1943 Stanley Turner WWII Pictorial Map of the United States

This is a 1943 Stanley Francis Turner map of the United States during World War II. This map emphasizes the burgeoning industrial strength of the United States and its effect on the Allied war effort. Natural and human resources are illustrated in each of the forty-eight states, from iron ore, coal, wheat, and livestock, to hydroelectric power and shipbuilding. Nearly every major coastal city was involved in building ships for the navy. Army headquarters are labeled by flags, while army corps are illustrated and labeled using their insignia.

Fighting World War II

Captioned vignettes encircle the map, highlighting events in the war involving Americans. These are mostly Allied (American) victories, although not exclusively, and include the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the fall of Wake Island and Corregidor, U.S. landings in North Africa, on Guadalcanal, and at Salerno, and U.S. naval victories in the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. An infographic situated in the lower left visually presents the American military buildup, allowing the viewer to easily recognize the extreme growth in military personnel, war bond successes, and the output of natural resources and war materiel, such as torpedoes, ships, planes, and other ordnance. A legend at bottom center explains the different notations used. An inset map of 'the ocean fronts' is included along the top border.

A Closer Look at the Map

The flag of each state is illustrated and appears alongside the state's flower, the year it was admitted into the Union, its population and its area in square miles. Myriad cities, towns, and villages are labeled from coast to coast, with the state capitals meriting their own symbols. Railroads, rivers, and mountain ranges are also illustrated. The map is accompanied by its original sleeve.

Publication History and Census

This map was produced by Stanley Francis Turner and published by C. C. Petersen Publishing and Advertising in 1943. We note four examples cataloged in OCLC which are part of the collections at Pennsylvania State University, the University of Georgia, the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, and Texas A and M University.