Women's Role In Ww2

World War I was a major war that affected many different countries; one country specifically was the United States of America. During the war, every single person was needed to ensure the Allies triumph against the Central Powers meaning that every person from every town had to find a way to strengthen the chances of a succesful American outcome. One specific town that helped was Summit, New Jersey. During World War I, the citizens of Summit, New Jersey played a significant role in the war effort, similar to the role that citizens played nationwide across the United States during this time period which helped contribute to the war’s resulting Ally victory.

Women played a large role in Summit in the war, and also nationwide. During wartime,

Besides aiding the effort in food conservation, like women did in Summit, women’s nationwide roles in the war extended into selling war bonds, debt securities used to fund a war, and overall replacing drafted soldier men’s jobs. The Seattle Union Record noted that: “There has been a sudden influx of women into such unusual occupations as bank clerks, ticket sellers, elevator operator, chauffeur, street car conductor, railroad trackwalker, section hand, locomotive wiper and oiler, locomotive dispatcher, block operator, draw bridge attendant, and employment in machine shops, steel mills, powder and ammunition factories, airplane works, boot blacking and farming.” (Where Women Worked). The influx of women’s presence in what was previously considered solely a men’s sphere of work increased visibility of women’s work capabilities which would eventually lead to further recognitions and support of women’s rights such as suffrage eventually contributing to the passage of the 19th Amendment. (Women in World War I). Women’s involvement in the war did not end in affecting the war itself, but also in paving the way for future gender equality movements meaning that Summit women’s involvement in the war was not strictly limited to aiding in food preservation but in aiding in the fight for equal gender rights for women

After the war ended, Major Lawrence went on to head up the Summit Medical Group and founded Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, which as of 1991 was the third largest employer in Summit (Olcott 9) (Living in Summit). In 1918, while Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, he praised Summit’s role and contribution for the war in a letter to Summit’s former mayor, Ruford Franklin published by the Summit Herald which read: “Bully for Summit, N.J.! If every place did as you [Summit’s Mayor] and your town have done, the country would be well prepared and in little danger,” showing that Summit’s contributions to the war effort were highly regarded and recognised (Summit Herald). It’s important to learn about Summit’s involvement in the war, because even as a small town it proves that every effort counts when it comes to fighting a grand scale war. Similar to what Former President Roosevelt said, Summit set a positive precedent on how a small town like Summit is able to aid a large end goal like the First World