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USO Philadelphia WWII

USO Philadelphia WWII

Posted: 14 Oct 2010 12:52AM GMT
Classification: Query
Does anyone know if there are records for USO service (women) in WWII? My great grandmother Matilda McNichol was a USO woman and that is how her and my great grandfather Fred Mease met. I am trying to find a yearbook, or something from the USO at that time... hopefully someone will be able to tell me if anything like that exists. Thanks for any help!

Re: USO Philadelphia WWII

Posted: 10 Jul 2013 3:10PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi. Did you ever find an answer to your question? My grandmother also met my grandfather there and I'm trying to find his family.

Re: USO Philadelphia WWII

Posted: 12 Jul 2013 1:10PM GMT
Classification: Query
no i haven't been able to locate the info. :(

Re: USO Philadelphia WWII

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 3:25AM GMT
Classification: Query
This from Wikipedia:
"The USO was founded in 1941 in response to a request from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide morale and recreation services to U.S. uniformed military personnel. Roosevelt was elected as its honorary chairman. This request brought together six civilian organizations: the Salvation Army, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), National Catholic Community Service, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board. They were brought together under one umbrella to support U.S. troops. Roosevelt said he wanted "these private organizations to handle the on-leave recreation of the men in the armed forces." According to historian Emily Yellin, "The government was to build the buildings and the USO was to raise private funds to carry out its main mission: boosting the morale of the military.""

So your best bet is to contact the above organizations local to the area your ancestor lived to see if they have an archive of Volunteers and records of personnel for the WWII years. The "service women" you refer too were mostly Volunteers who showed up as they could. They were not paid or employed unless they were already staff of the above organizations as events were planned ad held. None were to this day connected to the Federal Government for them to "keep records".

You might look at historical newspapers of the areas the USO was located for pictures and which organization took on the USO events. Also contact the local city or county Historical Society or Genealogical Society for "yearbooks" if they exists.
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