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Rare color photos: 1940s working women

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Aug. 1942

Answering the nation's need for woman power, Mrs. Virginia Davis made arrangement for the care of her two children during the day and joined her husband at work in the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Ms. Grace Weaver, a civil service worker at the Naval Air Base, and a school teacher before the war, is doing her part for victory along with her brother who is a flying instructor in the Army. Weaver paints the American insignia on repaired Navy plane wings.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Ms. Lorena Craig takes over a man-size job at the Naval Air Base in Corpus Christi, Texas. Before she came to work at the base she was a department store girl. Now she is a cowler under civil service.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Riveter at work on Consolidated bomber, Consolidated Aircraft Corp., Fort Worth, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Mrs. Doris Duke, a 26-year-old mother, is a civil service worker in the assembly and repair department at the Navy Air Base in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is seen reconditioning spark plugs.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Women workers at the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

Working on black-out lamps to be used on the gasoline trailers in the Air Force, Heil and Co., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Lathe operator machining parts for transport planes at the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation plant, Fort Worth, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Wife of a disabled World War I veteran, Mrs. Cora Ann Bowen (left) works as a cowler at the Naval Air Base.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

One of the girls of Vilter Manufacturing Co. filing small gun parts, Milwaukee, Wisc.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Formerly a sociology major at the University of Southern California, Mrs. Eloise J. Ellis (right) now "keeps 'em flyin'" at the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas. She is a supervisor under civil service in the Assembly and Repair Department. It is her job to maintain morale among the women by helping them solve housing and other personal problems. With her is Jo Ann Whittington, an NYA trainee at the plant.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Oyida Peaks riveting as part of her NYA training to become a mechanic at the Naval Air Base, in the Assembly and Repair Department, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Transfusion donor bottles, Baxter Lab., Glenview, Ill.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
April 1943

Electronics technician, Goodyear Aircraft Corp., Akron, Ohio.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

Operating a hand drill at Vultee-Nashville, woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber, Tennessee.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Woman machinist, Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
April 1943

Manufacture of self-sealing gas tanks, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

A candid view of one of the women workers touching up the U.S. Army Air Forces insignia on the side of the fuselage of a "Vengeance" dive bomber manufactured at Vultee's Nashville division, Tenn.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Women workers install fixtures and assemblies to a tail fuselage section of a B-17F bomber at the Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
June 1942

Woman aircraft worker, Vega Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, Calif. Shown checking electrical assemblies.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Pearl Harbor widows Mrs. Virginia Young (r) and Ethel Mann working in the Assembly and Repairs Department of the Naval Air Base.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Working in the Assembly and Repair Dept. of the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Drilling on a Liberator Bomber, Consolidated Aircraft Corp., Fort Worth, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

A noontime rest for a full-fledged assembly worker at the Long Beach, Calif., plant of Douglas Aircraft Company. Parts for a heavy bomber form the background.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Installing oxygen flask racks above the flight deck of a C-87 transport at the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation plant, Fort Worth, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

A riveter and her supervisor in the Assembly and Repair Department at the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Lorena Craig is a cowler under civil service at the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Mrs. Eloise J. Ellis, senior supervisor in the Assembly and Repairs Dept. of the Naval Air Base, talking with one of the men, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Ms. Grace Weaver, a civil service worker at the Naval Air Base, and a school teacher before the war, is doing her part for victory along with her brother who is a flying instructor in the Army. Weaver paints the American insignia on repaired Navy plane wings.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Mrs. Eloise J. Ellis has been appointed by civil service to be senior supervisor in the Assembly and Repairs Department at the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Mrs. Virginia Davis, a riveter in the assembly and repair department of the Naval air base, supervises Chas. Potter, a NYA trainee from Michigan, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Lorena Craig is a cowler under civil service at the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Assembly and Repairs Dept. mechanic Mary Josephine Farley works on a Wright Whirlwind motor, Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Ms. Mildred Webb, an NYA trainee at the base, is learning to operate a cutting machine at the Naval Air Base in the Assembly and Repair Department.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Oyida Peaks riveting as part of her NYA training to become a mechanic at the Naval Air Base, in the Assembly and Repair Department, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Working in the Assembly and Repair Dept. of the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Mrs. Cora Ann Bowen (left) works as a cowler at the Naval Air Base; Mrs. Eloise J. Ellis is a senior supervisor in the Assembly and Repairs Department, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Part of the cowling for one of the motors for a B-25 bomber is assembled in the engine department of North American Aviation, Inc.'s Inglewood, Calif., plant.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Working in the Assembly and Repair Dept. of the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Working in the Assembly and Repair Dept. of the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Learning to work a cutting machine, these two NYA employees receive training to fit them for important work, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Working in the Assembly and Repair Dept. of the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Working in the Assembly and Repair Dept. of the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Aug. 1942

Working in the Assembly and Repair Dept. of the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

Enola O'Connell, 32, the only woman welder at Heil and Co., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
1941 - 1945

Installing one of the 4 motors on the transport plane at Willow Run.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company making gasoline trailer tanks for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Sept. 1942

Learning how to determine latitude by using a sextant is Senta Osoling, student at Polytechnic High School, Los Angeles, Calif. Navigation classes are part of the school's program for training its students for specific contributions to the war effort.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Heil Company for the U.S. Army Air Corps., Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Installing oxygen flask racks above the flight deck of a C-87 transport at the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation plant, Fort Worth, Texas.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

Two Navy wives, Eva Herzberg and Elve Burnham assemble bands for blood transfusion bottles at Baxter Laboratoriesm, Glenview, Ill.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Vilter Manufacturing Company for the U.S. Army, Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Vilter Manufacturing Company making M5 and M7 guns for the U.S. Army, Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Vilter Manufacturing Company making M5 and M7 guns for the U.S. Army, Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

War production workers at the Vilter Manufacturing Company making M5 and M7 guns for the U.S. Army, Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

Checking of gasoline hose of gasoline trailers before being turned over the Air Force, Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Feb. 1943

Unmasking and checking parts of the gasoline trailers that will be turned over to the Air Force, Milwaukee, Wis.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Sept. 1942

Students at Washington High School at class, training for specific contributions to the war effort, Los Angeles, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
April 1943

Cloe Weaver, mother of four children, employed as a helper at the roundhouse, Clinton, Iowa.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
April 1943

Mrs. Dorothy Lucke, employed as a wiper at the roundhouse, Clinton, Iowa

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Worker putting finishing touches on the bombardier nose section of a B-17F navy bomber, Long Beach, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Women are trained as engine mechanics in thorough Douglas training methods, Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

Women at work on bomber, Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
March 1943

Grading oranges at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
March 1943

Packaging oranges at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
March 1943

Grading oranges at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
March 1943

Operating a machine for putting tops on crates at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Jan. 1942

Sorting and packing tomatoes at the Yauco Cooperative Tomato Growers Association, Puerto Rico.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
April 1943

Mrs. Marcella Hart, mother of three children, employed as a wiper at the roundhouse, Clinton, Iowa.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
April 1943

Mrs. Irene Bracker, mother of two children, employed at the roundhouse as a wiper, Clinton, Iowa.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
April 1943

Mrs. Elibia Siematter working as a sweeper at the roundhouse, Clinton, Iowa.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
April 1943

Mrs. Elibia Siematter eating after working as a sweeper at the roundhouse, Clinton, Iowa.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
April 1943

Women workers employed as wipers in the roundhouse having lunch in their rest room, Clinton, Iowa.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress
Oct. 1942

A woman during a salvage campaign in the yard of Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.

Caption information from "The Library of Congress" on Flickr

Credit: Flickr/The Library of Congress

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