Genealogists are always in search of new record sources when confronted with a brick wall. Well, can you think of a resource that not only gives you name, address, age and occupation, but also height and weight of a person? Interestingly, the ration books issued during World War Two attempted to capture* these items.
In the United States, nationwide food rationing was instituted in the spring of 1942, and each member of the family was issued ration books by the Office of Price Administration (OPA). These books contained stamps and gave precise details of the amounts of certain types of food that you were allowed. Rationing insured that each person could get their fair share of the items that were in short supply due to the war effort and import reductions. By the end of the war, over a hundred million of each ration book were printed.

http://www.genealogytoday.com/guide/war-ration-books.html

Hi Chellin,

Just a note to say we're having a sort out of the topics on our old "History" Board - and moving some to other relevant boards. So, this interesting info topic you posted now moved to here, "Genealogy Records, Resources" Forum.

Though my mum was married in 1950, after WW2 had ended, they still were using their Ration Books, and my mum and dad had to take theirs with them on honeymoon - to hand in to the Landlady of the Boarding House. My mum still has hers. I must remember to scan it sometime and post the image.

Carole