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History - 1940's
(Summary/Commentary)

Just as deciding what EBA/NAEB would be dominated the ’20s and founding the Co-op and the great depression the ’30s, World War II dominated the affairs of the Association in the 1940s.  In 1942 William S. Price, the Co-op’s manager and assistant secretary of EBA went off to serve his country in the US Army, George Frank relocated to Washington DC to work with the War production Board and Bert C Ahrens, who had succeeded Robert Jenkins as Executive Secretary of the Association when Jenkins retired, also became Manager of the E&I Cooperative service “for the duration.” 

During the war, a key concern among campus purchasing professionals was the shortage of the supplies needed to keep higher education in business and a shortage of workers as well.  The file contains letter from Ahrens to E&I Suppliers including Steelcase Inc. asking about the current and likely future availability of merchandise.  In most cases the answer was nothing much would be shipped for civilian usage until government restrictions were lifted.  However some institutions had become government training centers and experienced rapid growth.  Others were involved in government sponsored research. 

All through the war, Price kept in touch with the national office and various board members remarkably well using hand written letters from all over the US and at least a few from Europe.  By 1945 Price was an Army Captain in charge of the rail, barge and truck freight traffic through an unnamed hub in Belgium and thinking about getting home to rejoin the Co-op and start a family.  In a letter dated “28 Feb 45” he congratulated Bert Ahrens and his wife Margaret on the birth of their twin sons. 

Interestingly, the letters written by several people through out the war were unfailingly optimistic.  There was always the assumption that the US and its allies would win the war and things at home would get back to normal once the then current “unpleasantries” were over.  This contrasts with a lack of optimism during the prewar depression decade. 

As the war drew to an ended, Bert Ahrens became one of the key players in what was to become the Federal surplus property program.  Basically Ahrens formed an alliance with the American Council on Education (ACE) and represents higher education in his dealings with the Surplus property Board in D.C.  With ACE, EBA initiated a newsletter to inform institutions of surplus property opportunities likely to be available after the war.  Clearly Ahrens representing higher education was a key contributor. 

By 1947 the war was over, NAEB had a new name, Major Price was home and the GI Bill had brought a time of near explosive growth and change to higher education.  Both NAEB and the Co-op experienced rapid growth and found it necessary to relocate to more appropriate quarters.  The file contains a classic letter from James J. Ritterskamp describing the run down building currently occupied and strongly suggesting a move. 

Some time prior to 1948, the Co-op established “Group Representatives” to provide input to the Board and staff.  The file contains a very well written memo from William S. Price to these groups providing a brief history of the Co-op and its association with NAEB.  Obviously he felt it was important for members to understand the unique relationship between the two organizations.  That need continues.