Sgt. Ruby Chase photograph collection

Sgt. Ruby Chase photograph collection, 1943-circa 1944, 1960

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Chase, Ruby, Sgt
Title: Sgt. Ruby Chase photograph collection
Dates: 1943-circa 1944, 1960 (inclusive)
19431960

1943- circa 1944 (bulk)
Quantity: 70 photographs (1 box)
2 patches
1 document
Collection Number: PH1300
Summary: Photographs of Sgt. Ruby Chase, a WWII WAC showing recruiting activities and social activities
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Open to the public.
Additional Reference Guides
Languages: English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The Women's Army Corps (WAC) was the women's branch of the United States Army. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) on 15 May 1942 by Public Law 554, and converted to full status as the WAC on 1 July 1943. Its first director was Oveta Culp Hobby, a prominent society woman in Texas.

About 150,000 American women eventually served in the WAAC and WAC during World War II. They were the first women other than nurses to serve with the Army. While conservative opinion in the leadership of the Army and public opinion generally was initially opposed to women serving in uniform, the shortage of men necessitated a new policy. It was determined that women could best support the war effort by performing noncombatant military jobs for which they were already trained. This allowed the Army to make the most efficient use of available labor and free men to perform essential combat duties. While most women served stateside, some went to various places around the world, including Europe, North Africa, and New Guinea. For example, WACs landed on Normandy Beach just a few weeks after the initial invasion. Despite the initial opposition, American women persisted in their service and significantly contributed to the war effort.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs relating to activities of Sgt Ruby Chase, a WWII WAC recruiter. The photographs include her work as a recruiter, some of the WAC recruits, and War Bond work. There are also two photographs showing a retirement in 1960.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Rights unknown. Some items fall under U.S. Government and therefore are not under copyright.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Source: Fairlook Antiques, 10/14/2014.

Processing Note

Processed by Claire Aldenhuysen, 2014; Katie Burke, 2015; Processing completed 2015.

Photographs were held in a "magnetic" album prior to acquisition. Stripes from glue can be seen on the backs of photographs.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Portraits of Sgt. Ruby Chase in UniformReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
1	1	Portrait of Sgt. Ruby Chase	circa 1943-1944
1	2	Portrait of Sgt. Ruby Chase	circa 1943-1944
1	3	Sgt. Ruby Chase outside with an American flag	circa 1943-1944
1	4	Sgt. Ruby Chase in jodhpurs standing in front of car	circa 1943-1944
1	5	Sgt. Ruby Chase standing on street with book and bag	circa 1943-1944
1	6	Sgt. Ruby Chase on tree-lined sidewalk	circa 1943-1944
1	7	Sgt. Ruby Chase with horse	circa 1943-1944
1	8	Sgt. Ruby Chase in overcoat holding hat	circa 1943-1944
1	9	Sgt. Ruby Chase standing on walkway in front of house	circa 1943-1944
1	10	Sgt. Ruby Chase standing against exterior wall	circa 1943-1944
1	11	Portion of photograph showing Sgt. Ruby Chase standing in front of vehicle	circa 1943-1944
1	12	Sgt. Ruby Chase standing on stairs of porch	circa 1943-1944
2	13	Portrait of Sgt. Ruby Chase	circa 1943-1944
		Sgt. Ruby Chase in courtyard
Folder	item
2	14	Sgt. Ruby Chase on stairs	circa 1943-1944
2	15	Sgt. Ruby Chase in rocking chair	circa 1943-1944
2	16	Sgt. Ruby Chase leaning on fountain	circa 1943-1944
2	17	Sgt. Ruby Chase seated on fountain	circa 1943-1944
Folder	item
2	18a-18b	Patches for rank of U.S. Army staff sergeant and for three years of service	circa 1943-1944

Social Settings with civiliansReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
3	19-22	Sgt. Ruby Chase with companions displaying textile, possibly Navajo weaving	circa 1943-1944
3	23	Sgt. Ruby Chase with men and women (possibly family group) Sam Seavey (Photographer)	circa 1943-1944
3	24	Portrait of large multi-generational group including Sgt. Ruby Chase Sam Seavey (Photographer)	circa 1943-1944
3	25-26	Sgt. Ruby Chase with friends in bathing suits on beach, Long Beach, California	circa 1943-1944
3	27	Sgt. Ruby Chase with another woman in sportswear against exterior wall	circa 1943-1944
3	28	Sgt. Ruby Chase in bathing suit on bench outdoors	circa 1943-1944
3	29	Sgt. Ruby Chase in fur-trimmed coat leaning against car	circa 1943-1944
3	30	Assembly outside of New Durham Town Hall with very large service flag displayed, New Durham, New Hampshire	circa 1943-1944

Military ActivitiesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		WAC Duties
Folder	item
4	31	Sgt. Ruby Chase standing with another WAC at the back of a van markedU.S. Army Recruiting Service	circa 1943-1944
4	32	Sgt. Ruby Chase in WAC information booth in front of storefront, Lodi, California Written on verso: With Best Wishes, Beryl Roberts, J.C. Penney Co., Lodi, Calif. (This was in J.C. Penney Mag.).	circa 1943-1944
4	33	Exterior of Fox Theater with marquee readingBeat the Axis, buy United States war bonds and stamps at any Fox Theater. Join the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps., Release a man to help lick Japan, Stockton, California	circa 1943-1944
4	34	Sgt. Ruby Chase and Miss Margaret Watts in office looking at application, probably Stockton, California Army Air Forces, Stockton Field, California (photographer)	circa 1943-1944
4	35	Sgt. Ruby Chase shaking hands with young woman who is linking arms with older woman, possibly her mother	circa 1943-1944
4	36	Sgt. Ruby Chase addressing large group of young women in matching costumes, probably Stockton, California Logan Camera Shop, Stockton, California (photographer)	circa 1943-1944
4	37	Sgt. Ruby Chase with WAC Committee seated in office, probably Stockton, California	August 6, 1943
4	38	Sgt. Ruby Chase with other WACs and other women in office, likely a WAC Committee meeting, probably Stockton, California	circa 1943-1944
		Sgt. Ruby Chase possibly recruiting two young Hispanic women
Folder	item
5	39	Sgt. Ruby Chase in Jeep markedStockton Ordnance Depot, Buy Bondsparked in front of trees	circa 1943-1944
5	40	Sgt. Ruby Chase in Jeep with two young Hispanic women, parked in front of large family	circa 1943-1944
5	41	Sgt. Ruby Chase driving army Jeep with young Hispanic women in backseat	circa 1943-1944
5	42	Sgt. Ruby Chase and two young Hispanic women standing outside of Jeep with hood raised	circa 1943-1944
		Sgt. Ruby Chase possibly recuiting group of young Hispanic women
Folder	item
5	43	Sgt. Ruby Chase in Jeep with four young Hispanic women, all waving to group of military personnel standing on street, Merced, California	June 23, 1944
5	44	Sgt. Ruby Chase parking Jeep with four young Hispanic women in front of brick building, Merced, California U.S. AAF Training Command (photographer)	June 23, 1944
5	45	Jeep with Sgt. Chase and young women approached by group of military personnel while parked in front of brick building, Merced, California U.S. AAF Training Command (photographer)	June 23, 1944
		Military Life
Folder	item
6	46	Seven women standing on lawn outside of building, possibly Hinkley, California Written on verso: Hinkley.	circa 1943-1944
6	47	Group of WACs on a street marching in formation	circa 1943-1944
		Military base in cold climate
Folder	item
6	48	Woman standing in cap and uniform overcoat in snowy field	circa 1943-1944
6	49	Group of WACs outside of building covered with icicles	circa 1943-1944
6	50	Three WACs in overcoats playing in the snow	circa 1943-1944
		Socializing
Folder	item
7	51	Man in uniform with woman sitting on bridge railing	circa 1943-1944
7	52	Sgt. Ruby Chase with two men at scenic overlook in front of a mountain	circa 1943-1944
7	53	Two men and two women in uniform standing in front of ornate building	circa 1943-1944
7	54	Sgt. Ruby Chase outside of a building with three men: Geffen, Sweeny, and Epestein	circa 1943-1944
7	55	Sgt. Ruby Chase in Jeep with man in army uniform and man in navy uniform	circa 1943-1944
7	56	Sgt. Ruby Chase sitting in grass with other men and women	circa 1943-1944
7	57-58	Sgt. Ruby Chase with Canadian WAC on barstools holding bottles of Coca Cola	circa 1943-1944
7	59	Sgt. Ruby Chase with Anna Atkines and three men in different uniforms	circa 1943-1944
		Portraits
Folder	item
8	60	Sgt. Hilletto D. Antonio in uniform and helmet, Watsonville, California Written on verso: Taken passing review at Camp McQuaide, California.	circa 1943-1944
8	61	Older man in uniform standing in front of vehicle	circa 1943-1944
8	62	Man in uniform bending down to drinking fountain	circa 1943-1944
8	63	Seated portrait of woman in uniform Written on photo: To Rube, my troop who helped me fight the Battle of Stockton.	circa 1943-1944
8	64	Portrait of Alice Cottin in uniform Written on verso: To my best "Wac" friend Ruby, from Alice Cottin.	circa 1943-1944
8	65	Man in uniform standing next to palm tree	circa 1943-1944
8	66	Portrait of a captain in Army Service Forces in uniform Written on photo: To Ruby, with memories and anticipation, George.	circa 1943-1944

Mementos from civiliansReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
9	67	Portait of young asian woman in Chinese-style dress Written on verso: To my dear Ruby, Love Leilani.	circa 1943-1944
9	68	Man on beach with foot resting on rock Written on photo: Happiness and then some.	circa 1943-1944
9	69	Portrait of Moroni Olsen Written on photo: To Sgt. Ruby Chase: With every good wish in the world, Sincerely, Moroni Olsen.	circa 1943
9	70	Letter from actor Moroni Olsen thanking Sgt. Ruby Chase for photograph	August 21, 1943

Retirement Event June 1960Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
10	71	Man handing MSgt. Chase U.S. Air Force Certificate of Retirement and shaking hands	June 30, 1960
10	72	MSgt. Chase holding Certificate of Retirement, surrounded by three men and three women	June 30, 1960

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents