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Inquiry Starter Set: Rosie the Riveter was Born

Album Description

I am going to try and build an ISS for the Today in History topics found here - Today in History Collection. Using some or all of the primary sources that are referenced in the article, I will build an album and make suggestions for inquiry strategies to use alongside the sources. This will be a generative build - using the sources and information from the collection to bring a lesson or activity format alongside the sources and information. Let’s see how much I am able to keep up. 

From the Today in History Collection - June 25

  • On June 25, 1924, Rosalind P. Walter (née Palmer) (1924-2020) was born. During her lifetime, Rosalind participated in a range of philanthropic activities and was a generous supporter of public television programming. Before her years of service to these causes, Rosalind was one of many young women who worked in the war industry during World War II.
  • After high school, 19 year old Rosalind began working as a riveter on Corsair fighter planes at the Vought Aircraft Company in Stratford, Connecticut (pictured above).  After a newspaper article featuring Rosalind’s work was published, songwriters Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb were inspired to write the song “Rosie the Riveter”. With the release of this song, the concept of Rosie the Riveter became a part of public consciousness. 

The sources in this album provide an opportunity to glimpse inside the world of women during WW2 that were called to historically unconventional roles. In the 100 years since Rosalind Walter was born, what has changed for women? Would these images be striking today? 

Inquiry Strategy: Unveiling Stories - Target Grades 5-8

  • What’s the story?
  • What is the human story?
  • What is the world story?
  • What is the new story?
  • What is the untold story? 

Extensions:

 Inquiry Starter Set   WW2 

Fuselage assembly in the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Stratford, Connecticut

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2017748389/

Reference note

Created / Published

  • 1940 Nov.

Genre

  • Nitrate negatives

Notes

  • -  Title and other information from caption card.
  • -  Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944.
  • -  More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is available at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.fsaowi

Repository

  • Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, DC 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

Digital Id

  • fsa 8a34634 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8a34634

Riveter at work on Consolidated bomber, Consolidated Aircraft Corp., Fort Worth, Texas

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2017878315/

Reference note

Created / Published

  • 1942 Oct.

Genre

  • Transparencies--Color

Notes

Repository

  • Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

Digital Id

We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_02733/

Reference note

Summary

  • This poster, produced by Westinghouse during World War II for the War Production Co-Ordinating Committee, was part of the national campaign in the United States to enlist women in the workforce. In the face of acute wartime labor shortages, women were needed in the defense industries, the civilian service, and even the armed forces. Publicity campaigns were aimed at encouraging those women who had never before held jobs to join the workforce. Poster and film images glorified and glamorized the roles of working women and suggested that a woman's femininity need not be sacrificed. Women were portrayed as attractive, confident, and resolved to do their part to win the war. Of all the images of working women during World War II, the image of women in factories predominates. Rosie the Riveter--the strong, competent woman dressed in overalls and bandanna--was introduced as a symbol of patriotic womanhood. The accoutrements of war work--uniforms, tools, and lunch pails--were incorporated into the revised image of the feminine ideal.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], [1942 to 1943]

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 color poster.
  • -  Original resource at: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
  • -  Content in English.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Digital Id