In every conflict from the Revolutionary
War through the War in Vietnam, the
historic Springfield Armory played a
critical role in arming U.S.
Troops with muskets, rifles, and other
munitions. The Armory was known for its
exemplary manufacturing methods, and
during both world wars, many of the
people manning the machines were women.
As we continue to celebrate Women's
History Month, I sat down with Park
Ranger Susan Ashman at the National
Historic Site to learn more about the
history and roles of the women workers
who "answered the call" by joining the
war effort at the Armory during both
World War One and World War Two.
During World War One, it was really
interesting because there were no women
here before April of 1917.
So, July 16th, 1917, the first woman
was hired and she was an inspector.
And by the end of World War One, there
was around 748 women who worked here.
And there was hundreds who applied to
to work here. So that was really
interesting, too.
And they kind of paved the way for
women in World War Two.
So, that is an interesting story, too,
because at first, not too many women
were applying here.
And so management was wondering why.
And they actually went door to door in
Springfield like asking, you know,"why
aren't you working at the Armory?
It's your patriotic duty!" And so, come
to find out, it was childcare that was
lacking. And so the Armory opened a
couple of child care facilities because
they needed that workforce here.
That's the first thing I thought about
with the women. I said, the men are off
at war, but they still have the duties
at home with the children and
everything. So, tell me more about some
of the challenges that women faced
moving to the workforce, but also
having to tend to a home and children.
That was challenging because some of
them did feel bad, but then
others...wait, this is a time where
they can be financially independent as
well. And that was that was pretty new
during that time because we always get
that picture of June Cleaver in "Leave
It to Beaver" where they take care of
the home. But that's not enough
sometimes and you need that income.
And so, it was perfect.
It was right across the street to many.
Some lived out different cities and
they would bus in here, too.
So, that was huge is mainly the
financial independence that the Armory
gave to a lot of these women.
And not only financial independence,
when we were talking earlier, also like
the social independence that they had,
right?
Yes! Yes.
Tell me more about that, that new aspect
that entered their lives.
Absolutely. The Armory was quite the
social atmosphere.
I had no idea until I read these Armory
newsletters that were published in
house here during the war years.
And so, they would -- the publishers
-- would encourage different employees
in different departments to submit
poetry, sporting events, the clubs, the
teams, what's happening here at the
Armory. And when you have just under
14,000 employees, you all don't know
each other. There was basically three
campuses here. So, what are you doing
at the Hill Shops or what am I doing at
the Water Shops? So, this is a way for
everybody -- the news at the Armory.
So, I was so surprised to hear that
they had a club for everything.
I would have joined the lunch club, of
course. But -- but -- but bridge and
the Red Cross and such.
But even sports teams, you...the sport,
you name it, they had it here.
And the most fascinating part to me was
it was intramural sports.
So, the men would would challenge the
women in bowling and tennis.
And it was pretty fascinating.
And a lot of a lot of marriages came
out of the Armory, too.
And I know that at its wartime peak,
according to your website, it was over
40% women here.
I thought it would be more because they
talk about the men going off to war,
But come to find out, the men got
deferments so that skill was needed
here. So, then the women joined the
forces here too, and it really changed
the dynamics.
Tell me more about that. Because you had
women and men working side by side for
the first time --
Yeah!
-- equal jobs.
Right!
Was there any kind of resentment that
came out of that or was there
appreciation? What was the tone?
It's a really good question, something
we need to delve more into doing
research here. But that started in
World War One, too, the women.
So, I think for the men it was very
different for them and I think there
probably was some resentment along the
way. I don't even think they had
women's bathrooms here initially.
So, a lot of changes, things we don't
think of today, again, those women
during World War One paved the way for
the women in World War Two.
And sure, there are some stories about
, you know, women taking the jobs of
men, but then again, these positions
needed to be filled.
And it's interesting because the men,
say if you are a machine operator, that
man would step up and then train these
women in these these places.
And there's this one woman, Mary Smith.
She worked at the forge.
I don't know why she wanted to work on
the forge because you needed -- you
took a test before you got hired here
to see where you would do best.
So, just because maybe you wanted to be
in administration does not mean that's
where you would be.
So, you were tested.
Your dexterity, too, your fingers, your
-- your physical tests were done.
And Mary Smith ended up on the forge.
And so tell me more about some of those
specific roles, because there were some
dangerous jobs that these women were
holding. What were they doing in -- on
the line in manufacturing?
Absolutely! So, you could be, like,
there was clerks, there are
administration, but there was also
these women machine operators there at
the forge. They were at the lathe.
They were turning rifle stocks.
They were put in trigger assemblies
together. All those little pieces
needed for the firearm, every little
piece, they were working on that.
There were inspectors.
So, it's not just "these are men's
jobs, these are women's jobs." No, they
-- the women were doing the jobs that
the men were doing, too.
And the way that you're dressed today
for us has significance.
And these women workers became known as
WOW's Women Ordnance workers.
Right!
Tell me more about that movement and
what came of that.
So, that was basically just women who
worked for Army Ordnance, not just at
the Armory, but at different
manufacturing plants.
So, if you worked with Army Ordnance,
then you were a Woman Ordnance Worker.
And I think the best part of that is
the bandanas that they wore.
So, we all know Rosie the Riveter.
Everybody is so familiar with Rosie the
Riveter, but not so the WOWs.
And so, Rosie has dots on her bandanas.
But if you can see on mine, I have
bombs. So, no offense, Rosie, but I
think the WOW's got something on you
there.
Absolutely.
And that just went on.
So, if you were working here, you were
a WOW.
And it boosts up morale, too, to kind of
have this uniform for women.
Absolutely. Because it is a sad story,
where a lot of these women at first were
getting their hair caught in the
machines and stuff.
They were wearing loose clothes.
And the Army said, "Hey, you have to
wear tighter clothes and you have to
have either hats or have your hair tied
up," and stuff. So, the army came out
with these bandanas and they were so
popular and morale, too, it was a great
morale booster.
Because they figured the higher morale
here, the better production is going to
be with that. And it was true, with
that. So, they came out with the
bandanas. There was a dance here, the
On to Victory Dance in, I think,
February of 1943.
And that's when they gave out these
bandanas. They would sign victory
pledges. There was a dance that all
three shifts could go to.
So, it was pretty neat.
I think it's safe to say that these
women changed the workforce forever.
Absolutely.
Tell me about the long term impact that
this era had on us.
Truly, "We can do it," right?
So, I think that really opened the
doors. It gave the women the confidence
that you can work -- work a lathe, you
can, like, be an inspector.
These roles are not just for men.
You are capable.
And again, I think it was the
confidence that they could do that.
And now look at what women are doing
today: no doors are closed.