Prairie Forge - by James J Kimble (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In the wake of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt called for the largest arms buildup in our nation's history. A shortage of steel, however, quickly slowed the program's momentum, and arms production fell dangerously behind schedule. The country needed scrap metal. Henry Doorly, publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, had the solution. Prairie Forge tells the story of the great Nebraska scrap drive of 1942--a campaign that swept the nation and yielded five million tons of scrap metal, literally salvaging the war effort itself.
James J. Kimble chronicles Doorly's conception of a fierce competition pitting county against county, business against business, and, in schools across the state, class against class--inspiring Nebraskans to gather 67,000 tons of scrap metal in only three weeks. This astounding feat provided the template for a national drive. A tale of plowshares turned into arms, Prairie Forge gives the first full account of how home became home front for so many civilians.

Review Quotes

"With ease, Kimble tells a story that goes beyond junk collecting and illuminates the fascinating tale of how Nebraska helped forge the way for one of the most significant military victories in Western history."--Erin Seaward-Hiatt, L Magazine

-- (7/21/2014 12:00:00 AM)

"Prairie Forge is a little gem of a book."--Denise M. Bostdorff, Rhetoric & Public Affairs

"A worthwhile contribution and an enjoyable read on a topic of surprising interest and importance."--Maury Klein, Journal of American History

"Kimble's research and interviews breathe life into this little-known contribution to the U.S. war effort. Prairie Forge is an entertaining, well-written narrative of the tremendous role Nebraskans, Henry Doorly, and scrap metal played in shaping the early years of the war."--Tom Mele, Scrap Magazine

"Kimble's well-crafted narrative capably examines this often poorly understood moment of American history."--Thomas H. Berg, South Dakota History

"Solid, thoroughly researched. . . . [Prairie Forge] should be on the shelf of every Nebraska public library."--Bruce D. Cohen, H-Net

About the Author

James J. Kimble is an associate professor in the Department of Communication and the Arts at Seton Hall University. He is the coproducer of Scrappers: How the Heartland Won World War II, a feature documentary on the 1942 scrap drives.