Women's Reserve of the US Naval Reserve
(WAVES)
...IV. Sources
-. WWII Sources
Official Sources
Articles, Magazines, Books
Movies
-. Literature
History books
Memoirs and Novels
-. Documentary
-. Links
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Sources
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Below I have listed reference material about the WAVES that might be useful for all who want to get more information. Many of these sources I have used for the background information presented on this website. This list is not meant to be a complete arrangement. I'm still searching for more and I would be very happy about everyone who can recommend further interesting material. 
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WWII Sources
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Official Sources
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How to serve your country in the WAVES, NAVPERS -36606-2 July 43 - 500M ... Many different recruiting brochures were distributed to encourage women to join the WAVES during WWII. 
These official brochures give much information about purposes of  WAVES, requirements for joining, payment etc. 
The content of some recruitment brochures are represented online here:
Women Veterans Historical Collection
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The Story of you in Navy Blue, Navy recruitment brochure, 1943. Extensive official recruitment brochures with many pictures and detailed information about purposes of  WAVES, requirements for joining, types of duties, payment etc. 
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Enlist in the WAVES - Serve in the Hospital Corps, U.S. Government Printing Office: 1943 O-532379 This brochure tries to encourage women to "fill a man's job and still do a woman's work". Interesting details about the history of the Hospital Corps of the Navy, its duties, required qualifications, basic training, pay and allowances, etc.
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Women's Reserve Information -Separation Pamphlet, NAVPERS 15023, U.S. Government Printing Office: 1945  The separation pamphlet should assist Women's Reserve personnel in their readjustment to civilian life. 
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Uniform Regulations, Women's Reserve, United States Naval Reserve, 15 October 1943, Navy Department Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington D.C., Pers-34-RT Detailed description of all uniform items and insignia of the insignia. Even exact measurements of all uniform attire and prescribed material is listed. Very helpful for reproductions. Great source for all reenactors. The original text as online source of the Naval Historical Center:
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq59-22.htm
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Establishment of Women's Reserve, Public Law 689, H.R. 6807, 30 July 1942 [Chapter 538] The complete text of the public law that established the Women's Reserve can be found on the "Women of the WAVES" homepage online:
http://www.womenofthewaves.com/ establishment.html
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Marching to Victory edited by  Lt. Robert G. Andrus and Ensign Ruthanna Maxwell (1943) .. This booklet inlcudes a compilation of popular WAVES songs. These songs expressed the self confidence of the corps and strengthened the feeling of "togetherness".
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Articles, Magazines, Books
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Guide Right - A Handbook for WAVES and SPARS by Mary Vriginia Harris, Lieutenant, USNR, Macmillan Company (1944) ... This handbook about etiquette and customs for WAVES and SPARS contains most interesting information about uniforms (when they should be worn, how they should be stored and cleaned, etc.), military usage like salutes and military conduct, how to recognize ranks and ratings and a list of Naval lingo.
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The Navy Officer's Guide by Arthur A Ageton, Commander , U.S. Navy, Whittlesey House McGraw-Hill Book Company (1943) The Naval Officer's Guide contains all information an officer in the Navy needed to know. For example, it gives details about correct saluting, discipline, uniforms and equipment. It lists all items for an initial outfit for female Navy officers and gives hints about how to care of the uniform. 
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While So Serving by Eleanor Hart and Harriet Welling, Robert W. Kelly Publishing Corporation (1947) The book presents many official U.S. Navy WWII period b&w photographs of WAVES. Nice for studying uniform details.
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Up Came A Ripple by Dorothea J Byerly, Greenwood Press Publishing, 1945 Cartoon about the WAVES. Main character Ripple caricatures many experiences of the daily life of WAVES. Funny and interesting to read.
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Ladies in Uniform
by Margaret Sprague, 
Acwell Press (1943)
. A complete guide to the women's services in the Armed Forces of the United States (WAC, WAFS, Waves, Marines Reserve, Spars). Detailed information about their purposes, recruiting requirements, payment, uniforms etc. with the intention to encourage more women to become ladies in uniform.
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American Women in Uniform
by Mary Steel Ross, 
Garden City Publishing Co.,Inc. (1943)
Description of several women's wartime organizations (for example Red Cross, AWHRC, AWVS, AER, USO, and many more) especially their uniforms and insignia.
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Life Magazine, March 15, 1943 The article "WAACS & WAVES" gives some information about the two women's service organizations illustrated with nice photos (some even colored).
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Sally Scott of the WAVES by Roy J. Snell, Whitman Publishing Company (1943) This book of the "Fighters for Freedom Series" for girls tells the fictional story of WAVE Sally Scott who experiences big adventures serving overseas aboard a Navy ship on its trip to England.
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Destination Unknown by Roy J. Snell, Goldsmith Publishing Company (1944) Adventurous fictional story for girls about WAVE Billie Burke
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Angel of the Navy. The Story of a WAVE by Pharmacist's Mate Joan Angel, USNR, Hastings House Publishers (1943) Humorous story about why a WAVE has signed up, how she is trained, how she lives and what she does. A "straight -from-the-shoulder, behind-the-scenes" account.
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By Your Leave, Sir. The Story of a WAVE by Lieutenant (Jg) Helen Hull Jacobs, U.S.N.R, Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1943 Fictional story about a girl who joins the WAVE written by a WAVE officer working in the Public Relations Office of the Naval Reserve Training School in The Bronx, New York.
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The Waves. The Story of the Girls in Blue by Nancy Wilson Rossby, Henry Holt Publisher, New York, 1944.
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Movies
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Here come the WAVES directed by Mark Sandrich, Black & White (1944),
Type: Comedy, Musical
... Twin sisters Suzie and Rosemary (both played by Bettie Hutton) join the WAVES. Suzie is enthusiastic when she learns that her admired radio crooner Johnny While (played by Bing Crosby) also had joined the Navy. But Johnny falls in love with her sister and needs a lot of efforts to win her heart. 
Entertaining musical with great songs and lots of Naval uniforms. 
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Skirts Ahoy directed by Sidney Lanfield, Color (1952),
Type: Comedy, Musical
. Three young ladies join the WAVES to forget their trouble with men. However, it won't take long until they fall in love again. Of course, aquatic ballet scenes with Esther Williams included.
The colored movie from 1952 shows the postwar WAVES uniforms, but these haven't changed much after the war.
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Literature
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History Books
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In Defense of a Nation - Servicewomen in World War II by Major General Jeanne M. Holm, USAF
 (Ret.), Vandamere Press, ISBN 0-918339-43-X (1998)
... This book contains excellent overviews of several WWII women's organization (like WAVES, SPARS, WAC, ANC, NNC, WASP, Women Marines) illustrated with nice black and white photographs. 
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Dressed for Duty. America's Women in Uniform 1898-1973 (Volume Two) by Jill Halcomb Smith, R. James Bender Publishing, ISBN 0-912138-85-8 (2004) The two volumes about women's organizations of the last century cover all military branches and especially give interesting details about several mostly forgotten civilian organizations. 
They contain many original photographs and some color pictures of uniform items.
The chapter about the WAVES is in Volume 2.
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World War II Allied Women’s Services by Martin Brayley, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-84176-053-06 (2001) . Short overview about allied women's services of WWII (from the USA: WAAC/WAC, WAVES, Marines Reserve, Spars). In addition to black and white photos it contains colored drawings of different uniforms.
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Memoirs and Novels
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Navy Wave: Memories of World War II by Helen Clifford Gunter, Cypress House, ISBN 1879384167 (1992) ... Lieutenant Clifford Gunter was one of the first women who joined the WAVES after this branch of the Navy was established in 1942. The book describes her life in the Navy based on the letters she wrote while she was in service and the memories these letters evoked. Her interesting story is illustrated with several black and white photographs.
Mother Was a Gunner's Mate: World War II in the Waves: World War II in the News by Josette Dermody Wingo, U.Ss Naval Inst. Press, ISBN-10: 1557509603 (2000) . In 1944, Wingo joined the Waves, the special women's branch of the U.S. Navy. She was trained as an anti-aircraft gunner, and at Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay she was a gunnery instructor. She and her counterparts not only crossed the military gender line but also taught men the craft of shooting down enemy planes. This work is a valuable addition to the literature on WWII and women's studies. (From Publishers Weekly)
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Documentary
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Free a Man to Fight! Women Soldiers of Word War II by Mindy Pomper & RYS Productions (1999) . Excellent video that features rare archival footage interwoven with intimate interviews of women who served in the military during WWII. It includes several interviews with former members of the WAVES.
Unfortuntaley, the documentary contains a few mistakes. More information about these inaccuracies can be found here
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Women At War - from the home front to the front lines by 'V for Victory', Atlas Video Inc. (1991) . This documentary consists mainly of original newsreel stories to detail the vital contributions made by women during World War II, going from the factories to the battlefields. Covers WAC, Army Nurses, WAVES, Marines, Navy Nurses, Cadet Nurses, etc.
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Links
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Women of the WAVES
... Autobiographical Stories, opportunity to join a forum, current news, many intersting links.
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Naval Historical Center
Great internet page with excellent historical overviews, original documents, oral history stories and pictures. For easier access here some links related to the WAVES.
World War II era WAVES --
Overview and Special Image Selection
WAVES Uniform Regulations, 1943
WAVES uniform changes, 1945
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Women Veterans Historical Collection
. The Women Veterans Historical Collection documents the female experience in the Armed Forces through letters, papers, photographs, published materials, uniforms, medals and oral histories. Impressive and most informative website! http://library.uncg.edu/depts/archives/veterans/index.html
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[ I. Development ]..[ II. Facts about the WAVES ]..[ III. Uniforms ]..[ IV. Sources ]
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