WV0001- Women Veterans Historical Collection- UNCG

Women Veterans Historical Collection

Women Veterans Historical Collection logo

General Textiles and Artifacts Collection,

1940s-1990s (bulk 1940s)

#WV-0001

Abstract

The Women Veterans Historical Collection was created in 1998 to document the female experience in the Armed Forces. Textiles and artifacts purchased by University Archives & Manuscripts on a continuing basis supplement and complement the individual veterans collections in the Women Veterans Historical Collection. This collection includes full uniforms, individual uniform items, hats, shoes, and other artifacts from the Women's Army Corps, Women's Air force, WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service-Navy), Coast Guard SPARS, Women Marines, Army Nurse Corps, Navy Nurse Corps, American Red Cross, Cadet Nurse Corps, and other regular military branches.

Acquisitions

Donated by veterans and alumni of the Woman's College (now The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) in 1992 and transferred to University Archives by the Alumni Association in 1997. Additional materials donated by veterans or purchased by University Archives beginning in 1998 and continuing through the present time.

Processing Notes

Additional textiles and artifacts from all branches of service may also be found in the individual veterans collections. Researchers should consult the finding aids to those collections for additional examples of military textiles and artifacts.

Historical Note

The Women Veterans Historical Collection is the result of a project intended to document the female experience in the Armed Forces through letters, papers, photographs, published materials, uniforms, medals and oral histories.

The idea of the Women Veterans Historical Collection grew out of talks with Woman's College alumnae of the Class of 1950. The women veterans of World War II made a great impact on their classmates at the Woman's College, as well as on their military organizations, their families, and their friends.

In 1992, during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service—Navy) several veterans sent uniforms and other memorabilia to the Alumni Association. Those items were transferred to the University Archives in 1997 and form the nucleus of the Women Veterans Historical Collection. Since that time, items have been donated from other WAVES, United States Navy veterans, WAACs (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps), WACS (Women's Army Corps), and United States Army veterans, SPARS (Coast Guard Women's Reserve—from the motto “Semper Paratus”—Always Ready), WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), Women's Air Force and Army Air Force veterans, Women Marines, Army nurses, Navy nurses, Army dietitians and physical therapists, members of the American Red Cross, and civilians in service. Additional textiles and artifacts have been purchased by University Archives to supplement those donated by individual veterans. The bulk of the collection focuses on World War II, but it also contains materials relating to women veterans of the Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf wars.

Collection Overview

The Women Veterans Historical Collection was created in 1997 to document the female experience in the Armed Forces. Textiles and artifacts purchased by University Archives & Manuscripts on a continuing basis supplement and complement the individual veterans collections in the Women Veterans Historical Collection. This collection includes full uniforms, individual uniform items, hats, shoes, and other artifacts from the Women's Army Corps, Women's Air force, WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service—Navy), Coast Guard SPARS, Women Marines, Army Nurse Corps, Navy Nurse Corps, American Red Cross, Cadet Nurse Corps, and other regular military branches from the 1940s to the 1980s.

Organization of the Collection

The collection contains the following series.

Series 1. Textiles
Series 2. Footwear
Series 3. Artifacts

Detailed Description of the Collection

Full uniforms, individual uniform items, hats, shoes, and other artifacts from the Women's Army Corps, Women's Air force, WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service—Navy), Coast Guard SPARS, Women Marines, Army Nurse Corps, Navy Nurse Corps, American Red Cross, Cadet Nurse Corps, and other regular military branches from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Series 1. Textiles, 1918-1970s (bulk 1940s)

Textile Box 1: Women's Army Corps: Olive Drab Utility Coat with Wool Liner, circa 1942-1951
Textile Box 2: Women's Army Corps: Olive Drab Utility Coat, circa 1942-1951; Olive Drab Liner for Overcoat, circa 1942-1951; Fur Liner for Utility Coat, circa 1942-1951
Textile Box 3: Women's Army Corps: Hospital Duty Dress (tan/rose-beige), circa 1940s; Khaki Shirt, circa 1940s
Textile Box 4: Women's Army Corps: Field Jacket Liner, circa 1943-1945; Officer's Shirt, circa 1943-1945; Combat Pants, circa 1943-1945
Textile Box 5: Women's Army Corps: WAAC Uniform Jacket, circa 1942-1943; Uniform Jacket, circa 1940s; Field Uniform Jacket, circa early 1970s; Black Leather Pocketbook/Shoulderbag, circa early 1970s
Textile Box 6: Women's Army Corps: Khaki Skirt, 1940s; Khaki Jacket, 1940s; Green cotton utility slacks (shorts), 1940s
Textile Box 7: Women's Army Corps: One-piece twill herringbone suit (coveralls), 1940s
Textile Box 8: Women's Army Corps: Slips (2) and underwear, 1940s; Khaki Wool Ties (3), 1940s; Raincoat, 1940s; Olive Drab Work Shirt, 1940s
Textile Box 9: Women Marines/Coast Guard SPARS: Marine Corps Uniform Jacket, 1943-1945; Marine Corps Uniform Skirt, 1943-1945; Coast Guard SPARs Jacket, 1943-1945; WAVES White Blouse, 1942-1945
Textile Box 10: U.S. Marine Corps: Dress blue skirt, 1960s; Dress blue jacket (missing lapel insignia), 1960s; Dress blue white shirtwaist, 1960s; Dress blue ascot tie, 1960s; Dress blue hat with red cord (missing hat device), 1960s; Forest Green winter hat (missing hat device), 1960s; White gloves, 1960s; Black pumps (Located in Footwear Box 2), 1960s
Textile Box 11: American Red Cross: Cap (blue chambray), 1941-1945; Volunteer's Uniform Dress, blue, 1940-1950; Overseas Cap, blue with cloisonee pin, 1940-1950; Overseas Cap, grey with Red Cross patch, 1945; Overseas Cap, blue-grey, 1940s; Accessory Pouch, service blue denim, 1940s; Flag, 1940s; Buttons, undated; Gray Lady dress, with collar, shoulder accessories and cap, apron, may have been worn with Gray Lady dress; Overseas Cap, grey with patch, 1945
Textile Box 12: American Red Cross: Volunteer Special Services Indoor Dress, commando blue, short sleeve, yellow Staff Assistance Corps epaulets, circa 1942
Textile Box 13: Army Nurse Corps/Cadet Nurse Corps: Olive Drab Uniform Jacket, circa 1943-1945; Cadet Nurse Summer Pinstripe Blouse/Skirt, circa 1945
Textile Box 14: Military and Service Hats: American Women's Voluntary Services Kepi with white stripe and pin, circa 1943; Army Nurse, pink “off duty,” circa 1945; Coast Guard, undated; Olive Drab Hobby Hat, WAAC/WAC, 1942-1944; Navy Nurse Overseas Cap, 1940s; Navy Nurse Service Hat/White Cover, 1940s
Textile Box 15: Military and Service Hats: Army Blue Hat, 1957-1969; Army Green Hat, 1960-1969; Army Camouflage, 1990s; Marine Corps, winter, 1980s-1990s; Marine Corps (white), 1990s
Textile Box 16: Military and Service Hats: American Women's Voluntary Services Cap, 1940s; Army Special Services Garrison Cap, 1945-1946; Army Special Services Service Club Garrison Cap, circa 1950s; Red Cross Visored Hat, 1946; WAC Fatigue Hat, 1943-1945; WAAC Khaki Hobby Hat, 1942; WAC Overseas Cap, 1940s; WAVES Hat with White Cover, 1940s; WAVES Daisy Mae Hat with White Cover, 1940s; Women's Ambulance and Defense Corps (WADC) Cap, 1940s
Textile Box 17: Service Uniforms: American Women's Voluntary Services Uniform Jacket and Skirt, 1940s; Nurse's Uniform with Apron, white, circa 1914
Textile Box 18: World War I Uniforms: Yeomanette Jacket, circa 1914-1918
Textile Box 19: Flags and Banners: Window flag, red/white with star, 1941-1945; Window Display, Serving in the WAAC, 1942-43; WAC Guidon (gold/green), 1942-1945; WAC Pennant, Ft. Des Moines, 1943-45

Series 2. Footwear, 1918-1990s (bulk 1940s)

Box 1: Marine Corps Oxford Shoes, 1940s; Navy WAVE Shoes, 1940s; Navy/Coast Guard Shoes (white pumps), 1940s; WAC/US Army Service Boots, early 1970s; Nurse's Boots, 1914-1918
Box 2: Marine Corps Black Pumps, 1970s; Red Cross Desert Storm Boots, 1990-1991

Series 3. Artifacts, 1918-1970s (bulk 1940s)

Artifact Box 1:3

Air Force: Flight Nurse Patch, 1952-1964; U.S. Army Air Force Auxiliary Wings Pin, undated; Lace Patch, undated
American Red Cross: Patches and Volunteer Pin, 1941-1945; Lapel Pins, World War I
Army Nurse Corps: Caduceus Pin, World War I; Discharge Pin, 1940s
WAVES: Teak from the original decking of the USS North Carolina, circa 1941
Women Airforce Service Pilots: Patch Pin, reproduction, circa 1943-1944; Wings Pin, reproduction, circa 1943-1944
Women's Army Corps: Service Medal, 1942-43; Cap Device, enlisted, 1942-1943; Enrollee Pin, 1942-1943; Collar Devices, Pallas Athene on disc, 1940s; Captain's Shoulder Bars, 1940s; Shoe Dubbing, 1940s; Collar Device, Caduceus, 1940s; Officer's Collar Device, Pallas Athene, 1940-1950; Shoulder Insignia, Gold Oak Leaves, 1940-1950; Collar Devices, “U.S.”, undated; Collar Devices, Pallas Athene on 24 karat gold finish disk, undated
Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron: Cap Patch, circa 1942-1943
Miscellaneous: American Women's Voluntary Services Pin, 1940s; Women's Defense Corps Cap Device, 1940s; WIMSA Collector's Pin, 1998

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