69. Ration book

This leather case marked “Ration Books” contains nine World War II ration books issued to the Chinn family living at 8 Thomas Street in Rockville. There are three books each for Raleigh Chinn, his wife Rebecca, and daughter Jane Alice, who donated them in 2009. One book for each is dated May 6, 1942, with the recipient described by height, weight, eye color, hair color, and age.

Food was in short supply during World War II with restrictions on canned foods (largely reserved for the troops overseas), fresh foods (limitations on transportation due to gasoline and tire rationing), and imported foods like coffee and sugar. Ration stamps of different types were issued by local boards, like No. 17 Montgomery County. The buyer then submitted stamps to justify the purchase of a commodity. A few unredeemed stamps remain in each of these books.

In 1942, due to a shortage of cars, Raleigh Chinn (1893-1951) gave up his salesman job at Reed Brothers Dodge, a position he had held since 1920. Rebecca Nourse Chinn (1904-1982) served in the county as a teacher and librarian. Jane Alice Chinn Sween (born 1931) would serve as the librarian for the Montgomery County Historical Society from 1968-1998, and author of Montgomery County, Two Centuries of Change in 1984. The library is now named in her honor.

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