The material in this collection was obtained by Fred Pederson while he worked in the United States War Department during World War II. The collection does not contain any biographical or personal information on Pederson's life.

The Propaganda Illustrations are black and white photographic reproductions of propaganda posters distributed by the U.S. Army and the War Department during World War II. These propaganda posters were directed to the U.S. Army Air Corps, U.S. Army Ordinance Department, U.S. Army Supply Services, lumber production, metal production, the T.V.A. War Job, and civilian personnel of the U.S. War Department.

The IMPACT magazines, dated 1943-1945, were publications produced during World War II by the Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence in Washington, D.C. They were published monthly and contain information and photographs about airplanes, equipment, tactics, and mission results. Information is also given on Germans and Japanese air forces and air defenses. The magazines were intended to be used as intelligence tools and were distributed to U.S. Army Air Corps squadrons.

The collection also contains a sixteen page transcript of a speech delivered to Congress on June 1, 1945, by President Truman title "The Task Ahead." The speech deals primarily with the war against Japan following the allied victory in Europe.