Flashback! Secretaries of the 1950s and 1960s: Do You Have What it Takes to be One?

This week we're publishing a series of posts by Ketina Taylor (Archivist) and Jenny Sweeney (Education Specialist) of the National Archives at Fort Worth. Secretaries at the Conference of Secretaries in Dallas, Texas in June 1959 (online catalog identifier 7280640). Today marks the beginning of Administrative Professionals Week. Since the advent of television and the movies, Americans have … Continue reading Flashback! Secretaries of the 1950s and 1960s: Do You Have What it Takes to be One?

Happy Mother’s Day to All, Past and Present

By Monique Politowski As we make our brunch reservations, choose the perfect greeting card, and make the rest of our preparations for Mother’s Day this Sunday, let’s not forget the women, the mothers of our nation, who took a stand for women’s rights and blazed the trail for future movements. Men such as George Washington, … Continue reading Happy Mother’s Day to All, Past and Present

Elections and Connections: The Appointment of Phoebe Couzins, the First Female Marshal

Today's post was written by Katie Beaver, who spent her summer interning with textual processing. The latter half of the nineteenth century is notorious among American historians for shady and tumultuous politics, particularly during presidential elections. The U.S. Marshal Service during this time was charged with monitoring polls on election days to ensure that the … Continue reading Elections and Connections: The Appointment of Phoebe Couzins, the First Female Marshal

Not Just Coffee and Doughnuts: Clubmobiles and the Clubmobile Girls

Today’s post is written by Meghan Ryan, a processing archivist at Archives II. The American Red Cross and American Red Cross Women provided many different services to military personnel during World War II. One of the lesser known branches of the Red Cross from that time is the Clubmobile service. Clubmobiles were refitted buses and trucks, … Continue reading Not Just Coffee and Doughnuts: Clubmobiles and the Clubmobile Girls

They Sent the Wharf-Rat In: Louisa “Henry Kaiser” Farrand and the American Red Cross

Today’s post is written by Meghan Ryan, a processing archivist at Archives II. The women of the American Red Cross played an important, and often under recognized role in World War II. The valiant efforts of Red Cross hospital volunteers are more frequently acknowledged, but American women served overseas in a number of other capacities – … Continue reading They Sent the Wharf-Rat In: Louisa “Henry Kaiser” Farrand and the American Red Cross

Women at Work

Today’s salute to Women's History Month is written by Alfie Paul, a processing archivist who works with civilian textual records. “We didn’t want women, but now they’re here we’ve found they are just as fast and just as capable as the men.  They are all right.” From “When You Hire Women,” Special Bulletin #14, 1944 … Continue reading Women at Work

A Piece of Women’s History in Record Group 498: “The WAC”

Today’s post is written by Lopez D. Matthews, Jr., an Archives Technician in the Holdings Management Division at Archives II.  Celebrate Women's History Month and discover the the WAC! WACs shipping out The story of women in the military is one of strength and courage in the face of discrimination and doubt. Part of the … Continue reading A Piece of Women’s History in Record Group 498: “The WAC”