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Julia M. Jackson Woods scrapbook, 1942-1947

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This scrapbook was created by Julia M. Jackson Woods (1911-2000), an African American woman from Louisville, Kentucky, who enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in November 1942. The scrapbook contains greeting cards, newspaper clippings, and ephemera from Woods' service, as well as more than 20 insignia and patches collected from various units, including her own sergeant stripes. The scrapbook documents the social side of military base life - cards from USO groups and friends, marriages, dances, and other interracial interactions between otherwise segregated regiments stationed at the same bases. A few items at the end of the volume relate to Woods' postwar life in Louisville. Woods served in the all-Black 32nd Post Headquarters Company of the WAAC. She did much of her training at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, near the Mexican border; she also served stints in Des Moines, Iowa and Midland, Texas. A clipping on one of the initial pages of the scrapbook notes that Jackson was one of Louisville's first volunteers to join the WAAC. She was discharged on August 14, 1943. After the United States Congress authorized the creation of the Women's Army Corps (WAC), she enlisted in the WAC on May 1, 1944. She ultimately reached the rank of sergeant and served in the military police force. The Army discharged her on December 24, 1945. After her service, she married Thomas Harry Woods (1914-1961) and was hired as the head of the all-Black Western Kentucky Vocational Training School Department of Cosmetology in Paducah, Kentucky, by 1946.

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[printed text of card 1] Isn't this Birthday Time for You! Wishing Happiness Every Hour [handwritten] First birthday in the Army 1943

[printed text of card 2] Happy Easter

[handwritten] First birthday in the Army 1943 [printed text of card 3] Birthday Greetings Good Wishes To my Special Friend

[printed text of card 4] Happy Birthday to you in the Service [handwritten] First birthday in the Army 1943

Last edit 9 months ago by ameliawatts
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[header with music notes] The Presence-of Aux Julia Jackson is requested at a Social sponsored b Btry"A" 594th F.A. Batillion PLACE -- 594th Recreation Hall TIME -- 2000 hrs. 3/11/43 ~Buffet~ Music II-Div. Arty Band "A" emblem

Last edit about 1 year ago by NobleRVA
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[printed text of birthday card] Happy Birthday, Even If Ah Is Late! Fo'git yo' Birfday? No-sir-ee! You knows dat ain't one bit lak me-- [handwritten] Gertrude Cruse First birthday in the Army 1943

[Newspaper photo #1] The Louisville Defender--First in Servic[e] [caption] The auditorium of the St. John's Catholic church in Des Moines was the scene of a bit of "democracy in action" last week when 2,000 colored and white members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, men of the armed forces and civilians made merry at the Mardi Gras, sponsored by the Keo-Way and the Locust Street (white) United Service organizations. For the first time--many of the women and soldiers from southern parts of the country--had opportunities to meet their colored WAAC sisters--in a social way, exchange friendly greetings and intermingle--without an [sic] evidence of friction. Left to right: Sgt. Charles Cary, Abline, [sic] Kan; Gertrude Green, Des Moines, Iowa; Aux. Geraldine Herndon, Council Bluff, Iowa; Aux. Inez Warren, Austin, Texas; Cpl. Charles Carter, Kansas City, Mo; Virginia Hanson, Des Moines, Iowa.

[Newspaper photo #2] RECRUITING SERVICE Lt. Ruth L. Freeman, a native of Liberty, Texas, has been assigned to do WAC recruiting duty in the Sixth Service Command with headquarters in Chicago. She was trained in the first group of officer candidates at Fort Des Moines and was promoted from second to first lieutenant last December.

[printed text, card #2] Congratulations! My first promotion [from?] Aug April 2-194 [damaged paper has lost much of the handwriting here.]

Last edit 8 months ago by Reveuse
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urgh Courier SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1943

OPPOSES SEGREGATION

CRACK MUSICIANS IN FORT WHEELER'S ORCHESTRA AT HAWAII Units, Men of '93rd' Lauded For Excellence in Maneuvers

SOMEWHERE IN ARIZONA, Mar. 25 - Praise for demonstrations of outstanding military prowess mingled with constructive criticisms of actions not so well executed, ade by Col. John C. MacDonald, maneuvers director, and division leaders featured the critique session, Wednesday, at the close of the first problem of the 93rd Division's mock warfare now in progress over Ariana mountains and down in canyons and ravines.

Last edit 2 months ago by shashathree
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Dedicated to Major Gen. Fred W. Miller and his 93d Infantry Division

FIGHTING SONS O' GUNS (By Capt Joe Jordan)

We are your fighting SONS O' GUNS You bet we want to go To get the AX-IS foe, We are your fighting SONS O' GUNS And Uncle Sams has trained us, And no one dares to blame us, For fighting for the best things that we know. We are coming over there, With everything we got, So enemies beware, Cause we got an awful lot, We are really goin' to town, In the air and on the ground, We are your fighting SONS O' GUNS.

(Patter)

We've got a job to do, And going to see it through, The betting's two to one, That the SONS O' GUNS Bring the bacon home.

When we got our call We got on the ball, This world's in a mess And we'll do our best To make it safe for you.

Last edit 12 months ago by MaryV
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The Resurrecting the First American West Project is presented through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities and its Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan initiative. With this support, the Filson will launch a digital exhibit on the diverse Ohio Valley frontier supported by a series of public programs in 2022.