Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Women Veterans Historical Project Travels to Fort Bragg

On March 19, 2009 Beth Ann Koelsch, the Curator of the Women Veterans Historical Project, and Jennifer Motszko, Manuscripts Curator, drove down to Fayetteville, NC to exhibit a selection of our materials at the Women's History Month Celebration sponsored by the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.



This was our second year attending the commemorative event. The WVHP was joined by approximately 20 other organizations and institutions including the American Red Cross, the Women’s Center of Fayetteville and the U.S. Army Women’s Museum. It was great meeting the archivist and education curator of the U.S. Army Women’s Museum (http://www.awm.lee.army.mil/) and we look forward to collaborating with them in the future.

Our exhibit was: “Army Recruiting Materials for Women”, and included uniforms, digitized reproductions of posters and recruiting materials for the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), original recruiting pamphlets from the 1940s-1970, and Gretchen Davis’ (http://library.uncg.edu/dp/wv/collection.aspx?col=80) circa 1970s mint green polyester summer uniform dress (Unbelievably, the U.S. Army Women’s Museum also brought the same uniform!)



A couple of the images from recruiting materials we used:

1952


1964


Over 200 military personnel, their families and members of the local community attended and it was really wonderful to have the chance to meet women veterans and talk about their experiences as well as having the opportunity to teach people about women’s contributions to the U.S. Army and to promote The Women Veterans Historical Project.


Beth Ann and Sergeant First Class Craig B. Tuttle, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Equal Opportunity advisor, who organized and managed the event. We are BIG fans of Sgt. Tuttle. He does an AMAZING job:




Jennifer receiving a 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade “Certificate of Appreciation” from Command Sergeant Major Richard S. Clem:



A link to more information about the event (since it is still listed as “upcoming”, I’m not sure how long this link will be accurate.): http://www.bragg.army.mil/eo/Upcoming_Events.htm

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Pictures from Cool Jazz Family Fun Day!

Art activities for the kids:



Carole Weatherford spoke to those attending and then graciously signed copies of her books:



Then the UNCG Jazz Quartet played:



Thanks to everyone for making this event a success!