Morgan, Anita A.Wilson, Carol MarieRobertson, Nancy Marie, 1956-Cramer, Kevin2014-07-112014-07-112013https://hdl.handle.net/1805/4664http://dx.doi.org/10.7912/C2/187Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Conventional interpretations of WWII hold that the war brought the United States out of the Great Depression and laid the path for future economic prosperity. However, this was not the case for all businesses and industries. During WWII, unprecedented production output was required of U.S. industries to supply the great “Arsenal of Democracy.” Industrial mobilization required the creation of new agencies and commissions to manage the nation’s resources. These organizations created policies that deeply impacted U.S. industries involved in war production. Policies governing such areas as the allocation of raw materials, transportation of finished goods, and distribution of war contracts created challenges for businesses that often resulted in lost productivity and in some cases, loss of profitability. Government regulation of the labor force and labor problems such as labor shortages, high absenteeism and turnover rates, and labor disputes presented further challenges for businesses navigating the wartime economy. Most studies of WWII industrial mobilization have focused on large corporations in high priority industries, such as the aircraft, petroleum, or steel industries, which achieved great success during the war. This thesis presents a case study of The Real Silk Hosiery Mills of Indianapolis, Indiana, a company that is representative of small and mid-sized companies that produced lower priority goods. The study demonstrates that the policies created by the military and civilian wartime agencies favored large corporations and had a negative affect on some businesses like Real Silk. As such,the economic boost associated with the war did not occur across the board.en-USTextile historyWWIIHosiery IndustrySilk IndustryReal Silk Hosiery MillsIndustrial MobilizationWar Production BoardLaborWWII home frontWar productionWar industriesReal Silk Hosiery Mills, Inc. -- HistoryReal Silk Hosiery Mills, Inc. -- FinanceHosiery industry -- Indiana -- Indianapolis -- HistoryHosiery, Silk -- Production control -- Indiana -- Indianapolis -- HistorySilk industry -- Indiana -- Indianapolis -- EmployeesSilk manufacturers -- Indiana -- Indianapolis -- HistoryRetail trade -- Indiana -- Indianapolis -- HistoryTextile industry -- Indiana -- Indianapolis -- HistoryBusiness enterprises -- Indiana -- Indianapolis -- HistoryManufactures -- Indiana -- Indianapolis -- HistoryWorld War, 1939-1945 -- Manpower -- United StatesLabor supply -- United States -- HistoryIndustrial mobilization -- United States -- HistoryBusiness and politics -- United States -- HistoryUnited States. War Production BoardProgressivism (United States politics) -- HistoryUnited States -- Politics and government -- 1933-1945World War, 1939-1945 -- Economic aspects -- United StatesWorld War, 1939-1945 -- Economic aspects -- Indiana -- IndianapolisWorld War, 1939-1945 -- WomenUnited States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945Civil service -- United StatesOccupations -- United StatesWomen -- EmploymentThe arsenal of democracy drops a stitch : WWII industrial mobilization and the Real Silk Hosiery Mills of Indianapolis, IndianaThesis