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Women's Military Uniform Ensemble
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History & Notes: This uniform was worn by Wanda Mae Ukele Richardson during her service in the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). Wanda enlisted with the all-female division of the United States Naval Reserve on June 12, 1943 at Greeley, Colorado and completed the rigorous four month boot camp. As Yeoman 3rd class, Wanda was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington D.C. and after her promotion to Yeoman 2nd class, she attended officer training school at Smith College in 1944. In October of 1944, Wanda was commissioned Ensign and reported to the US Naval Advanced Base Personnel Depot in San Bruno, California as the second WAVE on the base. After two years and nine months of service, Wanda was discharged on April 4, 1946.
Description: Military dress uniform consisting of a jacket, skirt, hat, and necktie in two parts. Jacket is fitted navy blue worsted wool with fishmouth revers and collar. Overlapping rounded upper lapel has a round WAVES insignia patch decorated with an anchor, rope and propeller. Front features two rounded flaps suggesting breast pockets, set in sleeves with a slate blue braid and star line officer insignia two inches above the hem. Front button closure features four gold buttons with embossed eagle motif. Jacket is fully lined with a navy twill. Skirt is navy worsted wool and is constructed with six gores in an A-line shape. Skirt features side metal zip closure, slanted jetted front pockets, and a double top stitched waist band finished with a pointed end. Hat is of navy worsted wool and white poplin in a "helmet" style. Stiff brim and band are of navy wool with top stitching. Band is folded over the back with pinked ends. The front features navy commissioned officer insignia depicting a silver and gold eagle and crest over crossed anchors and rope against a navy background. Inside is lined with pleated navy taffeta tucked into a white oval at the top which is covered in plastic. Black ribbed silk two piece necktie is cut on the bias and seamed down the inside with shirt tail hem that comes to a point. Lender top is squared with a single buttonhole used to connect the two pieces.
Object Number: 1998.006.0001
Object: uniform
Category: Women's Garments
Circa: 1940
Materials: wool , synthetic, silk
Donor: RICHARDSON, WANDA
Description: Military dress uniform consisting of a jacket, skirt, hat, and necktie in two parts. Jacket is fitted navy blue worsted wool with fishmouth revers and collar. Overlapping rounded upper lapel has a round WAVES insignia patch decorated with an anchor, rope and propeller. Front features two rounded flaps suggesting breast pockets, set in sleeves with a slate blue braid and star line officer insignia two inches above the hem. Front button closure features four gold buttons with embossed eagle motif. Jacket is fully lined with a navy twill. Skirt is navy worsted wool and is constructed with six gores in an A-line shape. Skirt features side metal zip closure, slanted jetted front pockets, and a double top stitched waist band finished with a pointed end. Hat is of navy worsted wool and white poplin in a "helmet" style. Stiff brim and band are of navy wool with top stitching. Band is folded over the back with pinked ends. The front features navy commissioned officer insignia depicting a silver and gold eagle and crest over crossed anchors and rope against a navy background. Inside is lined with pleated navy taffeta tucked into a white oval at the top which is covered in plastic. Black ribbed silk two piece necktie is cut on the bias and seamed down the inside with shirt tail hem that comes to a point. Lender top is squared with a single buttonhole used to connect the two pieces.
Object Number: 1998.006.0001
Object: uniform
Category: Women's Garments
Circa: 1940
Materials: wool , synthetic, silk
Donor: RICHARDSON, WANDA
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