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Re: I'm looking for the names, hometowns of the WWI "Hello Girls"
Alex ChampionAug 7, 2018 11:31 AM (in response to Jim Malcolm)
3 people found this helpfulHello Mr. Malcolm,
Thank-you for your inquiry regarding the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit. It is doubtful that the National Archives would have a single list of names and home counties. Even if there is a compiled list of the women who served as “Hello Girls” the locale information--likely their place of enlistment not their place of origin--would be elsewhere in the archives.
There are several books about the Hello Girls and, if you haven’t already, we suggest you begin your search there. You could then further your research at the National Archives with names in hand to narrow down your search or gather more information.
One such tack would be to consult Record Group 111, Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, the office under which the Hello Girls served. The Signal Corps were inveterate photographers and the National Archives’ Still Pictures Branch indexed them very well.
Additionally, be sure to check out this detailed History Hub response to a similar question.
We hope you find what you’re looking for!
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Re: I'm looking for the names, hometowns of the WWI "Hello Girls"
Darren ColeAug 7, 2018 11:55 AM (in response to Alex Champion)
2 people found this helpfulA blog post from several years ago on the "Hello Girls" also pieced together the history of one woman in particular using records from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis: The Hello Girls Finally Get Paid
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Re: I'm looking for the names, hometowns of the WWI "Hello Girls"
Michael PierceAug 7, 2018 11:47 AM (in response to Jim Malcolm)
2 people found this helpfulHello Jim:
Thanks for your inquiry to the History Hub.
Here's a link with a few names to get you started. http://loucraft.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-hello-girls-switchboard-soldiers.html
Mikey
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Re: I'm looking for the names, hometowns of the WWI "Hello Girls"
Michael PierceAug 7, 2018 11:51 AM (in response to Jim Malcolm)
3 people found this helpfulHello Again Jim:
The footnote at this source gives some pretty good info on where to find more of this info at NARAs National Personnel Records Center, Civilian Personnel Records.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/25144374?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
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Re: I'm looking for the names, hometowns of the WWI "Hello Girls"
Cara Moore LebonickAug 9, 2018 10:16 AM (in response to Jim Malcolm)
3 people found this helpfulDear Mr. Malcom,
In 2017 Elizabeth Cobbs wrote a great book called The Hello Girls. In this book she details the service of most, if not all, the "Hello Girls" using their Official Personnel Folders (OPFs) from the National Archives at St. Louis as well as other resources. Here is a link to more information about her writing; http://elizabethcobbs.com/the-hello-girls/
Additionally, here is a great related History Hub post; https://historyhub.history.gov/message/4166?et=notification.mention#4166
While there is no specific record series dedicated to a roster or master list of all Hello Girls as Alex indicated, it is common for other individuals to be listed in OPFs and they may be great place to start your research in addition to Ms. Cobbs book. Feel free to write to the National Archives at St. Louis to request their personnel records at stl.archives@nara.gov.
Best,
Cara Moore Lebonick
National Archives at St. Louis
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Re: I'm looking for the names, hometowns of the WWI "Hello Girls"
Jim Malcolm Aug 10, 2018 9:32 AM (in response to Jim Malcolm)Thank you to all who replied. I have several promising areas to search and did find one name (Anne Fox) in the archives of our local newspaper.
Jim
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Re: I'm looking for the names, hometowns of the WWI "Hello Girls"
Elliot Schneider Sep 7, 2018 3:37 PM (in response to Jim Malcolm)Jim,
Please follow the link and copy and paste in your browser.
Thanks,
Elliot Schneider