Women have been serving numerous roles in the military since as far back as the Revolutionary War. During the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, women served as nurses, cooks, tailors, spies, and even as disguised soldiers. The exemplary service of women nurses during the Spanish-American War lead to the creation of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901, which has enlisted women to serve in every war since then. In the past two decades, women have been slowly gaining authorization to serve equally within the army in all combat jobs, the Navy SEALS, and the Marines. Though early women veterans were prohibited from direct combat roles or assignments, and even officially banned from serving in combat from 1994-2013, women have always served as crucial members of the military. On display are five items from William & Mary Libraries that highlight the experiences of American women from the Civil War to Iraq.

Curation: Samantha Kramer, M.A. Student in History and 2021-2022 Special Collections Apprentice

Design: Abram Clear '21, SCRC Graphics Student Assistant, and Jennie Davy, Exhibits Manager

Fabrication and Installation: Samantha Kramer, Jennie Davy, and Ali Zawoyski, University Archivist