For the National History Day contest of 2012, I did my report on the revolution, reaction, and reform of women

working in America during World War II. I was interested in World War II. While browsing through possible topics I became further interested in womens rights during WWII. I was specifically intrigued by the wars impact on women and their jobs on the American home front. Initially, I read overviews of World War II in encyclopedias. I continued with preliminary research on WWII as a whole and what part women working played. I proceeded to find secondary sources reflecting on WWII, the importance of US women working during WWII, and on why women were needed to work. I used the King County Library System in Redmond, Washington to find related books which supplied sufficient information. I read a book on Rosie the Riveter, a symbol and character of women working on the home front. Concurrently, I used online databases like Facts on File, the National Archives, and the Library of Congress. Next, I started researching primary sources including WWII newspaper articles. The American Rosie the Riveter Association (ARRA) website led me to contact and interview Dr. Frances Carter, the ARRA founder and WWII riveter. After state, the same website led me to interview Mable Myrick, an ARRA vice president and WWII secretary for the Pentagon War Department. The University of Washington Library provided excellent sources. While

constructing the website, I searched for multimedia and images. After the regional contest, I interviewed primary sources Yvonne Howe, B.B. Leland, and Bill and Margaret Frisbee. After state, I was introduced to and interviewed WWII workers Vicki Alsbaugh, Shirley Sibley, Jeanne Eckrem, Phyllis Fox, June Blakney, and Adele Williamson. I chose the individual website entry as I enjoy technology, and working alone would be more efficient. I selected a website design format, structure and page titles, forming an outline

which helped organize my work. I added project enhancing multimedia to each page. Using Microsoft Word, I wrote the website text so that I could easily monitor the word count. Next, I edited my works consulted list, which was constructed as sources were found. This list was added to the website. After placing second in the regional contest and then first at state, I edited my website based upon judging comments. My project relates to the theme of Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. First, it demonstrates the revolution in womens job opportunities that resulted from WWII. Women began holding jobs that previously had been strictly the domain of men. Second, the project illustrates the reactions of society. Some feared that jobs would not be available for returning soldiers, as women would keep them. Third, it shows a reform in the workplace environment. Women were able to hold almost equal positions as men in the workplace and receive a similar salary, and now they have made even more advances.

Process Paper | 483 words