(H)our History Lesson: Civilian Contributions and Volunteerism in Tempe, Arizona WWII Heritage City

University of Arizona (UA) Citrus Farm – Men Inspecting Oranges, 1940.

Tempe History Museum.

About this Lesson

This lesson is part of a series about the World War II home front in Tempe, Arizona American World War II Heritage City. The lesson contains readings and photos to contribute to learners’ understandings about the role of civilian contributions on the home front in Tempe: in agriculture, volunteerism, and financial support of the war efforts. An extension reading supports further connections to the importance of agriculture to wartime efforts in the region.

Objectives:

1. Describe examples of volunteerism, financial support, and agricultural contributions to the home front efforts.
2. Identify ways youth contributed to the war effort and their community.
3. Compare local, historical perspectives on service to synthesize and connect to larger wartime perspectives and themes.

Materials for Students:

1. Readings 1, 2, and 3 (and optional extension)
2. Recommended: Map of Arizona, with Tempe marked
3. Photos-- All images from this lesson are available in the Tempe, AZ Gallery:

Tempe, AZ: World War II Herita...

17 Images

This album accompanies Tempe, AZ: A World War II Heritage City Lesson Collection. They are part of Teaching with Historic Places.

Teacher Tip: The images in the Tempe Gallery are labeled with the lesson's number if all four were being taught in sequence (This is Lesson 2) and the image title. The high quality images in the gallery can be used for your classroom slides or for students to do close analysis.

Getting Started: Essential Question

How did civilians in Tempe contribute to the war effort and their community in areas such as volunteerism and agriculture?

Read to Connect

Reading 1: Newspaper Article Excerpts

1. Tempe Students to Pick Cotton 
   October 1, 1942, The Arizona Republic 
   Tempe, Sept. 30 – Students of Tempe Union High School are registering this week for part-time cotton picking. They will work after school hours and on Saturdays and Sundays, I.F. Nichols, jr., head of the agriculture department, said.  
   Farmers in the community who need cotton pickers have been ask(ed) to report to E.A. Row, principal of the school, so arrangements may be completed.    

2. Collegians Pick Cotton 
   October 4, 1942, The Arizona Republic 
   Tempe, Oct. 3 – Many Arizona State Teachers College students volunteered their services and picked cotton in the valley today. They worked all day, eating lunches packed by members of Pleiades, women’s honor society. 
   Also doing their part in the defense program, in a social way, Miss Margaret Walsh, head resident, and the women of West Hall, last Sunday afternoon in their hall, entertained the naval cadets who are taking preliminary flying officer training on the campus.  
   Shuffleboard courts were placed on the front patio of the hall and other games were played in the lobby. Late in the afternoon, a musical program was presented and refreshments were served. . . . 

Reading 2: Newspaper Article, "Center is Aid to Army Men"

Center is Aid to Army Men 

November 22, 1942, The Arizona Republic  

Tempe was one of the first of the smaller cities to offer hospitality to servicemen when the local service center was opened with open house and dedication services November 22, 1941.  

The center provides informal homelike advantages for recreation, music, reading and rest. Mrs. Sonstegard King of Phoenix is official hostess and Floyd Anglin is the recreational director.  

They are assisted by local women’s organizations that furnish hostesses and refreshments through a co-operative program supervised by Mrs. Garfield Goodwin, chairman of the woman’s division of the Tempe defense recreation committee. Coffee and fruit drinks are served with cakes and cookies to men who visit the center. 

Varied Attractions 

There is a reading and lounging room and general recreation room furnished with radio, piano, ping pong table and card tables and a kitchen. On the grounds adjoining the building there are courts for horseshoes, badminton, shuffleboard and croquet where local men and boys often join servicemen for games. The grounds are planted with flowers and grass.  

The peak of activities at the center was last January and February when cavalry and infantry were stationed at Papago Park and approximately 100 men visited the center every night. Mrs. Miriam Beam was hostess at that time and worked with Mr. Anglin. 

Hahn is Contributor 

Wilson Hahn, who was chairman of the Tempe Defense Council at the time the center was organized, helped establish the center. 

The building was secured from the government. It originally was purchased for the site of the new post office building, but the project was canceled in favor of the war program. 

Servicemen from various valley fields now frequent the center, including British boys from Falcon Field, Chinese from Williams and Thunderbird fields, as well as American boys. 

A girls’ service organization was organized to furnish hostesses on various occasions. It is under a separate committee composed of Mrs. Charles Olson, chairman; Mrs. Lewis S. Neeb and Mrs. Irene Wilkie. 

College Active 

The local college was host to servicemen at dances given under the direction of Dr. Blanche Carrier, counselor of women. 

Local tennis courts, the college football ground, the gymnasiums and showers were all made available to servicemen.  

British men from Falcon played rugby and soccer ball, traditional games of their country, providing much interest and entertainment locally.  

The Rev. Cecil L. Prior is present chairman of the council, composed of Mrs. Goodwin, the Rev. Berlyn V. Farris, Max Connolly, R. H. Lavik, Lester Ater, the Rev. Bernard L. Gordon, and E.A. Row. 

Through their combined efforts, organizations and individuals made donations for the furnishings of the center. 

The council also secured donations and equipped a day room for soldiers at Papago Park. 

Reading 3: Newspaper Article Excerpts

Tempe Drills for Defense 

November 22, 1942, The Arizona Republic 

Tempe has a well-organized civilian defense program that operates from a control center set up in the council chambers of the city hall. 

More than 500 persons in the community volunteered service when the project was being instituted and many were given training. All requirements for personnel and materials have been more than doubled in each department. 

Mayor W.W. Cole, commander of the local district of the citizens defense program, said the program was set up as quickly as possible for emergency. Now the local council is working in cooperation with offensive measures in the war program.  

The sale of war bonds, salvage drive, rationing measures and farm labor relief are important offensive measures to which every citizen should give volunteer contributions, he said. 

Kenneth Zeigler is chairman of the defense council and the control center staff includes Dilworth Baird, communications officer; Joseph T. Birchett, transportation; E.W. Daley, utilities; Dr. R. J. Hight, emergency medical; Tom Harter, air-raid warden; A.G. Nolte, auxiliary police, and Carl Spain, fire.  

Wilson Hahn, first defense chairman, working with Mayor Cole and the defense council, set up the program for emergency. Maps of the city were drawn for each division.  

“Even a little can help a lot – NOW. Buy U.S. War Stamps/Bonds” by U.S. Govt Printing Office in 1942.

Tempe History Museum.

By the numbers:

Examples of civilian contributions:

By December 15, 1941, the Tempe Red Cross garment production unit had doubled attendance since the start of the war. Over 1,000 garments and yarn work had been produced.

- “Garment Production Told by Tempe Unit,” The Arizona Republic, December 16, 1941

On May 8, 1942, the Tempe Junior Red Cross donated $18 to the war fund.

- “Donations Announced,” The Arizona Republic, May 9, 1941

During one war loan drive, Tempe had sold $449,566.50 in war bonds, going over the quota of $409,000.

- “Tempe Exceeds War Loan Quota,” The Arizona Republic, October 3, 1943

Quotations to consider:

“Coxswain Gilmer Godbold who recently returned from 15 months duty in the Pacific, spoke to pupils of the Tempe Grammar School at a special V E Day assembly held this morning. . . . The assembly concluded with a bond rally, and school will be dismissed early this afternoon to allow the pupils to sell bonds for the Seventh War Loan drive.”

- “Tempe Students Told About War,” The Arizona Republic, May 9, 1945

Rows of cotton with mountains in the background in Maricopa County. Although the picture was taken after the war, this view would have been like those seen by students in Reading 1.

Tempe History Museum.

Student Activities

Questions for Reading 1, Images, & Quotes to Consider

1. List examples of how ways students in Tempe contributed to war efforts. What other ways may youth have contributed that were not described?

2. Why might there have been a bigger need for workers and volunteers in farming during this time?

3. How was the role of schools and colleges complex during wartime?

4. How might youth efforts have changed people's views of young people and their responsibility to help the country in the 1940s?

Questions for Reading 2

1. How did the Tempe service center support service members during their visits?

2. What role did local women’s organizations and the college play in running the center?

3. What might have been the impact of the provided recreational opportunities?

4. How did the Tempe service center show relationships between local schools, the community, and the military?

Questions for Reading 3

1. Why would the number of personnel and material requirements be doubled in each department?

2. What types of contributions does Mayor W.W. Cole encourage from community members? Why do you think they are described as “offensive measures?”

3. What were the benefits of having a well-organized civilian defense program? How does this connect to civic responsibilities during wartime?

Date farm – Date palms by Baseline and Rural in Tempe, 1940.

Tempe History Museum

Lesson Closing

Answer the essential question: How did civilians in Tempe contribute to the war effort and their community in areas such as volunteerism and agriculture?

Include examples of youth efforts in your response.

Additional Resources

Reading: Agriculture

Teacher Tip: The reading can be used to expand knowledge on agriculture in Tempe from reading 1 to consider the importance of the industries during wartime.  

Background: A "No. 1 crop" during the war (mentioned in last sentence of text) referred to crops that were considered essential for the war effort due to their high demand for both military and civilian use. These crops were prioritized because they were crucial for feeding soldiers or supporting rationing programs. Examples included wheat, as a staple to making bread and other foods, and carrots, due to their high vitamin content to support nutrition at home and abroad. 

Tempe Farms Boost Industry 

November 22, 1942, The Arizona Republic  

Industries in Tempe are largely the outgrowth of the prosperous farm areas which supply local and eastern markets. 

The Hayden Flour Mills and the Arizona Rose Flour Mills provide grain markets and warehouse facilities for local growers and produce dairy, stock and poultry feed, and supply seed.  

The Borden Creamery, distributor of evaporated milk, stepped up production to meet the increased demand for milk this year. Women have been employed at the plant to replace men called to the service. 

The Vogel Hatchery, east of Tempe on a six-acre tract on the main highway, is modern and electrically equipped. It has supplied valley poultrymen with approximately 500 chicks a week in the past year. V. A. Vogel, manager and owner, developed a high-grade strain of Rhode Island Reds from his own breed stock. 

The Desert Citrus Products plant provides a market for juice grapefruit that are small or off shape and are not used by packers. The plant is comparatively new and has been increased in capacity each year. 

The Cole Refsnes Date Company and the Guthrie Date Gardens are principal packers in the community and many other growers distribute their fruit individually or through co-operative packers.  

The Tovrea and McCreight packing companies provide principal markets for local meat producers.  

Local lettuce growers have not yet made arrangements to operate lettuce-packing sheds because of government restrictions. Much of the lettuce acreage, locally, has been turned over to the production of No. 1 crops, such as carrots. 

Questions for Reading

1. List examples of crops and production in Tempe. Why was the agricultural industry critical during wartime? 

2. Why were women employed at the Borden Creamery? 

3. Why was much of the lettuce acreage turned over to No. 1 crops, such as carrots? 

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This lesson was written by Sarah Nestor Lane, an educator and consultant with the Cultural Resources Office of Interpretation and Education, funded by the National Council on Public History's cooperative agreement with the National Park Service.