The National WWII Museum’s Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy hosted the “Our War Too: Women’s History Symposium” in honor of Women’s History Month.
The symposium, which took place from February 29 to March 1, 2024, featured topics expanding upon the Museum’s special exhibit, Our War Too: Women in Service. The event kicked off with the Gen. Raymond E. Mason Jr. Distinguished Lecture on World War II featuring retired US Army Col. Edna Cummings speaking on the legacy of African American women in the military.
On Friday, March 1, the free all-day public program explored various topics involving women’s contributions to World War II. Authors Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Christopher Gorham discussed leading figures during the war such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Anna Rosenberg. Other panels included discussions on how the military trained and recruited women for military service, along with nurses and their significant role in the war.
Watch the full Conference using the YouTube playlist below, or click here to browse for each panel separately.
Guests also had the opportunity to hear a behind the scenes discussion on the creation of Our War Too with time following to view the special exhibit.
The program concluded with a conversation featuring author Jennet Conant, on her newly released book, Fierce Ambition. This biography covers the life of Maggie Higgins, a war correspondent who reported from the front lines of the European Theater on various events of the war, including the liberation of Dachau.
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Molly Sampson, a student currently enrolled in the Museum’s partnered master’s degree program with Arizona State University, presents her work on training protocols for the Women’s Auxiliary Corps. Photo Courtesy of Frank Aymami
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Gayle Benson, of the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation, previews the Our War Too: Women in Service Special Exhibit. She is pictured with Senior Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs of The National WWII Museum, Kimberly Guise. Photo Courtesy of Frank Aymami
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Col. Edna W. Cummings, US Army (Ret.) poses for a selfie with Dr. Charissa Threat. Both women presented on African American women in World War II. Col. Cummings discussed the 6888th Postal Battalion and the legacy of African American women in the armed forces, while Dr. Threat presented her work on African American nurses and their experience during the war effort. Photo Courtesy of Frank Aymami
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Closing speaker Jennet Conant signs copies of her recent publication, Fierce Ambition, the story of Maggie Higgins, a war correspondent who reported from the front lines of the European Theater. Photo Courtesy of Frank Aymami
