In the tabs & dropdowns below you will discover historical documents that detail the United States' War Hemp Industries Inc. program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1942-46 under orders by the War Production Board.
My Hemp Story is a short story about Joe Domino's hemp adventure and how he discovered the War Hemp Industries Inc. archive.
Collection Overview:
The Farm Security Administration (U.S. Department of Ag.) spearheaded an effort to photographically document domestic 'Industrial Plants' during the WW2 effort.
Search the FSA photo archive for yourself, except, you'll conspicuously not find any hemp photos which were hidden away until now!
If you're interested in a high resolution of any of the photos please send us an email!
College Park Trip Overview
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War Hemp Industries Inc. Photographs
Citation: WHI Inc. Lantern Slides & Photographs. Various Photographers. Farm Security Administration, Department of Agriculture. 1942-3. "16.8, Records of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture RG16," Still Picture Branch Holdings, The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, MI. 1943-47.
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Kansas City Visit Overview
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Book One
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The War Hemp Industries Board of Directors Meeting Minutes provide an excellent perspective on the logistical, legal and economical hurdles and problems encountered while establishing a Hemp Industry in America. Jan. 1943 - Jan. 1944
Book Two
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War Hemp Industries Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Feb. 44 - Feb. 45
Book Three
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War Hemp Industries Board of Directors Meeting Minutes from Mar. 45 till its eventual dissolution in Feb. 46
War Hemp Indusries Inc. "Plant Manager" Bulletins
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The "Plant Manager" Bulletins were regularly sent to the, ultimately, 42 mills that were processing government-contracted hemp for the war effort. The Bulletins were distributed by, most notably, Fred Butcher who had proudly stated in a hearing that he personally hired and trained all the managers at the mills. These documents give a glimpse of this heroic industrial wartime effort.
The American Hemp Program
Citation: The American Hemp Program. S.H. McCrory, Director, Hemp Division, Commodity Credit Corporation. June 13, 1944. "General Records Relating to the War Hemp Program," The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Kansas City, MI. 1943-47.
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The Production of Hemp by E.J. Kinney, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Kentucky
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These documents showcase correspondence with the University of Kentucky and its ultimate participation in the educational efforts for the wartime hemp industry.
Fiber Grading Instructions
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Learn about how they graded fiber and each grades unique quality, as well as, the price each grade would sell for.
Early War Documents Leading upto Order M-84
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These documents highlight the need for a domestic hemp industry and the steps taken in order to legally introduce a wartime hemp industry.
Dissolution of the War Hemp Industries Inc.
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These documents highlight the need for a domestic hemp industry and the steps taken in order to legally introduce a wartime hemp industry.
Correspondence with U.S. Narcotic Unit
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Discussions and correspondence concerning the 'Marihuana Tax Act' regulations with accompanying form.
Kentucky Hemp Seed Ledger
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This document lists, by Kentucky county, the name of the the farmer and his address, how much hemp seed he received, the date he received it, and the total amount he owed.
Personnel Duties & Responsibilities
Citation: Personnel Duties & Responsibilities. Author Unknown, War Hemp Industries Inc.. 194. "General Records Relating to the War Hemp Program," The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Kansas City, MI. 1943-47.
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Misc. Foundational Documents in Chronological Order
Includes: FOR: All Hemp States SUBJECT: 1943 Hemp Program SUGGESTED DISTRIBUTION: State Committee Members. Nov. 6, 1942. | War Production Board Order M-82, Part 1079- HEMP SEED. Sept. 22, 1942. | Correspondence with Honorable C. Wayland Brooks, United States Senator. Sept. 29, 1942. | Certificate of Incorporation of the "WAR HEMP INDUSTRIES INC.. Feb. 1, 1943. | War Hemp Industries Inc., Voting Trust Certificate. Feb. 3, 1943. | War Hemp Industries Inc., Capitol Stock 10 Shares Without Par Value. Feb. 16, 1943. | Picture of Hemp Plant | Plant Blueprint | Organizational Charts | Balance Sheet, Hemp Program 1942-1944. July 1, 1944. | Prices for Various Grades of Hemp Fiber. Nov. 29, 1945.
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The wartime need hemp spawned from the need to replace Abaca fiber, which the American cordage companies sourced from the Philippines, that is, until the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The west coast Tubbs Cordage Company's corporate documentation, housed at the Maritime National Park Museum in San Francisco, provides an excellent insight into the Abaca and cordage industries. Tubbs also owned and operated a cordage factory out of Manila which was, after Pearl Harbor, repurposed under Japanese occupation.
Within the Tubbs Cordage Company's archive was the following publication titled the, War Emergency Service Book No. 3, printed by the once prominent Plymouth Cordage Company.
The booklet includes a detailed explanation for the need for 'Wartime Rope,' which, presumably, implied Sisal rope with 15% hemp fiber as a 'Extender,' which was required under the War Production Board's order 'M-84."
Maritime National Park Museum
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War Emergency Service Book No. 3
Citation: War Emergency Service Book No. 3. Emergency Service Department, Plymouth Cordage Company, N. Plymouth MA.. HDC0496 (SAFR 18874), Tubbs Cordage Company records, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
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Men of Rope (Chp 4-5) & Photographs
Citation: Ryder, David. Men of Rope: Being the History of Tubbs Cordage Company. San Francisco: Historical Publications, 1954.
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GIVING CREDIT:
If you're a blogger, researcher or enthusiast, and wish to credit us for our historical restoration efforts, please send people to either this page or our online store.
Suggested text & backlinks:
Discover more hemp history at Gourmet Hemp Foods.
www.gourmethempfoods.com/war-hemp
Support Gourmet Hemp Foods' American hemp historical restoration efforts by purchasing their delicious hemp food products online.
www.gourmethempfoods.com/order