African American Women in the
Military and at War:
Selected Reading List

Science Reference Section
Science, Technology, and Business Division
Library of Congress

Books, Dissertations, and Theses ... Biographies and Autobiographies .... Selected Journal Articles ...
Internet Resources ... Other Resources

     In observance of Women's History Month, this bibliography lists books on a little explored facet of African American history--African American women in the military and their services to the war effort. The Library of Congress has a large collection of materials on this topic, spanning several centuries and including articles, books, dissertations, technical reports, photographs and first person accounts. This bibliography includes only a sampling of the materials available at the Library of Congress. The works explore biographical materials, as well as the cultural and social aspects of African American women in the military. An attempt has been made to include significant chapters in books, dissertations and master's thesis, , as well as internet resources which may be freely available.

BOOKS, DISSERTATIONS AND THESES

Akers, Regina Theresa. Doing their part: the WAVES in World War II. Howard University, 2000. 245p.
   AAT 9981740
   See especially chapter 7, "On the broad road to victory,1943-1945," p. 179-231.

Black Americans in defense of our nation. Washington, DC, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Equal Opportunity and Safety Policy, Dept. of Defense. U. S. G.P.O., 1985. 189 p.
   UB418.A47 B54 1985
   See especially "Black women in the military service of the United States," p. 89-106; see also listings of African American graduates under the individual service academies.

Black women in America. Darlene Clark Hine, editor in chief. 2nd ed. Oxford, New York, Oxford University Press, 2005. 3 v.
   E185.86.B542 2005

Blood, Katherine. Negro women war workers. Washington, Women's Bureau, United States Dept. of Labor, 1945. 23 p.
   HD6093.A35 no. 205

Daniels, K. B. Social construction of race and gender: Black women officers in the U.S. Navy. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. Jun 1994. 70p.
   ADA283619
   URL: http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA283619

It's our military, too!: women and the U. S. Military. Edited by Judith Hicks Stiehm. Philadelphia, Temple University Press, 1996. 309 p.
   UB418.W65I88 1996
   See especially "Equal opportunity in the U.S. Navy: perceptions of active-duty African American women," p. 83-102 and "From under representation to over representation: African American women," p. 115-135.

Johnson, Jesse L. Black women in the Armed Forces, 1942-1974: a pictorial history. Hampton, VA, Johnson, c1974. 110 p.
   E185.63.J633

Keys, Carol. "And the Army keeps rolling along": a study of the effects of gender and race on women officers' careers and the strategies they use to survive and succeed. Ann Arbor, MI, UMI, 1997. 333 p.
   AAT 9822253
   Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Moore, Brenda L. To serve my country, to serve my race: the story of the only African American WACS stationed overseas during World War II. New York, New York University Press, c1996. 272 p.
   UB418.A47M66 1996

Putney, Martha S. When the nation was in need: Blacks in the http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c32480during World War II. Metuchen, NJ, Scarecrow Press, 1992. 231 p.
   D810.N4P88 1992

Salter, Krewasky A. I., "Sable officers": African-American military officers, 1861-1948. Ann Arbor, MI, UMI, 1996.
405 p.
   AAT 9700192 <Electronic Resources>
   Dissertation: Florida State University.
   See especially chapter 17, "Women go to war," p. 339-266.

Sims-Wood, Janet. "We served America too!" Personal recollections of African American women in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. Ann Arbor, MI, UMI,1994. 296 p.
   AAT 9519611 <Electronic resource>
   Dissertation: The Union Institute.

Swann, Leslie M. African American women in the World War II defense industry. Ann Arbor, MI, UMI, 2004. 407 p.
   AAT 3151038 <Electronic resource>
   Dissertation: Temple University

Turner, Robbie G. Minority women officers in the Navy: past, present and future prospects. Monterey, CA, Naval Postgraduate School. Mar 1991. 79 p.
   ADA242636 <Sci TRS>
   This report may also be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5825 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161. NTIS telephone: (703) 605-6585. NTIS web site: http://www.ntis.gov

We were there: voices of African American veterans from World War II to the war in Iraq. Compiled by Yvonne Latty. New York, Amistad, 2004. 184 p.
   E185.63.4 2004

TOP OF PAGE

BIOGRAPHIES AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES

Adams-Ender, Clara L. My rise to the stars: how a sharecropper's daughter became an Army general. Lake Ridge, VA, CAPE Associates, c2001. 247 p.
   UB418.A47A33 2001

Bragg, Janet Harmon. Soaring above setbacks: the autobiography of Janet Harmon Bragg, African American Aviator. Washington, DC, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996. 120 p.
   TL540.B693 A3 1996

Earley, Charity Adams. One woman's Army: a Black officer remembers the WAC. College Station, TX, College Station, Texas A&M University Press, c1989. 218 p. (Texas A&M University military history series, 12)
   D811.E23 1989

Gordon, Violet Hill (World War II, 1942-1946; Women's Army Auxiliary Corps). In Experiencing war: stories from the Veteran's History Project: Patriotism.
   URL: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/vhp-stories/loc.natlib.afc2001001.00146/

Stuart, Oneida Miller (World War II, 1939-1946; Army Nurse Corps). In Experiencing war: stories from the Veteran's History Project: African American pioneers.
    URL: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/vhp-stories/loc.natlib.afc2001001.04850/

Taylor, Susie King. A Black woman’s Civil War memoirs : reminiscences of my life in camp with the 33rd U.S. Colored Troops, late 1st South Carolina Volunteers. Edited by Patricia W. Romero. New York, M. Wiener Pub., Distributed by the Talman Co., c1988. 154 p.
   E492.94 33rd .T3 1988
   URL: http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/taylorsu/taylorsu.html

Tucker, Phillip Thomas. Cathy Williams: from slave to female Buffalo Soldier. Mechanicsburg, PA, Stackpole Books, c2002. 258 p.
   E185.97.W694T83 2002

Woods, Elsie Dell (World War II, 1943-1946; Women's Army Corps). In Experiencing war: stories from the Veteran's History Project: African American pioneers.
   URL: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/vhp-stories/loc.natlib.afc2001001.04741/

TOP OF PAGE

SELECTED JOURNAL ARTICLES

Air Force graduates first Black women pilot (T. Claiborne). Ebony, v. 38, Jan. 1983:46.
   AP2.E165

Bird, Julie. Making history: Brigadier General Selectee Harris and her climb to the top. Air Force Times, v. 50 July 16, 1990:12-13
   Microfilm 01400 UG <MicRR>

Black history month: proud to serve: African American Army Nurse Corps officers. Bethesda, MD, Office of Medical History, Office of the Surgeon General. February 2003.
   URL: http://history.amedd.army.mil/ANCWebsite/articles/blackhistory.htm

Campbell, D'Ann. Bibliographic essay: women in the military. Choice, v. 31, Sept. 1993: 63-70.
   Z1035.C5

Carnegie, M. Elizabeth. Nurses and war. Black nurses at the Front. The American journal of nursing, v. 84, Oct. 1984: 1250-1252.
   RT1.A5

Drew, Robin. Army's (2d Lt. Marcella A.) Hayes, 1st Black woman aviator in U. S. Forces. United States Army aviation digest, v. 26, Jan. 1980: inside back cover
   UG633.A377164

Education of Margaret Jackson: member of the Women's Army Corps, Sept. 1943-Mar. 1946. Minerva: quarterly report on women and the military, v. 9, Winter 1991: 56-77.
   UG633UB418.W65M55

First Black female Air Force General (Marcelite J. Harris). Air Force times, v. 50, Jan. 22, 1990:61
   Microfilm 01400 UG <MicRR>

Haynes, Karima A. Sisters-in-arms. Ebony, v. 49, Mar. 1994: 118-122.
   AP2.E165

Howard, Grendel. Carrying forth a tradition (Black women in the Army). Soldiers, v. 40, Feb. 1985: 28-32
   U1.A827

King, Lisa Y. In search of women of African descent who served in the Civil War Union Navy. The Journal of Negro history, v. 83, autumn 1998: 302-309.
   E185.J86 and <Electronic resource>

McKenna, Pat. Nursing old wounds: retired Major recalls struggles as first Black in regular Army Nurse Corps. Airman, v. 42, Apr. 1998: 38-41
   UG633.A1A528

Miller, Richard E. The golden fourteen, plus: Black Navy women in World War One. Minerva: quarterly report on women and the military, v. 13, fall-winter 1995: 7-13
   UB418.W65M55

Moore, Brenda L. African-American women in the U.S. military. Armed forces and society, v. 17, spring 1991: 363-384.
   U21.5.A74

Moore, Brenda L. Serving with dual mission: African-American women in World War II. National journal of sociology,
v. 7, summer 1993: 1-42.
   WMLC 93/1682

Muradian, Vago. Guard has first Black female general. Army Times, v. 54, Dec 6, 1993:25
   Microfilm 0959 <MicRR>

Putney, Martha S. A historical review of Black women in the military. Remarks delivered by Dr. Putney at Ford’s Theater at a National Park Service ceremony for the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, July 17, 1998
   URL: http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/history/aa_militaryhistory.htm

Randolph, Laura B. The untold story of Black women in the Gulf War. African-Americans helped redefine the role of females in the military. Ebony, v. 46, Sept. 1991: 101-107.
   AP2.E165

Walker, Nicole. Vernice Armour, 1st Black female combat pilot, serves in Persian Gulf as family copes. Jet, v.103, Apr. 14, 2003: 6-11.
   E185.5.J4

TOP OF PAGE

INTERNET RESOURCES

African-Americans and the U. S. Navy: first female officers. Online library of selected images. Washington, Dept. of the Navy, Navy Historical Center.
   URL: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/prs-tpic/af-amer/afa-wave.htm

Bellaifaire, Judith. Volunteering for risk: Black military women overseas during the wars in Korea and Vietnam.
   URL: http://www.womensmemorial.org/Education/BWOHistory.html

Bey, Jacqueline S. Women in the military: a selected bibliography. U. S. Army War College Library, Carlisle Barracks, PA. January 2005.
   URL: http://carlisle-www.army.mil/library/bibs/women05.htm

Burger, Barbara. The Lion’s history: researching World War II images of African Americans. Prologue special issue: federal records and African American history, v. 29, no. 2, summer 1997.
   URL: http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1997/summer/world-war-two-images.html

Female Buffalo Soldier -with documents. Cathay Williams or William Cathay (Cathey) Private, Thirty-eighth U. S. Infantry 1866-1868. An exceptional woman. Buffalo Soldier Network.
   URL: http://www.buffalosoldier.net/CathayWilliamsFemaleBuffaloSoldierWithDocuments.htm

The Ground beneath our feet: Virginia fights: World War II.
   A documentary film series and website about Virginia's history after the Civil War.
   See especially Image Archive: African Americans,
http://www.vahistory.org/WWII/image_archive/image_archive.php?subject=8&page=image_archive

Krawczynski, Keith. African American Navy, Marine Corps, Women’s Reserves, and Coast Guard service during World War II. In A historic context for the African American military experience, by Steven D. Smith and James A. Zeidler. U. S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (USACERL). July 1988.
   URL:
https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/ES-
Programs/Conservation/Legacy/AAME/aame3a.html#7%20African%20American%20Navy
   See also "References,"
https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/ES-Programs/Conservation/Legacy/AAME/references.html#References

Library of Congress: Prints & Photographs Online Catalog
   URL: http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/catalog.html
   Search African American and women and military

Library of Congress: Veteran’s History Project
   Go to http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/vhp/html/search/search.html
   Search +race:Black +or +African +American +women
   Many narratives have race unspecified. Some suggested terms for searching including WAC, WAAC, Army Nurse Corps.
   Materials can be viewed in the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

National Archives -- Military Resources - Women in the Military
   URL: http://www.archives.gov/research/alic/reference/military/women.html

Simms-Wood, Janet. "We served America, too!" Blacks in the Women's Army Corps during World War II; a selected bibliography. Washington, Moorland-Spingarn Research Center Howard University. February 1995.
   URL: http://www.founders.howard.edu/moorland-spingarn/Wwii.htm

Simpson, Diana. African Americans in military history bibliography: women. Malcom AFB, AL, Air University Library. February 1999.
   URL: http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/afhist/afwom.htm

Williams, Rudi. Black WAC joined to be who she wanted to be. (Catherine L. Bowie). Washington, Armed Forces Press Service. (Home for Heroes.)
   URL: http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/heroes/bowie.html

Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation
   See: Brief History of Black Women in the Military
   URL: http://www.womensmemorial.org/Education/BBH1998.html
   See: Bibliography
   URL: http://www.womensmemorial.org/H&C/Resources/pdfs/bibliography.pdf

TOP OF PAGE

OTHER RESOURCES

NAACP photographs of African American women in the military services during World War II. 76 photographic prints.    LOT 13103 (F) USE MICROFILM [P&P]
   Emphasis is on activities of the Army Nurse Corps and the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), later called Women's Army Corps (WAC), at bases in Australia, England, France, and the United States. Activities include training, recruitment, clerical work, and recreation, such as Army nurses playing cards and knitting, and a WAAC band in a parade. Includes portraits of officers and new recruits. Prominent people depicted include: Mary McLeod Bethune at a National Civilian Advisory Committee luncheon, Fort Des Moines, Iowa; Joe Louis welcoming a group of new WAAC enlistees; Walter White visiting the WAAC training center at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. One photo of tennis instructor of the 3510 WAF Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base.
   Selected images also available in Prints & Photographs Online Catalog, http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/catalog.html.

Papers of Charity Adams Earley, 1928-2002 (bulk 1942-2002). Description: 1,000 items. 8 containers, plus 1 oversize. 3.2 linear feet.
   0630M <ManRR>

World War I Document Archive - The American Negro in the World War
   Full text copy of: Scott, Emmet J. Scott’s official history of the American Negro in the World War. A complete and authentic narration, from official sources, of the participation of American soldiers of the Negro race in the World War for democracy ... a full acount of the war work organizations of colored men and women and other civilian activities, including the Red Cross, the Y.M.C.A., the Y.W.C.A. and the War camp community service, with official summary of treaty of peace and League of Nations covenant. Prefaced with highest tributes to the American Negro by Hon. Newton D. Baker ... Gen. John J. Pershing ... and the late Theodore Roosevelt. Chicago, Homewood Press, 1919. 511 p.
   See especially Chapter 27,"Negro women in war work,"
http://net.lib.byu.edu/~rdh7/wwi/comment/Scott/SCh27.htm