WAUChaseSgtRubyPHColl1300.xml Guide to the Sgt Ruby Chase Photograph Collection 1943-circa 1944, 1960 Chase (Sgt. Ruby) Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2015 (Last modified: 4/12/2018)
Seattle, WA 98195
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections PH1300 Chase, Ruby, Sgt Sgt. Ruby Chase photograph collection 1943-circa 1944, 1960 1943- circa 1944 70 photographs (1 box) 2 patches 1 document Collection materials are inEnglish. Photographs of Sgt. Ruby Chase, a WWII WAC showing recruiting activities and social activities

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.

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.

Open to the public.

Request at UW

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

Source: Fairlook Antiques, 10/14/2014.

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.

Photographic prints Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington) Military Photographs

 

Portraits of Sgt. Ruby Chase in Uniform 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 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 2 18a-18b Patches for rank of U.S. Army staff sergeant and for three years of service circa 1943-1944 Social Settings with civilians 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) circa 1943-1944 Sam Seavey 3 24 Portrait of large multi-generational group including Sgt. Ruby Chase circa 1943-1944 Sam Seavey 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 Activities WAC Duties 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 circa 1943-1944

Written on verso: With Best Wishes, Beryl Roberts, J.C. Penney Co., Lodi, Calif. (This was in J.C. Penney Mag.).

 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 circa 1943-1944 Army Air Forces, Stockton Field, California 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 circa 1943-1944 Logan Camera Shop, Stockton, California 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 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 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 June 23, 1944 U.S. AAF Training Command 5 45 Jeep with Sgt. Chase and young women approached by group of military personnel while parked in front of brick building, Merced, California June 23, 1944 U.S. AAF Training Command Military Life 6 46 Seven women standing on lawn outside of building, possibly Hinkley, California circa 1943-1944

Written on verso: Hinkley.

 6 47 Group of WACs on a street marching in formation circa 1943-1944 Military base in cold climate 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 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 8 60 Sgt. Hilletto D. Antonio in uniform and helmet, Watsonville, California circa 1943-1944

Written on verso: Taken passing review at Camp McQuaide, California.

 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 circa 1943-1944

Written on photo: To Rube, my troop who helped me fight the Battle of Stockton.

 8 64 Portrait of Alice Cottin in uniform circa 1943-1944

Written on verso: To my best "Wac" friend Ruby, from Alice Cottin.

 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 circa 1943-1944

Written on photo: To Ruby, with memories and anticipation, George.

 Mementos from civilians 9 67 Portait of young asian woman in Chinese-style dress circa 1943-1944

Written on verso: To my dear Ruby, Love Leilani.

 9 68 Man on beach with foot resting on rock circa 1943-1944

Written on photo: Happiness and then some.

 9 69 Portrait of Moroni Olsen circa 1943

Written on photo: To Sgt. Ruby Chase: With every good wish in the world, Sincerely, Moroni Olsen.

 9 70 Letter from actor Moroni Olsen thanking Sgt. Ruby Chase for photograph August 21, 1943 Retirement Event June 1960 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