CONTRIBUTING THEIR SHARE: ALPHA TAUS & THE WAR EFFORT

Over 18 million women contributed to the American workforce during World War II. Whether it was in a factory like “Rosie the Riveter,” sending care packages to soldiers overseas, or simply purchasing war bonds, these women were an integral part of the economy and culture of the American homefront. As Raya works to honor all these women with a national monument, we’d like to take this opportunity to honor some Alpha Sigma Taus who were part of those 18 million women who contributed their share during WWII:

SARAH POLLOCK PERRINE ALPHA 1926 /EASTERN MICHIGAN

Sarah volunteered with the Detroit office of the American Women’s Voluntary Services (AWVS). Her specific task was to help fingerprint and provide identification for civilians in case air raids or other catastrophic war time events occurred on U.S. soil. The AWVS trained over 325,000 women before disbanding in 1944.

Source: The Anchor, June 1943

MARY LOUISE COCKEFAIR HOLT SIGMA 1941 /SUNY BUFFALO STATE

In 1945, Mary penned a letter to her former Sigma Chapter Sisters describing her experience serving in the American Red Cross, calling the “agonizing” decision to resign her teaching position and join “the right one for me.” She was based in New Guinea, an island in the Pacific Ocean theater. She served as the director of the commissary, which provided food and supplies to all Red Cross installations on the base, ordering close to $10,000 worth each month.

Source: The Anchor, January 1946

MAXINE MIRUS MADDEN PI 1931 /HARRIS-STOWE

In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Navy Women’s Reserve Act, creating a division of the U.S. Navy known as the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). Maxine became a WAVE in 1943, and received orders to stay in Massachusetts as an instructor at the Naval Reserve Midshipmen’s School. She wrote of her students, “I hope some of them have been AΣTs.”

Source: The Anchor, March 1944

The Theta Chapter At Wayne State University

Individual women were making their own contributions, but collegiate chapters had plenty to contribute to the war effort as well. In the Spring 1945 semester, the Theta Chapter hosted a U.S.O picnic, where they welcomed service members, and sponsored a clothing drive for those in occupied European countries (pictured above). They gathered over 2,000 pounds of clothing to send overseas to those in need.

Source: The Anchor, July 1945