1940-1949

When 1940 rolled around the nation was finally recovering from the Great Depression. Although unemployment remained high and American farming was in precarious health a new sense of optimism was apparent. The psychological impact of hard times and poverty, however, would leave indelible marks on the young people who entered adulthood during the decade. Thrift and restraint became hallmarks of this generation.

World events progressed rapidly in the late 1930s and, despite strong opposition, the United States was drawn into the conflagration of World War II after the Japanese attach on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The country’s entry into the war helped to spur on its sluggish economy, but sapped it of a significant portion of its workforce as young men were mobilized and soon departing for the conflicts in Europe and the Pacific. One of the market segments effected during World War II was fashion

Developed by Guest Curator, James Hanley

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Indicates what can be viewed at The Bryan Museum

Indicates Galveston History