Vintage Photographs of Women in World War II

This selection of photographs from the Records of the Women's Bureau contains images depicting women and their contributions to the war effort during World War II. The photographs show women for the first time on a mass scale and from every social and economical background preforming jobs that have been traditionally considered as men's work.

Chippers in a Shipyard [Shipbuilding. Three Women Working], 1942

Safety Garb for Women Workers, ca. 1943

Line Up of Some of Women Welders Including The Women's Welding Champion of Ingalls [Shipbuilding Corp. Pascagoula, Mississippi], 1943

"Chippers." Women War Workers of Marinship Corp, 1942

Trackwomen, 1943. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, 1940-1945

Women Employed at Savannah Quartermaster Depot, Savannah, Georgia, ca. 1943

A Group of Women Prepare to Take Over Maintenance Responsibilities for Aircraft, 1940-1945

Mechanical Helper, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, 1940 - 1945

"Top Women" at U.S. Steel's Gary, Indiana, Works, 1940-1945

Riveter at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, California, 1940-1945

Photograph of Women Working at a Bell System Telephone Switchboard

Kellogg Company. Women Inspecting Filled Boxes of Cereal Before Boxes Go to Sealer, 08/22/1934

(via The U.S. National Archives)