Wednesday, March 16, 2011

From the Archives: Women War Workers

"Chippers." Women war workers of Marinship Corp, 1942

The U.S. National Archives just released these terrific photos of female war workers from WW II. The images are part of NARA's Women in WW II series. Original captions are included below.

U.S. Army nurses, newly arrived, line the rail of their vessel as it pulls into port of Greenock, Scotland, in European Theater of Operations.

Secretaries, housewives, waitresses, women from all over central Florida are getting into vocational schools to learn war work. Typical are these in the Daytona Beach branch of the Volusia county vocational school., 04/1942

Women man America's machines in a west coast airplane factory, where the swing shift of drill press operators is composed almost entirely of women., 05/1942

Auxiliaries Ruth Wade and Lucille Mayo (left to right) further demonstrate their ability to service trucks as taught them during the processing period at Fort Des Moines and put into practice at Fort Huachuca, Arizona., 12/08/1942

With the grade and dexterity of a master dressmaker, this young woman fabricates "pup" tents for the expanding war army at the Langdon Tent & Awning Company., ca. 06/1941

Building assault boats for U.S. Marine Corps. by women workers., ca. 12/1941

Training in marksmanship helps girls at Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles, Calif., develop into responsible women. Part of Victory Corps activities there, rifle practice encourages girls to be accurate in handling firearms., 08/1942

8 comments:

israel said...

great time for work clothes is my first inspiration, a great look for the American woman and her great contribution to support the troops? WE CAN DO IT!

Unknown said...

Such Great Pictures.

andrea.at.the.blue.door said...

Wouldn't you love to know more about that group of African American nurses!

Great pictures.

Lesli Larson said...

Andrea--

Most definitely! I'm going to do a little more research and see what I can find out.

LL

Anonymous said...

My mom is an alumni of Roosevelt High, Los Angeles. Great photo!

David Himel said...

did they really shoot down the school halls at Roosevelt?

Unknown said...

I've seen numerous old yearbooks that feature a "club" for marksmanship. Kind of blows your mind now to think that there used to be big gun cabinets full of rifles in a lot of schools in the 1940's.

Anna said...

these are great. thanks for sharing.