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LABOR NEWS |
| By Rod Chapel, Director Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations |
For release the week of: April 23, 2007
Governor Honors Ordnance Workers
Most Americans recognize the famous “Rosie the Riveter” poster. This poster represented the role many women played during World War II. On the heels of Women’s History Month, Gov. Matt Blunt and the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations were pleased to partner with the National Archives-Central Plains Region to honor the working women during World War II.
In the 1940’s, many men entered military service to fight in World War II, leaving a shortage in the U.S. workforce. To compensate for the loss of productivity, the United States undertook a major public service campaign to encourage women to work.
Women workers played a great part in the war effort because of their employment in combat support fields. One of the most significant areas was in the ammunition plants. In Nebraska, The Cornhusker Ordnance Plant was one of 60 ammunition plants built across the United States during World War II by the U.S. Army. This plant was responsible for building bombs and artillery shells. With this expanded horizon of opportunity and confidence; and with the extended skill base that many women could now give to paid and voluntary employment, the importance of women's roles in World War II could not go unnoticed.
By 1944, more than 2.3 million women were working in the war industries in the U.S., building ships, aircraft, vehicles, and weaponry. Women also worked in factories, farms, operated trucks, provided logistic support for soldiers and entered professional areas of work that were previously the preserve of men.
To commemorate women ordnance workers of America, the Missouri Department of Labor in conjunction with the National Archives-Central Plains Region are featuring a temporary photo exhibit entitled, WOWs! Women Ordnance Workers of the Cornhuskers Plant. This historic display created by the National Archives features over 50 photographs, as well as selected posters from World War II. The temporary photo exhibit may be viewed at 421 East Dunklin Street in Jefferson City, MO through June 1, 2007. The exhibit will also be displayed in Springfield and Kansas City.
In addition to these photographs, the Central Plains Region has records from two plants in Missouri: the Lake City Arsenal in Independence and the St. Louis Ordnance Plant.
The war effort brought significant changes in America where women had the opportunity to perform jobs that may otherwise not have been available to them. This temporary photo exhibit gives Americans a small glimpse into the contributions made by women during World War II.
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