]> Finding Aid for the Shirley M. Tillson Letters, 1945 Processed by: Beth Carmichael; machine-readable finding aid created by: Beth Carmichael University Archives & ManuscriptsThe University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC, USA
2007 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: June 2007. Description is in English. Finding aid was prepared using DACS. Finding Aid for the Shirley M. Tillson Letters, 1945 University Libraries, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro &hdrnguscua; Descriptive Summary The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. University Archives & Manuscripts. Tillson, Shirley, M. Shirley M. Tillson Letters, 1945 WV0302 Material in English. 15 items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives & Manuscripts. Shirley M. Tillson of Manchester, New Hampshire, served in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in April 1944. Letters, chiefly from Port Blakely, Washington, document Tillson's daily life with the WAVES. Subjects include her dates and social activities, particularly the USO (United Service Organization), a Women's Service Club, dances, and athletics; her family; the status of the war, including the death of Franklin Roosevelt and the German surrender; WAVES uniforms and uniform regulations; and her work as a radio operator. Tillson writes in detail about the opportunities the navy the provides and about how difficult it is for sailors and soldiers to return to civilian life while on leave. She also tells the story of a young woman who punched a sailor when he criticized her for joining the navy. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

 Copyright Notice

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], Shirley M. Tillson Letters (WV0302), Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, USA.

 Acquisitions Information

Purchased in 2002.

 Processing Information

Processed by Beth Carmichael, July 2004

Encoded by Beth Carmichael, June 2007

 Biographical Note

Shirley M. Tillson of Manchester, New Hampshire, enlisted in the WAVES in April 1944. She attended basic training in New York and radio training in Oxford, Ohio. Tillson also attended school in Port Blakely, Washington, in the spring of 1945. As seaman first class, radioman, she was sent to advanced training in San Diego in October 1945. One month later, Tillson worked as radio operator in Arlington, Virginia.

 Collection Overview

Letters, chiefly from Port Blakely, Washington, document Tillson's daily life with the WAVES. Subjects include her dates and social activities, particularly the USO (United Service Organization), a Women's Service Club, dances, and athletics; her family; the status of the war, including the death of Franklin Roosevelt and the German surrender; WAVES uniforms and uniform regulations; and her work as a radio operator. Tillson writes in detail about the opportunities the navy the provides and about how difficult it is for sailors and soldiers to return to civilian life while on leave. She also tells the story of a young woman who punched a sailor when he criticized her for joining the navy.

Collection Arrangement

Collection is arranged chronologically.

 Detailed Description of the Collection Letters, 1945

Letters, chiefly from Port Blakely, Washington, document Tillson's daily life in the WAVES. Subjects include her dates and social activities, particularly the USO (United Service Organization), a Women's Service Club, dances, and athletics; her family; the status of the war, including the death of Franklin Roosevelt and the German surrender; WAVES uniforms and uniform regulations; and her work as a radio operator. Tillson writes in detail about the opportunities the navy the provides and about how difficult it is for sailors and soldiers to return to civilian life while on leave. She also tells the story of a young woman who punched a sailor when he criticized her for joining the navy.

 1 Letters Online Catalog Headings

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

Tillson, Shirley M. Recreation Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 United States--Armed Forces--Women United States. Naval Reserve. Women's Reserve United States. Naval Reserve. Women's Reserve--Uniforms Women veterans--United States World War, 1939-1945--Women--United States. World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Female.