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A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History
World War II Homefront Back to History Unit

(b) describing the contributions of women and minorities to the war effort;


Rosie the Riveter
Library of Congress: American Treasures

Learning War Work
National Archives and Records Administration: Pictures of World War II

Women Workers in A-20 Attack Bomber Factory
National Archives and Records Administration: Pictures of World War II

Women Welders
National Archives and Records Administration: Pictures of World War II

"Chippers" (War Workers of Marinship Corp.)
National Archives and Records Administration: Pictures of World War II

Description: These grouped images create a visual environment in which students can explore the connections between war, women, and opportunity.



Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion
  • The teacher can ask students to examine the pictures of the women contributing to the war effort and ask them to answer the following questions (either in a journal entry or in a think-pair-share): a) How are these women contributing to the war effort? b) How are the women dressed? c) Why are they taking part in these activities? d) How are photographs of women working today different from these pictures from the 1940s?
Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson
  • Students can compare the role of women in the 1940s during WWII to the role of women during the Cold War in the 1950s. They can create posters (with the photographs as a model) for each war, which contain an image and slogan from the period and an explanation of their poster in a caption. The students could use images from the Internet, magazines, and newspapers, or draw their own. The poster could accompany a comparative essay on the changing role of women in American society.

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