Before entering World War II, the United States had stepped up production of military equipment in the interest of national defense. President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged Americans to be “the great arsenal of democracy.” After the attack on Pearl Harbor, industries mobilized on a massive scale to produce guns, ships, planes, and other matériel.

While bringing about economic recovery, war production also entailed shortages and restrictions on consumer goods. Many businesses used the July 1942 magazine covers to highlight the contributions and sacrifices they were making to support the war.