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Home Learn Classroom Primary Source Sets Primary Source Set: Civil Defense in Florida During WWII

Primary Source Set
Civil Defense in Florida During WWII

While the United States’ armed forces joined with the Allies in fighting overseas, the government called on citizens to support the war effort and protect the home front. These “civil defense” measures were coordinated by the Office of Civilian Defense in Washington, D.C. and regional defense councils at the state and community levels.

Florida’s State Defense Council was established in 1940, and by the end of the war there were 137 local councils working directly with thousands of volunteers to promote safety, ensure compliance with wartime restrictions, share vital information, boost morale and handle a multitude of other tasks.

Civil defense efforts varied from community to community. Counties with larger populations tended to have more complex defense organizations that took on more projects and activities. The kinds of problems facing a county also affected the work of the local council. In most cases, civil defense efforts were segregated, meaning counties often had two committees working on each aspect of the work—one for black citizens and one for whites.

Photo credit: Student pilot Jean McRae of Homosassa, 1940.

(State Archives of Florida)


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Documents

Student pilot Jean McRae of Homosassa - Tallahassee, Florida.

Student pilot Jean McRae of Homosassa - Tallahassee, Florida.

Telegram from Phil May to General Albert H. Blanding, 1942

Telegram from Phil May to General Albert H. Blanding, 1942

Blackout Order Issued by Governor Spessard Holland during World War II

Blackout Order Issued by Governor Spessard Holland during World War II

Letter from Brown Rainwater to Guy Allen, 1942

Letter from Brown Rainwater to Guy Allen, 1942

Volunteer registration at the Civic Exhibition Center - St. Petersburg, Florida

Volunteer registration at the Civic Exhibition Center - St. Petersburg, Florida

African American motorcycle troops for civil defense.

African American motorcycle troops for civil defense.

Advertisement for Northam Warren Sniff Kits, ca. 1942

Advertisement for Northam Warren Sniff Kits, ca. 1942

Official Civilian Defense Insignia - poster

Official Civilian Defense Insignia - poster

Flash Message Form for World War II Civilian Aircraft Observation Posts, 1940s

Flash Message Form for World War II Civilian Aircraft Observation Posts, 1940s

What are Negroes Doing in your Community in Volunteer Defense Work? Survey, 1944

What are Negroes Doing in your Community in Volunteer Defense Work? Survey, 1944

Oath of Allegiance for Rebecca Lamar Hickey, 1943

Oath of Allegiance for Rebecca Lamar Hickey, 1943

"This is a V Home" window placard, ca. 1942

Flyer advertising a patriotic meeting of African American citizens in Leon County, 1941

Flyer advertising a patriotic meeting of African American citizens in Leon County, 1941

Flier Promoting Women Volunteering for Civil Defense in Duval County During World War II, ca. 1941

Flier Promoting Women Volunteering for Civil Defense in Duval County During World War II, ca. 1941

Polk County Defense News, August 1943 - February 1945

Polk County Defense News, August 1943 - February 1945

  • Research Starter
  • Teacher's Guide

Florida Memory

  • Classroom, Florida During World War II
  • Exhibits, Florida in World War II 
  • Photo Exhibits, Women Who Serve

State Library of Florida

  • Bibliography, Florida During World War II
  • Bibliography, Military and Defense in Florida

Florida Division of Historical Resources

  • Florida World War II Heritage Trail Guide (PDF)

Florida Center for Instructional Technology

  • Florida Goes to War: The Sunshine State in World War II
  • Exploring Florida, Florida During World War II

Published Secondary Sources

Gannon, Michael. Operation Drumbeat: The Dramatic True Story of Germanys First U-Boat Attacks along the American Coast in World War II. New York: Harper Perennial, 1991.

Guiding Questions

  • How did citizens participate in civil defense efforts and volunteer work during World War II? What kinds of jobs and activities were considered to be civil defense work?
  • What did blackout orders ask Floridians to do? Who was impacted? What was the intent?
  • What groups of Floridians are being asked to volunteer for civil defense efforts? Why are these particular groups being targeted for volunteer service?
  • Who are the authors of these documents? Who were the intended readers of these documents? What objectives did the authors have in creating them?

Sunshine State Standards

SS.4.A.1.1: Analyze primary and secondary resources to identify significant individuals and events throughout Florida history.

SS.4.A.7.3: Identify Florida's role in World War II. Examples may include, but are not limited to, warfare near Florida’s shores and training bases in Florida (Miami, Tampa, Tallahassee, etc.), spying near the coast, Mosquito Fleet.

SS.912.A.1.2: Utilize a variety of primary and secondary sources to identify author, historical significance, audience, and authenticity to understand a historical period.

SS.912.A.6.1: Examine causes, course, and consequences of World War II on the United States and the world.

SS.912.A.6.15: Examine key events and peoples in Florida history as they relate to United States history. Examples may include, but are not limited to, Mosquito Fleet, “Double V Campaign,” construction of military bases and WWII training centers, 1959 Cuban coup and its impact on Florida, development of the space program and NASA.

SS.912.A.6.4: Examine efforts to expand or contract rights for various populations during World War II. Examples may include, but are not limited to, women, African-Americans, German Americans, Japanese Americans and their internment, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Italian Americans.

SS.912.A.6.5: Explain the impact of World War II on domestic government policy. Examples may include, but are not limited to, rationing, national security, civil rights, increased job opportunities for African-Americans, women, Jews, and other refugees.

Document Analysis Worksheets from the National Archives

Document analysis is the first step in working with primary sources. Teach your students to think through primary source documents for contextual understanding and to extract information to make informed judgments. The document analysis worksheets created by the National Archives and Records Administrationare in the public domain.

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