American Women's Voluntary Services
Formation | 1940 |
---|---|
Legal status | Service |
Headquarters | 39 W. 57th Street, Manhattan, New York City |
Region served | United States |
American Women's Voluntary Services (AWVS) was the largest American women's service organization in the United States during
History
AWVS also encountered resistance because some men did not want women working. Despite these concerns, AWVS had about 18,000 members by the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.[3] Eventually over 325,000 women were trained by AWVS.[4] Doris Ryer Nixon founded the California chapter in August 1941 and became AWVS's national vice president.[5][6][7]
The group sponsored units in parts of the U.S. with heavy African, Chinese, and Hispanic American populations,[3][4] which was met with media criticism. By 1944, despite hundreds of thousands of volunteers and large efforts to help win the war, AWVS was accused of being lazy; its leaders decided to disband the organization at the end of World War II.[3]
AWVS inspired other volunteer service groups, such as "Laguna Cottages for Seniors".[5]
Notable members
- Elizabeth English Benson, Gallaudet University dean and educator of the deaf
- Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and civil rights activist
- Clair Blank, author, Beverly Gray mystery series
- Gloria Callen, competitive swimmer
- Joan Crawford, actress[8]
- Dwight Eisenhower
- Isabella Greenway, U.S. Congresswoman from Arizona
- Josephine Herrick, photographer and educator
- Grace Nail Johnson, civil rights activist
- Adelaide Leavy, photo journalist
- Jeanette MacDonald, actress and singer
- Hattie McDaniel, actress[9]
- Josephine B. Sneed, Cook County, Illinois politician
- Alice Throckmorton McLean, civic leader
- Doris Ryer Nixon, civic leader
- Lillian Randolph, actress and singer[10]
- Betty White, actress
See also
Notes
- ^ "Partners in Winning the War: American Women in WWII". National Women's History Museum. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ "Civilian Defense: The Ladies!". Time. 26 Jan 1942. Archived from the original on October 14, 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-203-87066-2.
- ^ ISBN 0-7432-4516-4.
- ^ a b Redmond, Michael (20 Jun 2009). "Laguna Cottages History of Senior Living Housing". Santa Barbara Independent. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ "Blanche Nixon to Make Debut". Los Angeles Times. December 18, 1941. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
Blanche Nixon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanhope Nixon of ... Cold Spring Road, Montecito, a freshman at Stanford, will be formally to society at the San ...
- ^ "Social Notes," The New York Times 1922-03-23 (announcing birth) and "Died," The New York Times, 1922-05-23 (announcing death).
- ISBN 0-8131-2254-6.
volunteer.
- ^ "Network and Local Radio Listings". The Sunday Sun. 4 Jan 1942. Retrieved 8 Jan 2011.
- ^ Rea, E.B. (8 May 1943). "Encores and Echoes". Baltimore Afro-American. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
External links
- Bill Guarnere site, who served with Lewis Nixon, discussion about AWVS
- History of British Women's Voluntary Service
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, American Women's Voluntary Services badge
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro, American Women's Voluntary Services garrison cap, c. 1942
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro, American Women's Voluntary Services legionnaire kepi, c. 1942