The Way We Worked
Informing Americans About World War II During World War II, journalist Theodore “Ted” Poston served as the head of the Negro Press Section for the Office of War Information (OWI) in Washington, DC. The OWI was a federal agency that provided war communications through radio broadcasts, newspapers, posters, photographs and films. Poston was part of President Roosevelt’s “Black Cabinet,” an informal group of African American advisers. When the war ended, President Truman abolished the OWI, saying it was no longer needed.
DID YOU KNOW? In 1942, the Office of War Information established the Voice of America (VOA), which today is the U.S. government’s official broadcasting service. Learn more at www.usagm.gov/ who-we-are/history/.
Today, the agency is credited as having a major influence on helping Americans mobilize to support the war effort. PHOTO from the records of the Office of War Information, National Archives, courtesy of the National Archives History Office, in collaboration with the Society for History in the Federal Government (SHFG), bringing together government professionals, academics, consultants, students and citizens interested in understanding federal history work and the historical development of the federal government. To join, visit www.shfg.org.
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NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021
The Way We Worked celebrates the past 100 years of public service through archival images. Eargo and GEHA are proud sponsors of NARFE’s Centennial.
