Women in the classroom at the Women’s Reserve Naval Training School, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
Tag Archives: WAVES
The First to Arrive
Lt. Elizabeth Boland (left) greets Lt. Eleanor Denton Rich as Lt. Cmdr. Wilson McCandless looks on. Rich was the first member of the WAVES to arrive at the Women’s Reserve Naval Training School at Smith College in Northampton, MA.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
Arriving at Smith
Women arrive at Smith College for their officer’s training. Only four of the women are identified in the photo: Billye Wilde, Bette Evans, Eleanor Rich and Frances Rich. The other woman (partially hidden behind the suitcases) and the two helpful sailors are not identified.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
Officers of Staff
The main officers of staff at the Women’s Reserves Officer Naval Training School, Smith College, Northampton, MA. They are (left to right): Lt. Bonnie Stewart, Lt. Cmdr. Wilson McCandless, Lt. Elizabeth Crandall, Captain Herbert Underwood and Lt. Cmdr. Philip Baker.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
First Officer Class
This photograph, dating from August 1942, shows the first WAVES’ officers class at Smith College, who Joy Bright Hancock referred to as the “great unwashed.” The officers didn’t have uniforms when they began and the Navy was developing policy as the women went through training. They would later be the women to train other officers at Smith, as well as enlisted women at facilities around the country.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
October 6, 1942
It was 70 years ago today, October 6 1942, that the first full class of officers would come to Smith College for training in the WAVES. Northrup and Gillet Halls, shown here, were used as dormitories for that first class of officers.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
In Charge
Captain Herbert Underwood, who came out of retirement to head the WAVES officer training facility at Smith College with trainee Lt. Elizabet Boland Crandall in early October 1942. Note that she isn’t even in a WAVE uniform yet.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
Alumae House, Part 3
In this photo, Capen House is in the foreground and the Alumnae House is in the background. The two buildings are attached by a small breezeway located directly behind the mailbox. Alumae House was used as the WAVES headquarters during their officer training program at Smith College during World War II.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
Alumnae House, Part 2
Another shot of Capen Hall, now the Alumnae House, used as quarters for WAVES officers in training at Smith College during World War II. It comes from the National Archives.
Alumnae House
Capen House, in this photograph, is located at the corner of Elm and Bedford Terrace in Northampton, across the street from the main Smith College campus. It’s part of the larger structure currently known as the Alumae House. During World War II, it was used as the WAVES dormitory.
This photograph comes from the National Archives.
Hinges of History 