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You searched for: Institution Michigan State University. Libraries Remove constraint Institution: Michigan State University. Libraries Topic Defense information, Classified Remove constraint Topic: Defense information, Classified Topic Telephone operators Remove constraint Topic: Telephone operators Topic Translating and interpreting Remove constraint Topic: Translating and interpreting Topic Veterans Remove constraint Topic: Veterans Topic Women veterans Remove constraint Topic: Women veterans
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1. Interview of Hildegarde Abbott on her service in the U.S. Signal Corps during WWI

Description:
Hildegarde Abbott talks about her service as a "Hello Girl" telephone operator in the U.S. Signal Corps during World War One. Abbott reminisces about her training, other women in the Corps, her duties, life in France, socializing with soldiers, making candy, writing letters for the wounded in the military hospital, dating officers, having the flu during the epidemic and doing things the nurses didn't have time to do, all in addition to her telephone duties. She says that she got her sixty-dollar-a-month job because the Army needed French speaking women to use the duel French/American telephone systems and to serve as interpreters. She recalls knowing in advance when the Armistice would be signed but not being able to talk about it and then celebrating when the war was finally over. After the war, Abbott says that she served with the Peace Commission overseas and finally returned to the U.S. in 1920. At home she married, finished college, started a family and she says visited France later in life when her son was teaching there. Abbott is interviewed by Jane Piatt and Mary C. Burnham.
Date Issued:
1983-05-13T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:
Michigan State University. Libraries
Collection:
Women's Overseas Service League Oral History Project