DACS

]> Finding Aid for the Molly Thavenet Scrapbook, 1940 - 1950 Processed by: Beth Ann Koelsch; machine-readable finding aid created by: Beth Ann Koelsch University Libraries, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 2009 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: May, 2009; Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS Finding Aid for the Molly Thavenet Scrapbook, 1940 - 1950 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Descriptive Summary Molly Thavenet (1905-1991) of Rhode Island was stationed in Italy while serving in the Women's Auxilary Army Corps (WAAC) and the Women's Army Corps (WAC) during World War II. The scrapbook contains correspondence, ephemera, photographs, newsletters, official military communications and records, and clippings primarily related to Thavenet's service in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) and the Women's Army Corps (WAC) Air Forces from 1943-1945. Molly Thavenet Scrapbook, 1940 - 1950 WV0429 Thavenet, Molly 0.834 Linear Feet, 2 Boxes The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. University Archives & Manuscripts. English Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Molly Thavenet Scrapbook (WV0429), Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, USA.

Acquisition Information

Purchased in May 2008

Processing Information

Processed by Beth Ann Koelsch, February 2009

Encoded by Beth Ann Koelsch, May 2009

Biographical Note

Molly Thavenet was raised in Providence, Rhode Island, and worked as a secretary at Narragansett Electric Company in Waverly, Rhode Island, before enlisting in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). Thavenet reported for basic training on 4 June 1943 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and then was assigned to the 162nd WAC Headquarters Company, 4th WAC Transportation Company at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

In November 1943, Thavenet was transferred to Naples, Italy, as a stenographer to the Adjutant General Personnel Section of the Production Base Support (AGPBS). In April 1944, Thavenet was transferred to the 6720 WAC Headquarters Platoon with the 15th Army Air Force in Bari, Italy, where she worked with the reassignments of combat crews.

After returning to the United States in October 1945, Thavenet was discharged from the WAC with the rank of sergeant, and moved to Providence, Rhode Island.

Collection Overview

The scrapbook contains correspondence, ephemera, photographs, newsletters, official military communications and records, and clippings primarily related to Thavenet's service in the WAAC and WAC, primarily with the Army Air Forces from 1943 to 1945.

The correspondence is from Thavenet to her family descrbining her experiences in the service. There are also letters to Thavenet from family and friends from home and fellow WACs, as well as post-war correspondence up to 1950.

Included are clippings from the Rhode Island newspaper The Westerly Sun of Thavenet's letters to the editor about her experiences stationed in Italy, as well as clippings about the WAC and other military topics.

There are also WAC song sheets, bulletins, programs for plays and religious services, including four copies from 1945 of The Coronet, the newsletter for the WACs serving with the 15th Army Air Force.

The scrapbook also includes souvenirs from her sightseeing travels around the southeastern United States in 1943 and Europe in 1945, including Rome, Venice, Capri, Pompeii, Pisa, Florence, Czechoslovakia, Palestine, and Switzerland.

Collection Arrangement

The scrapbook was dismantled, arranged by original page numbers and then chronologically within folders where applicable.

Detailed Description of the Collection Scrapbook, Molly Thavenet, 1940 - 1950 1 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.1-2 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.3 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.4 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.5 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.6 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.7 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.8 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.8 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.10-11 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.12-13 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.14-15 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.16-17 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.18-19 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.20-21 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.22-23 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.24-25 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.26-27 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.28-29 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.30-31 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.32-33 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.34-35 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.36-37 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.38-39 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.40-41 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.42-43 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.44-45 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.46-47 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.48-49 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.50-51 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.52-53 Scrapbook, 1940-1950, p.54-56 2 Scrapbook, miscelleneous correspondence, 1942-1943 Scrapbook, miscelleneous correspondence, 1944-1947 Scrapbook, miscelleneous correspondence, 1948-1950 and undated Scrapbook, 1940-1950, miscelleneous clippings and souvenirs Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

United States. Army. Women's Army Corps--History. Women veterans--United States. World War, 1939-1945--Women--United States. World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Female.