Origins of Service - Women in the Army

During the first century and a half of our nation’s history, American women consistently found ways to serve with the Army. Camp followers in the American Revolution and Civil War provided basic, logistical support while other women stepped outside societal norms into unconventional female roles such as doctors and spies. Formal recognition and legitimization of the roles of women came in the early twentieth century. A professional, female Army Nurse Corps was established in 1901. Just a few years later, in World War I, women served in unprecedented numbers in clearly defined career fields where their skills were undisputed. The motives of these first service women varied, as did the nature of their work, but they shared a dedication and willingness to serve their country’s needs.

Margaret Corbin accompanied her husband with the 1st Company of Pennsylvania Artillery. When he was killed in the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776, Margaret took up his position behind the cannon until she, too, was wounded. She was later awarded a military pension for her services that day. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Young family making camp with the 31st Pennsylvania Infantry — Wives, children, and even parents frequently lived in the camp with their Soldier and fulfilled domestic duties such as laundry, sewing, and cooking. This image shows a young family making camp with the 31st Pennsylvania Infantry near Washington, D.C., in 1862. -Library of Congress 98507952

During the Civil War, Frances Clayton (a.k.a. Jack Williams) enlisted with her husband in Missouri. They served for two years in infantry and artillery units with the U.S. Army and participated in eighteen battles. Williams’ husband was killed in 1863 and later, she too was wounded, at which point her gender was revealed and she was discharged. This image show her as Jack Williams (L) and Frances Clayton (R) c. 1861. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Dr. Mary Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1865. The citation noted that Walker, “faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war.” This c. 1866 image shows her wearing the Medal of Honor. -National Archives and Records Administration

Cathay Williams was freed from slavery during the Civil War and pressed into domestic service in General Sheridan’s headquarters. In 1866 she changed her name to William Cathay, disguised herself as a man, and joined the 38th United States Colored Infantry. She served courageously on the Great Plains with this distinguished group of African-American Infantrymen nicknamed Buffalo Soldiers. Two years later she contracted smallpox, was discovered to be a woman, and was discharged. -Painting by William Jennings

Team pictured here at Camp Lee, Virginia — The effects of the Spanish Influenza pandemic in 1918 were devastating on the military and required special hospital wards and staff such as the team pictured here at Camp Lee, Virginia. Based on the War Department Report of 1919, about 227,000 soldiers were hospitalized due to battle wounds whereas more than 650,000 were hospitalized for influenza. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Mixed race wards at Camp Sherman — Days before the Armistice, and spurred by the Influenza Pandemic, several African American nurses received letters notifying them of their selection for service in the Army Nurse Corps. Prior to this time their admittance was prohibited. Assigned to Camp Sherman, Ohio, and Camp Grant, Illinois, they served in mixed race wards. Shown here at Camp Sherman are (L to R): Front: Aileen Cole, Susan Boulding, Lillian Spears, Jeanette Minnis, Sophia Hill; Center: Marion Brown, Jeannette West; Top: Clara Rollins, Lillian Ball. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

This 19 April 1918 photo shows Salvation Army women, also known as “lassies,” serving pies and hot coffee to soldiers of the U.S. 26th Division in the trenches of the French battlefield. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

In April 1912 French-born Louise Ruffe left France for America to stay with her uncle in San Francisco, California. In 1918, when the Army asked for bilingual telephone operators to work as “Hello Girls” for the American Expeditionary Forces, she volunteered. Ruffe, pictured here in uniform in 1918, was sent to France where she remained until her discharge in 1919. She became a U.S. citizen in 1927. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Reconstruction and occupational aides at the Camp Lee (Virginia) Base Hospital in 1919 teach soldiers valuable vocational skills for their return to civilian life. Occupational therapy was a new discipline designed to rehabilitate wounded soldiers to either return them to duty or a productive civilian life regardless of disability. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Women who worked in factories helping to make Army ordnance are featured in parade celebrating Armistice Day — Several women who worked in factories helping to make Army ordnance are featured in a parade celebrating Armistice Day in New York City in 1919. -U.S. Army Women’s Museum

Women manufacturing soldiers’ spiral puttees at Alexander Propper & Company, New York, 1918. -National Archives and Records Administration 533756

Resources
Origins of Service - U.S. Army Women's Museum Exhibit