The community will have the opportunity to see how World War II affected the lives of Northern Utahns in “All Out for Uncle Sam: WWII in Northern Utah,” a free exhibit running from March 17 to June 2, 2018, at the Ogden Union Station.

The exhibit, sponsored by Weber State University’s Stewart Library Special Collections and the Ogden Union Station, showcases Utahns’ experiences during the war both on the home and war fronts. The exhibit will include photos, letters, diaries and artifacts from Utahns who lived through WWII and participated either in Utah’s war efforts at home or as part of the military.

“This exhibit highlights the large impact WWII had on every man, woman and child in Northern Utah, from the farmers to the victory workers to elementary school children,” said Sarah Singh, curator of WSU Stewart Library’s Special Collections. “Everyone had a hand in the war effort.”

WWII not only affected the lives of the residents of Northern Utah, but also altered the area’s landscape. “Northern Utah went from basically farmland to the military installation cities that have impacted the area even today,” Singh said. “With the war, there was a huge influx of people migrating to the area that led to the need for more housing and more businesses.”

The Clearfield Naval Supply Depot and the Defense Depot Ogden – two of the largest depots in the country during the war – are still prominent Utah features today known as the Freeport Center and the Business Depot Ogden, respectively.

The exhibit and opening lecture will begin March 17 at noon in the Ogden Union Station Browning Annex.

Founder of the World War II Foundation and national award-winning documentary film director Tim Gray will deliver the lecture “The Challenges of Chronicling the Personal Stories of the World War II Generation for a Global Television Audience.” The talk is part of the Stewart Library spring lecture series about the impact of WWII in Northern Utah.

“The lecture series we’ve put together is significant because it touches on complex ethical issues that we’re still facing today,” said Holly Andrew, acting executive director of the Union Station Museums. “This is the first time that WSU has collected war stories on such a large scale, and we are glad to be a part of the narrative and host discussions.”

Visit wwii.weber.edu for more information about the lecture series and exhibit.