Guide to the Records of the Women's Overseas Service League (WOSL), Pittsburgh Unit, 1919-1996

Arrangement

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Records of the Women's Overseas Service League (WOSL), Pittsburgh Unit
Creator
Women's Overseas Service League, Pittsburgh Unit
Collection Number
MSS#273
Extent
3.25 cubic feet (5 boxes)
Date
1919-1996
Abstract
The Pittsburgh Unit of the Women's Overseas Service League originated after World War I as the Association of Overseas "Y" Women. In 1923, the organization officially became part of the Women's Overseas Service League. Its goals are to strengthen and continue the ties formed in war work under the YMCA and to assist in carrying on welfare work in times of peace. These records include minutes, financial material, scrapbooks, slides, photo albums, and annual convention proceedings and document the history of the Pittsburgh Unit and annual convention of the Women's Overseas Service League.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
This guide to the collection was originally prepared by D. Kish and C. Moore on December 2, 1997. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in Summer, 1999
Sponsor
This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project, a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History of the Women's Overseas Service League, 1919-

The Pittsburgh Unit of the Women's Overseas Service League (WOSL) originated shortly after the end of World War I. During the war, about 22 thousand women from the United States served overseas with the armed forces. Except for the nurses, the volunteers, who served in such varied roles as office clerks, ambulance drivers, interpreters, and librarians, were sponsored by the Red Cross, YMCA and YWCA, Salvation Army, American Library Association, Catholic War Council, and Jewish Welfare Board. The YMCA sponsored the Pittsburgh group, and, in spite of the extremely rigorous standards for acceptance, about 200 applicants qualified.

On their return home, these service women, at a luncheon meeting on September 27, 1919, at the Twentieth Century Club, decided to establish an organization of Pittsburgh women who had served overseas. After electing Miss Bertha McCall the first president and Miss Hilda Berkey secretary, the group chose the name Association of Overseas "Y" Women and drafted a constitution which stated the following aims: 1) to strengthen and continue the ties formed in war work under the YMCA and 2) to assist in carrying on welfare work in times of peace. Four years later, on October 10, 1923, in order to provide a broader service program, the local "Y" group modified its by-laws to conform with those of the national WOSL to become the Pittsburgh Unit of the Women's Overseas Service League. Although originally intended to aid women who had served in World War I, the League in 1946 extended membership to World War II service women and, later, to those who had served in Korea, Vietnam, Granada, Panama, Lebanon, and the Persian Gulf War.

Throughout the years of its existence, the Pittsburgh Unit has maintained the WOSL goal "to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state, and nation." Much of the financial burden of this service has been eased by the Endowment Fund. Started in 1926, the Fund provides loans and grants, without interest, for any woman who served overseas with the armed forces and is in need of financial help. Less tangible services to members include acknowledgments of such personal events as birthdays, illnesses, and hospitalizations. The Unit has shown particular concern for veterans in hospitals and, through the Social Service Emergency Fund, assures that proper attention be given to their needs.

Among other local recipients of Unit aid are the Red Cross, Bethlehem Haven for Homeless Women, Jubilee Kitchen, Pittsburgh Guild for the Blind, Meals on Wheels, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, and various Christmas projects.

In a broader application of its obligation to serve, the Unit has supported various national and international projects. It has made regular contributions to the Kontum Hospital in Vietnam, UNICEF, and the Youth Awards and Leadership Training at Freedoms Foundation, Valley Forge. It has also supported the Hospitalized Veterans Writing Project and the Cathedral in the Pines, a memorial to Americans killed in all wars.

An indication of the scope of the Pittsburgh Unit involvement in WOSL projects appears in a report issued on the 60th anniversary of the Unit, which states that the Pittsburgh Unit at that time was contributing to 300 different charities and organizations.

Although still in existence (as of 1997) the Pittsburgh Unit has suffered a decline in membership. It has been suggested that the absence of a military base near Pittsburgh, as well as the difficulty in obtaining information from the government about women who served in Vietnam and in subsequent conflicts may be contributing factors in the decline, but no specific reason has been found. The Pittsburgh Unit, however, continues to hold monthly meetings and to perform its traditional service role.

Scope and Content Notes

These records include minutes, financial material, scrapbooks, proceedings, and other sundry items. The records contain abundant information on the Pittsburgh Unit of the WOSL. Lacking, however, is significant material documenting the National organization, with the exception of the few annual convention proceedings.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Acc# 1997.0196 -- Gift of Women's Overseas Service League (Records), 1997.

Preferred Citation

Records of the Women's Overseas Service League (WOSL), Pittsburgh Unit, 1919-1996, MSS #273, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.

Processing Information

These records were arranged and the inventory was written by D. Kish and C. Moore on December 12, 1997.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Jennifer Marshall on August 5, 1999.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.

Subjects

    Other Subjects

    • Clubs, associations, etc -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Women -- Societies and Clubs -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • World War, 1914-1918 -- Participation, Female
    • World War, 1939-1945 -- Women -- Pennsylvania
    • Women
    • Women's Collection

Container List