The Women of the CCC

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) is remembered as an all male workforce, but women helped keep the Three C's rolling too. Below are some of the women who supported the Corps.

Above: Workers of the U.S. Quartermaster Corps, assigned to the CCC's Third Corps Area (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and DC). The Quartermaster Corps, a branch of the U.S. Army, managed clothing, food, supplies, and various services. Photo from Civilian Conservation Corps, Official Annual, 1937, District No. 3, Third Corps Area (Direct Advertising Co., Baton Rouge, LA), used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

Above: Workers in the Finance Office of the District Headquarters for the Sixth Corps Area of the CCC (Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin). Photo from Civilian Conservation Corps, Annual, 1937, Sparta District, Sixth Corps Area (Direct Advertising Co., Baton Rouge, LA), used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

Above: Dorothy Burdette, a 19-year-old Apache woman and office worker in the Civilian Conservation Corps - Indian Division, San Carlos Reservation, Arizona, 1942. For more information about Ms. Burdette, see my blog post from December 1, 2020, "An American Indian Woman in the CCC, her U.S. Marine brother, and today's Burdette Hall building." Photo from Indians at Work, a publication of the U.S. Office of Indians Affairs, March 1942.

Above: Helan Lortz (left), clerk, and Helan Hayward, assistant clerk, U.S. Forestry Service, assigned to the Seventh Corps Area of the CCC (Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Missouri). The Forestry Service provided technical assistance to the CCC. Photo from Civilian Conservation Corps, Official Annual, 1937, Missouri-Kansas District, Seventh Corps Area (Direct Advertising Co., Baton Rouge, LA), used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

Above: Miss Bell was the sponsor for CCC Company 3477, Heflin, Alabama. I'm not exactly sure what sponsors did (and it does not appear that sponsorship occurred nationwide in the CCC) but I would guess that they welcomed CCC enrollees, informed them of area resources, and worked towards good relations between the CCC camps and surrounding communities. Photo from Civilian Conservation Corps, Annual, 1938, District D, Fourth Corps Area (Army and Navy Publishing Co., Baton Rouge, LA), used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

Above: Miss Keith sponsored CCC Company 3482, Alexandria, Alabama. Company 3482 engaged in soil conservation work - planting trees, terracing, diversion ditches, etc. Photo from Civilian Conservation Corps, Annual, 1938, District D, Fourth Corps Area (Army and Navy Publishing Co., Baton Rouge, LA), used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

Above: Ms. Martin sponsored CCC Company 3490, Calhoun City, Mississippi. Company 3490 engaged in extensive firefighting work. Photo from Civilian Conservation Corps, Annual, 1938, District D, Fourth Corps Area (Army and Navy Publishing Co., Baton Rouge, LA), used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

Above: Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers, assigned to the CCC's Fort George Wright District, Ninth Corps Area (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, and California). Because much of the CCC's work was dangerous, camp first aid and district-wide medical services were vital. Photo from Civilian Conservation Corps, Annual, 1937, The Fort George Wright District (published by the CCC).

Above: Civilian personnel of the U.S. Army Adjutant General's Office, assigned to the CCC's Tucson District, Eighth Corps Area (Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming). The Adjutant General's Office took care of enrollee records, CCC education programs, and Corps-wide communications and coordination. Photo from Civilian Conservation Corps, Official Annual, 1936, Tucson District, 8th Corps Area (Direct Advertising Co., Baton Rouge, LA), used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.