Check out all of the wonderful content now available in the collections added to the Digital Commonwealth since September!

The Eastham Historical Society Inc. Postcard
The Eastham Historical Society Inc. Postcard [ca.1860-1980]
Atwood House Museum of the Chatham Historical Society

Nautical Chart Collection of the Chatham Historical Society : 40 items

Boston Public Library

Charles C. Perkins (1823-1886) Collection : 36 items

Charles H. Woodbury (1986-1940). Prints, Drawings, Watercolors, Oil Paintings, and Copper Plate : 1550 items

George Bellows (1882-1925). Prints and Drawings : 92 items

Medieval and Early Renaissance Manuscripts : 1 item added to existing collection

Stereograph Collection : 1624 items added to existing collection

Tupper Scrapbook Collection: Scrapbooks of mounted views, portraits, etc., relating to Europe and Egypt. 1891-1894 : 10 items

Eastham Historical Society

Eastham Historical Society Local History : 219 items

U.S. Army Natick Soldier System Center

Natick Soldier Systems Center Photographic Collection : 4012 items added to existing collection

Collecting Scrap
During World War II, the United States government promoted scrap drives to reduce shortages in basic materials such as metal, rubber and paper. In September, 1942, the War Production Board announced that scrap metal was urgently needed, and promoted a National Scrap Metal Drive in October. For three Saturdays, there were local scrap drives were organized that involved the whole community, including children. The metal that was collected was not all scrap, but often involved personal or community sacrifice, including wrought iron fences that surrounded the Boston Common and the State House.

These scrap drives promoted a sense of patriotism and involvement in the war effort, and according to the War Production Board, the October drive brought in almost eighty-two pounds of scrap per American.

Collecting ScrapCollecting ScrapRemoving bronze plaque for war drive


Photographs from the Leslie Jones Collection of the Boston Public Library.