Fort Snelling in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Women at Work

Photographed by McGhiever, October 21, 2024

1. Women at Work Marker

Inscription.

Women at Work. . , Nurse corps, United States General Hospital Number 29, Fort Snelling, c. 1918, Minnesota Historical Society,

Lilian Porter was born in 1894 in Center City, Minnesota, and enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps in February 1918. She was posted to Fort Snelling in March 1919., Miss Lillian Porter wearing World War I nurse's uniform, c. 1916, Minnesota Historical Society

, The Army Nurse Corps, The Army Nurse Corps was established in 1901. It created units of nurses to care for soldiers at military hospitals, including the one at Fort Snelling. While these nurses cared for Army personnel, they did so without rank, equal pay, or benefits. Military status for the nurses of the Army Nurse Corps was not granted until 1944., WAC All-States armband, 1943, Minnesota Historical Society, Army Nurse Corps dress uniform, c. 1918, Minnesota Historical Society, , The Women's Army Corps, Congress established the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in May 1942. The creation of the WAAC allowed the Army to enroll women to serve in non-combat roles. Members of the WAAC worked as clerks, typists, nurses, drivers, cooks, and administrators, freeing the servicemen who held those jobs to fight. A second act of Congress in 1943 gave these women military status, and the program became the Women's Army Corps (WAC)., Recruits from Minnesota underwent their initial physicals, testing, interviews, and swearing in here at Fort Snelling. Many then transferred to Fort Des Moines for basic training. Fifty-one WACs arrived at the fort to attend the Military Intelligence Service Language School in June 1945., Poster above: This is our war... Join the WAAC, 1943, Minnesota Historical Society, This recruiting poster from 1944 encouraged women to join the armed services. Women could be WACs, or Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Services (WAVES), The Marine Corps Women's Reserve, or Coast Guard SPARS., Poster at left: For your country's sake today – For your own sake tomorrow, Steele Savage, artist, 1944, Minnesota Historical Society

Nurse corps, United States General Hospital Number 29, Fort Snelling, c. 1918, Minnesota Historical Society

Lilian Porter was born in 1894 in Center City, Minnesota, and enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps in February 1918. She was posted to Fort Snelling in March 1919.

Miss Lillian Porter wearing World War I nurse's uniform, c. 1916, Minnesota Historical Society

The Army Nurse Corps

The Army Nurse Corps was established in 1901. It created units of nurses to care for soldiers at military hospitals, including the one at Fort Snelling. While these nurses cared for Army personnel, they did so without rank, equal pay, or benefits. Military status for the nurses of the Army Nurse Corps was not granted until 1944.

WAC All-States armband, 1943, Minnesota Historical Society

Army Nurse Corps dress uniform, c. 1918, Minnesota Historical Society

The Women's Army Corps

Congress established the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in May 1942. The creation of the WAAC allowed the Army to enroll women to serve in non-combat roles. Members of the WAAC worked as clerks, typists, nurses, drivers, cooks, and administrators,

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freeing the servicemen who held those jobs to fight. A second act of Congress in 1943 gave these women military status, and the program became the Women's Army Corps (WAC).

Recruits from Minnesota underwent their initial physicals, testing, interviews, and swearing in here at Fort Snelling. Many then transferred to Fort Des Moines for basic training. Fifty-one WACs arrived at the fort to attend the Military Intelligence Service Language School in June 1945.

Poster above: This is our war... Join the WAAC, 1943, Minnesota Historical Society

This recruiting poster from 1944 encouraged women to join the armed services. Women could be WACs, or Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Services (WAVES), The Marine Corps Women's Reserve, or Coast Guard SPARS.

Poster at left: For your country's sake today – For your own sake tomorrow, Steele Savage, artist, 1944, Minnesota Historical Society

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, World I • War, World II • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 44° 53.3′ N, 93° 11.372′ W.

Women at Work Marker at Fort Snelling's Upper Post image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, October 21, 2024

2. Women at Work Marker at Fort Snelling's Upper Post

Marker is in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It is on Taylor Avenue east of Minnehaha Avenue, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6321 Taylor Avenue, Saint Paul MN 55111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Military Intelligence Service Language School (within shouting distance of this marker); Medicine at the Fort (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Quartermaster Shops (about 400 feet away); The Upper Post at Fort Snelling (about 500 feet away); Getting Around at the Fort (about 600 feet away); Fun at the Fort (approx. 0.2 miles away); Military Units of Fort Snelling (approx.

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0.2 miles away); Military Training at Fort Snelling (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Snelling.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 105 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.