Women of Southwest Minnesota and the Great War - Anita Talsma Gaul
The Slayton and Fulda libraries partnered to bring a program to their county patrons. "The Women of Southwest Minnesota and the Great War" explores how women of this region contributed to the war effort in expected and also unexpected ways. Women living in Southwest Minnesota overwhelmingly supported World War 1 by joining the Red Cross, participating in the US Food Administration food conservation campaign, or by serving as war nurses. However, some women used the opportunity to challenge traditional gender roles and take jobs usually held by men such as working as field hands, as railroad depot agents, or forming Minnesota's only all-female Home Guard unit. Winning the "great war for democracy" was due, in no small part, to the efforts of America's women, and this includes the efforts put forth by the women living right here in Southwest Minnesota.
17 participated
Participants will learn about the contributions of women in Southwest Minnesota to the war effort during World War 1.Participants will learn about women's fashion during World War 1.Participants will enjoy a PowerPoint presentation focusing on Southwest Minnesota and specifically Murray County during World War 1.While learning about women's contributions, participants will broaden their knowledge of women's role in US history. Participant evaluations and anecdotal responses will be collected.
Participants learned about women's clothing fashion during the early 1900's. The presenter showed and described the clothing layers that women wore during that time. Participants learned about specific women from Southwest Minnesota that contributed and worked during World War 1 as nurses, Home Guards, and Red Cross volunteers. Participants learned about the pressures that were put on women to contribute to the war effort by knitting items for the soldiers.
Slayton Friends of the Library, City of Slayton, KJOE Radio, Murray County Historical Society, Fulda Community Library