Material Traces of War

Stacey Barker (Author) Stacey Barker is a historian at the Canadian War Museum. She holds a doctorate in history from the University of Ottawa and has worked as a public historian for over a decade.Krista Cooke (Author) Krista Cooke is a public historian with more than 20 years of experience in Canadian museums and archives. Cooke investigates how museums represent women’s history through their exhibitions, collections and programs.Molly McCullough (Author) Molly McCullough is the director of conservation and collection managementat Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation.

“Material Traces of War: Stories of Canadian Women and Conflict, 1914–1945 promises to help provide a better understanding of what a war effort is all about when an entire society is engaged, as was the case first in 1914–1918 and again for the Second World War, from 1939–1945. This book originated as an exhibition at the Canadian War Museum in 2015–2016. It is the result of a fruitful collaboration between three dedicated authors who bring a wealth of museum experience to the subject. It is really gratifying to see their research come to fruition.”—John Willis, retired from the Canadian Museum of History in 2019, where he served as editor of the Mercury Series.

• ForewordAcknowledgementsList of FiguresIntroductionWorld at War, Women at WarChapter One - That Men May Fight: Women and Military Service during the World WarsLt./Nursing Sister Blanche Lavallée, Canadian Army Medical CorpsNurse Edith Anderson Monture, American Expeditionary ForceLt./Nursing Sister Murney Pugh and Lt./Nursing Sister Ellanore Parker, Canadian Army Medical CorpsDr. Margaret Ellen Douglass, Winnipeg Women’s Volunteer ReserveSpotlight: Disposable Sanitary NapkinsLt./Nursing Sister Mary Adelaide Cooney, Royal Canadian Army Medical CorpsSpotlight: No. 14 Canadian General Hospital PlateLance Corporal Mary Weaver, Wentworth Women’s Auxiliary CorpsWing Officer Willa Walker, Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s DivisionPrivate Eleanor “Minnie” Gray, Canadian Women’s Army CorpsSpotlight: Private Roy, Canadian Women’s Army CorpsSpotlight: Sweetheart JewelryLieutenant Molly Lamb Bobak, Canadian Women’s Army CorpsSpotlight: Servicewomen, Sex, and EntertainmentLeading WREN Lorna Stanger, Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service CorpsLieutenant Joan Bamford Fletcher, First Aid Nursing YeomanryChapter Two - Selfless Service: Women and Volunteering in WartimeMrs. John J. Morrison, KnitterHonourary Lieutenant Mary Robertson Gordon, Canadian Field Comforts CommissionSpotlight: Soldier’s Comfort BoxJoanna St. Clair, EmbroidererMary Ann Sutton, PoetSpotlight: Souvenir of the Parliament Hill FireTsune Yatabe, Nursing AideLillian Bilsky Freiman, Philanthropist and Veterans’ AdvocateMary Ziniuk, KnitterKate Aitken, Broadcaster and Homemaking ExpertSpotlight: The Last Remaining Muffin TinBarbara McNutt, War Savings Stamp CanvasserJeannette Connon “Connie” Laidlaw, VentriloquistChapter Three - Backing the Attack: Women Workers at WarFlorence Wyle and Frances Loring, War ArtistsMary Campbell, Munitions WorkerLois Allan, Farm Service CorpsCecelia McTaggart, Registrar’s OfficeAda Sylvester, Canadian Car and FoundryNora (Gibson) Elrick, Canadian Car and FoundrySpotlight: “Miss War Worker”Lorida (Landry) Langlois, Singer Manufacturing CompanyVerda Sharp, Dominion BridgeSpotlight: Practice BuzzerInge Oswald, Ontario Farm Service ForceNorma Etta Lee, Quebec AirwaysKathleen McGrath, Christie St. Veterans’ and Sunnybrook HospitalsChapter Four - ‘Deeply Regret to Inform You’: Women, Worry, and LossJeannie Cassels BoucherSpotlight: Memorial CrossesMary HallMadeleine JonesSpotlight: Service FlagsHenriette PopeEdna ScottDorothy (Effemy) CannonPeggy (Hayes) RainvilleElizabeth “Betty” ButcherMichiko IshiiAlta WilkinsonConclusion