Today in History: Office of War Information (OWI)

The careful hands of women are trained in precise aircraft engine installation duties at Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.
Today in History–June 13–the Library of Congress features the Office of War Information (OWI), which was created on this date in 1942. Later that year, the documentary photography unit of the Farm Security Administration (FSA) was transferred to the OWI. An important U.S. government propaganda agency during World War II, OWI supported the war effort by recording the nation’s preparations for war in films, texts, photographs, radio programs, and posters. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more OWI images and World War II  resources.

FSA/OWI black-and-white photograph collection

FSA/OWI war-related images

FSA/OWI color photograph collection

FSA/OWI war-related color images

Office of War Information historical newspaper coverage

Office of War Information Created America’s Library

1930s-40s in Color Flickr album

Bound for Glory: America in Color, 1939-1943 online exhibition

Rosie the Riveter resources

World War II primary sources and teaching resources