The World War II Collection contains materials pertaining to local defense plans during World War II (1939-1945) including the correspondence of Civil Defense Units, air raid wardens, and police; member lists; an emergency defense plan; newspaper clippings; ephemera such as war ration books, song book, and programs; and records of the Victory Homecoming Parade of 14 June 1946. Local newsletters were sent to soldiers to share the news of Lancaster County communities. Posters convey messages to join the military, buy war bonds, ration food and fuel, recycle, etc. Oral history interviews taken in 2003 provide biographical information and the experiences of four POWs.
The City Police Department poses for the photographer. Front row, left to right: Det. Howard Anderson, Chief Guy Eckman, Mayor Frank Musser, Agnes Ferriter, first Lancaster City policewoman, Det. George Parmer, Lieut. Frank Bradycamp. Seated in sidecar behind Det. Howard Anderson is Sgt. Elwood Gainor who was killed in the line of duty in 1927. Man with goggles is Edward Sullenberger. Also pictured are the following:
Shannon Hartley
James Crawford
David Shank
Lewis Matt
Ray Charles
Sgt. Blaine Silvius
John Wilkinson
clerk Albert F. Montgomery
Myron Boettner
Lewis Piersol
Ross Brubaker
Ray Rohrer
William Bitts
David Kauffman
Ivan Eberly
Edward Lapman
Morgan Medlar
John Kauffman
Charles McNutt
F. Reinhart
Walter Yarnall
Joseph Godino
Carl Wenninger
Edward Millen - first African-American police officer on Lancaster's police force