It cites unaccounted Tommy guns and a surge in gun sales, highlighting 1938 39 tax figures and contrast with stricter foreign regulations. The piece flags guns sold before 1934 remain unaccounted for and urges action.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
D. C
Fifth Column
U. 8
Bob Jackson
One Armament Company
Jackson
Internal Revenue Bureau
U. S
England
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Oil and Mussolini in War Time Diplomacy
Italy joins the war affecting U S oil shipments to Italian ports for transshipment to Germany. US ships barred, Axis seeks Near East oil and Iraq fields, while Britain and France may see increased oil from alternate routes. Mussolini’s entry followed behind the scenes diplomacy and ultimatums from Roosevelt. Roosevelt signals more aid to Allies with planes and equipment to sway Mussolini, while Alf Landon’s campaign faces warding off admirers. Senator Lee proposes border forts to deter foreign agents amid border concerns.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Italy
Egypt
Mussolini
John Bull
Germany
U.S
U. S
Near East
Iraq
Suez Canal
Iran
Anglo-Iranian Company
Mediterranean
Britain
France
Roosevelt
Corsica
Napoleon
Tunisia
Somaliland
Red Sea
Dilbuti
Hitler
Nazi Germany
Brenner Pass
Alf Landon
Radio vs War Ads Spark Social Media Alarms
A column skewers radio lateness and product plugs intruding on war news. It ridicules sudden ad bursts for baked beans and cosmetics after grim dispatches from Europe, urging broadcasters to separate serious reporting from commercial fluff.
Border disputes mix fog, sun in Mongolia and China
A stream of World War II era notes reports Mongolia as debatable border ground between Russia and Japan while Finland, China, and Britain negotiate concessions. It mentions Nanking government demanding departure of belligerents, Irish Free State prep against invasions, possible fifth columns among Gaels, and royal refugee moves. It recalls Crown Princess Juliana and family fleeing to Britain and Canada, and notes Cobber B J Kain, a New Zealand ace of German air war, killed in France.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Russia
Japan
Mongolia
Chinese Tientsin
Nanking
China
Irish Free State
Wilhelmstrasse
Downing Street
Juliana of
Holland
Juliana
New Zealand
Cobber
B. J. Kain
France
Royal Air Force
Around the House Tips on Decor and Cleaning
A reader shares household how tos for doorways, bookcase placement, and linen care. Tips cover starch gloss, room temperature Banashas, egg yolk stain removal, warm water use, coffee stain removal, hot sudsy water for egg yolk, and ironing pillow cases lengthwise to remove wrinkles.
Quote on first impressions by Carlyle about goodness
A pithy Carlyle aphorism notes that good things rarely reveal their best side immediately. The line reflects skepticism about initial appearances and suggests patience in judging value.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Roger Shaw
Cas
Inged
Western Newspaper Union
Tonia
Latvia
Baltic Nations
Spain
Franco
Gibraltar
Tan- Biers
North Africa
Fremier
Reynaud
Washingtoniana
University of Virginia
Wheeler
Montana
Senator Borah
Idaho
Mak
van Zandt
Pennsylvania
Afth
Dies Committee
Reddish League For Peace and Democracy
Wilder
Aith
Richard Leche
Louisiana
Leche
North Carolina
Brooklyn Navy Yard
New York
United States
Roosevelis
Woosevelt Caime
White House
Hi Phillips
Oribes
Ballyhoo
Belgium
Otis T. Whiffie
Namur
St. Quentin
Mons
Louvain
Spiffledorfer
Asbury Park
Pepper
Allies
Prepul
Tdl
Sandra T. Herrick
Neville Chamberlain
Claypipe McSullivan
Oorry Kallen
Kelloggs
Battle Creek
Pliny
California
Sunkist
Joie
California Fruit Groware
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!