Around the nation and the world
- 1941, The attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, commences leading the United States to officially enter World War II.
- 1944, The G.I. Bill of Rights is signed into law, providing benefits to veterans.
Around campus
- 1942, Frank Spedding and Harley Wilhelm develop a uranium purification method necessary for a self-sustaining atomic reaction. The Ames Project produces more than 2 million pounds of high-purity uranium metal for the Manhattan Project.
- 1943, The Curtiss-Wright Cadettes Program is established at Iowa State during World War II, to train college women to function during the war as assistants in the Engineering Department. Sponsored by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, the course consisted of work in methods, mechanics, drafting, and processing.
- 1946, Four doctoral degrees in Civil Engineering on record.
- 1947, The student newspaper name is changed from the Iowa State Student to the Iowa State Daily in September.
- 1948, The first issue of News of Iowa State was published, now known as Inside Iowa State. The Bomb yearbook and the Iowa Engineer are named the best in their fields. Athlete of the Year: Glen Brand, Olympic wrestling champion. ISU student enrollment: 9,878.