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Missouri Daughters Honor WWII Women in a New Book

Imaging Specialists is working closely with the Missouri State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution on a new book about working women in World War II. Friends and family members have written stories and supplied photographs of honorees to be included in the not-yet-titled project.

The ladies are called  “Rosies” in the book, after “Rosie the Riveter,” a term that Wikipedia says “was first used in 1942 in a song of the same name written by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb. The song was recorded by numerous artists, including the popular big band leader Kay Kyser, and became a national hit. The song portrays “Rosie” as a tireless assembly line worker, doing her part to help the American war effort.

All the day long,
Whether rain or shine
She’s part of the assembly line.
She’s making history,
Working for victory
Rosie the Riveter

J. Howard Miller’s “We Can Do It!” poster is planned to be featured on the cover with some minor typographical changes.

Also according to Wikipedia, “In 1942, Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller was hired by the Westinghouse Company’s War Production Coordinating Committee to create a series of posters for the war effort. One of these posters became the famous “We Can Do It!” image—an image that in later years would also become “Rosie the Riveter”, though this was not intended at its creation. Miller based his “We Can Do It!” poster on a United Press photograph taken of Lansing, Michigan, factory worker Geraldine Doyle. Its intent was to help recruit women to join the work force. At the time of the poster’s release the name “Rosie” was not associated with the image.”

From the MSN website: “For years, Doyle signed Rosie the Riveter t-shirts, posters, and more. While many profited from her image, she never charged a penny to fans, her daughter said.

“She would say that she was the ‘We Can Do It!’ girl,” Gregg told the Lansing State Journal. “She never wanted to take anything away from the other Rosies.”

Thank you to Mrs. Doyle and all “Rosies” everywhere. May your stories of service and sacrifice help to inspire a new generation.

Imaging Specialists is proud to be a part of this patriotic project to honor these homefront heroes.