Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

The following questions can be discussion questions in class or short answer writing assignments. Think about the experiences of the women serving in the land army and why the WLA was so important. 

Discussion Questions

Gibson, Charles Dana, Artist. Help! The Woman's Land Army of America, New Jersey Division, State House, Trenton / C.D. Gibson ; Greenwich Litho. Co., N.Y. United States, ca. 1918. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2002712339/.

What is the Woman's Land Army of America?

Ensuring farms were properly producing enough food was crucial to people working on the home front in America and soldiers fighting overseas. The two primary sources describe the work women did on farms to keep them running. Read both primary sources.

The Woman's Land Army- Helping the Farmer

Helen Olansen, Letter and Envelope, July 3, 1918, Letter, AR2016.0030 (A1105-6), Photo: Karina Filipowski

Helen Olansen- Farmerette in Morristown NJ

The experience of women enrolled in the Woman's Land Army across the country would have been similar to the women in Morristown, NJ. The primary sources in the slideshow provide insights into what it was like to be a farmerette. Click through each slide to learn more. 

In The Woman's Land Army in Morristown, NJ

This picture was taken in Morris County of farmerettes in the Woman's Land Army around 1918. Look at the picture and as a group, discuss and share what you think is going on in this image. The dots on the image have prompts to help you dig deeper.

What is going on in this picture? What makes you say that?

Image From the Collection of the Morristown and Morris Township Library

Farmerettes in Morris County

Woman's Land Army of America, From the Collections of the Morristown and Morris Township Library

After World War I

Communities across the country in World War I had a problem. There was a shortage of farm labor due to men fighting in the war in Europe. By 1917, the Woman's Land Army was established, employing young women across the country on farms. 

Explore the experiences of women serving in the Woman's Land Army in Morristown, NJ. Through primary source analysis, this resource kit illustrates the organization of the WLA both nationally and locally in Morristown. 

Help for the Farmer_Educator Overview Template.pdf

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum Website

Help for the Farmer: The Women's Land Army in WWI

Civics and Government

Social Studies

U.S. History

During WWI many universities and colleges initiated, educating, and promoted their own unites for the Woman's Land Army of America. many of these unites were affiliated with elite women's colleges such as Barnard, Vassar, and Wellesley. 

Bessie Gallagher does not appear to have attended the colleges listed above, however lists experience working on her father's farm.

What types of information was the Woman's Land Army of America interested in learning from recruits?

Woman's Land Army enrollment card for Bessie Gallagher

Enrollment Card

The headquarters of the Woman's Land Army in Morristown was on 23 Maple Avenue, in a large house. 

The women lived in the house all summer long while working as farmerettes. 

This list of supplies to bring lists items for each woman to bring:

1 pair high shoes, with low heels- comfortable

Under clothes, short corsets, extra dress or shirt waists for Sunday

(Overalls, Hats, and Gloves provided by the Unit)

List of supplies to for women to bring with them to Morristown for when they serve as farmerettes. The list includes arrival information into Morristown.

List of Supplies to Bring

List of Supplies for Women to Bring

This schedule is the daily schedule farmerettes in Morristown followed. 

Typical day for a Farmerette in the Morristown, NJ Unit

Typed Schedule

WLA uniforms consisted of breeches, stockings, a long sleeved fawn shirt, black boots, and a pullover sweater with badges. WLA leaders implemented the uniform to help emphasize unity across classes.  Working class trade union members and middle class college students worked and lived together, all donning the “farmerette” uniform as a means to emphasize common purpose and obscure economic differences.

This felt badge would have gone on the arm of the WLA uniform. If you look closely at the previous slide, you can see the badge on left arm of the woman. 

Woman's Land Army Badge

Badge

Living in communal camps, the farmerettes plowed fields, drove tractors, hauled lumber, planted, and harvested crops. Knowing they were making a meaningful and substantial contribution to the war effort resulted in high morale within the WLA.  Farmerette Helen Kennedy Stevens wrote in 1918 “Every morning when you started off, it was a feeling of adventure.”

Do you think you would have wanted to join the WLA? Why or why not?

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

Help for the Farmer: The Women's Land Army in WWI

In The Woman's Land Army in Morristown, NJ

Guiding Question

Enrollment Card