A sweeping review of the role of women within the American military from the colonial period to the present day.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• A
• Abzug, Bella (1920–1998)
• Addams, Jane (1860–1935)
• Afghanistan
• African American Women
• Air Force Nurse Corps (AFNC)
• Albright, Madeleine Korbel [Marie Jana Korbelová] (1937–)
• Allen (Billings), Eliza [George Mead] (1826–n.d.)
• All-Volunteer Force (AVF)
• American Red Cross
• American Revolution (1775–1783)
• American Women's Voluntary Services (AWVS)
• Anderson, Elda Emma “Andy” (1899–1961)
• Andrews, Orianna Moon (1834–1883)
• Army-Navy Nurses Act of 1947 (Public Law 36-80C)
• Army Nurse Corps (ANC)
• Army Reorganization Act (1920)
• Army Signal Corps
• Asian American Women
• Ayres, Clara Edith Work (1880–1917)
• B
• Bache, Sarah “Sally” Franklin (1743–1808)
• Bailey, Anne Hennis Trotter “Mad Anne” (1742–1825)
• Bailey, Margaret E. (1915–)
• Bailey, Mildred “Inez” Caroon (1919–2009)
• Baker (Steffen), Cecilia Genevieve “Lucille” (1900–1968) and Baker (French), Genevieve Cecilia (1900–1999)
• Baker, E. H. (n.d.–n.d)
• Baker, Josephine (1906–1975)
• Balch, Emily Green (1867–1961)
• Baldenecker, Donna-Mae (1920–2010)
• Barnwell, Barbara Olive (1928–)
• Barton, Clara Harlowe (1821–1912)
• Bates, Ann (1748–1801)
• Battle, Mary Frances “Fannie” (1842–1924)
• Benjamin, Anna Northend (1874–1902)
• Bentley, Elizabeth Terrill (1908–1963)
• Bethune, Mary McLeod (1875–1955)
• Bickerdyke, Mary Ann Ball “Mother” (1817–1901)
• Blackwell, Elizabeth (1821–1910)
• Blair, Lorinda Anna [Annie Etheridge Hooks] (ca. 1840–1913)
• Blake, Esther McGowin (1897–1979)
• Blalock, Sarah Malinda [Samuel Blalock] (1839–1903)
• Blatch, Harriot Eaton Stanton (1856–1940)
• Blodgett, Katharine Burr (1898–1979)
• Bolton, Frances Payne Bingham (1885–1977)
• Borginis, Sarah [Sarah A. Bowman] (1812–1886)
• Bosin, (Margaret) Sidonie Sansom (ca.1960–)
• Bourke-White, Margaret (1904–1971)
• Bowser, Mary Elizabeth (ca. 1839–n.d.)
• Boyd, Marie Isabella “Belle” (1844–1900)
• Bradley, Amy Morris (1823–1904)
• Brant, Mary “Molly” (ca.1735–1796)
• Bratton, Martha Robertson [Robinson] (ca. 1749/1750–1816)
• Breckinridge, Margaret E. (1832–1864)
• Brewer, Lucy [Louisa Baker, George Baker, Lucy West, Eliza Bowen] (ca. 1793–n.d.)
• Brewer, Margaret A. (1930–)
• Brion, Irene (1920–)
• Brown, Monica Lin (1988–)
• Brownell, Kady (1842–1915)
• Burgin, Elizabeth (n.d.–n.d.)
• C
• Cadet Nurse Corps
• Cadoria, Sherian Grace (1940–)
• Cammermeyer, Margarethe (1942–)
• Campbell, Kim Reed (1975–)
• Camp Followers
• Caracristi, Ann Zeilinger (1921–)
• Carroll, Anna Ella (1815–1894)
• Cary, Mary Ann Shadd (1823–1893)
• Cazneau, Jane McManus Storms [Cora Montgomery] (1807–1878)
• Champion, Deborah (1753–n.d.)
• Charette, Holly A. (1983–2005)
• Child, Julia McWilliams (1912–2004)
• Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
• Civil War (1861–1865)
• Clalin, Frances Louisa [Francis Clayton] (n.d.–n.d.)
• Clark, Regina Renee (1962–2005)
• Clarke, Mary E. (1924–)
• Cochran, Jacqueline (ca. 1910–1980)
• Cold War (ca. 1947–1991)
• Cole, Mary Ann (n.d.–n.d.)
• Collins, Eileen Marie (1956–)
• Cook, Cordelia Elizabeth “Betty” (n.d.–n.d.)
• Corbin, Margaret Cochran (1751–ca. 1800)
• Cornum, Rhonda (1954–)
• Crawford v. Cushman (1976)
• Crea, Vivien S. (1952–)
• Cubero, Linda Garcia (1958–)
• Culper Spy Ring
• Curtis, Namahyoke Sockum (1861–1935)
• Cushman, Pauline [Harriet Wood] (1833–1893)
• D
• Darragh, Lydia Barrington (ca.1728–ca. 1790)
• Daughters of Liberty
• Davis, Ann Simpson (1764–1851)
• Davis, Wilma Zimmerman (1912–2001)
• Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS)
• Delano, Jane Arminda (1862–1919)
• Dietrich, Marlene (1901–1992)
• Divers, Bridget (ca.1840–n.d.)
• Dix, Dorothea Lynde (1802–1887)
• Driscoll, Agnes Meyer (1889–1971)
• Duerk, Alene Bertha (1920–)
• Dulinsky, Barbara J. (n.d.–n.d.)
• Dunwoody, Ann E. (1953–)
• Duston, Hannah (1657–1730)
• E
• Earley, Charity Adams (1918–2002)
• Edmonds (Seelye),Sarah Emma [Franklin Thompson] (1841–1898)
• Edmondson, Isabella “Belle” Buchanan (1840–1873)
• Espionage
• Executive Order 9981 (July 26, 1948)
• F
• Faulkner, Shannon Richey (1975–)
• Feinstein, Genevieve Grotjan (1912–2006)
• Fields, Evelyn Juanita (1949–)
• Finch, Florence Ebersole Smith (1915–)
• Fleming, Margaret Zane (1917–1997)
• Flinn, Kelly (1970–)
• Fonda, Jane [Lady Jayne Seymour Fonda] (1937–)
• Foote, Evelyn Patricia “Pat” (1930–)
• Ford (Willard), Antonia (1838–1871)
• Fox, Annie G. (1893–1987)
• Friedman, (Clara) Elizebeth Smith (1892–1980)
• Frontiero v. Richardson (1973)
• Fulton, Sarah Bradlee (1740–1835)
• G
• Galloway, Irene O. (1908–1963)
• Gang, Jeanne Hamby (1921–2006)
• Gay, Samuel [Ann Bailey] (n.d.–n.d.)
• Gellhorn, Martha (1908–1998)
• Glaspie, April Catherine (1942–)
• Gold Star Mothers’ Pilgrimages (1930s)
• Goodrich, Annie Warburton (1866–1954)
• Government Girls
• Gray Lady Corps
• Greenhow, Rose O'Neal (ca. 1814–1864)
• Greenwood, Edith Ellen (1920–)
• Gulf War (1991)
• Gulovich, Maria (1921–2009)
• H
• Hall (Goillot), Virginia (1906–1982)
• Hall, Florence Louise (1888–1983)
• Hallaren, Mary (1907–2005)
• Hancock, Joy Bright (1898–1986)
• Harris, Marcelite Jordan (1943–)
• Hart, Nancy (ca. 1843–1902)
• Hart, Nancy Morgan (ca. 1735–1830)
• Hasson, Esther Voorhees (1867–1942)
• Hays, Anna Mae McCabe (1920–)
• Heavren, Rose (1870–1968)
• “Hello Girls”
• Herz, Alice (1883–1965)
• Hester, Leigh Ann (1982–)
• Higgins (Hall), Marguerite (1920–1966)
• Hispanic American Women
• Hitt, Genevieve Young (1885–1963)
• Hobby, Oveta Culp (1905–1995)
• Hodgers, Jennie [Albert D. J. Cashier] (1844–1915)
• Hoefly, E. Ann (1919–2003)
• Hoisington, Elizabeth P. (1918–2007)
• Holm, Jeanne M. (1921–2010)
• Hopper, Grace Murray (1906–1992)
• Howard, Michelle (1960–)
• Hunton, Addie Waites (1866–1943)
• I
• Indian Wars
• Iraq War (2003–2011)
• J
• Jackson, Gilda A. (1950–)
• Jemison, Mary (ca. 1742–1833)
• Johnsen, Heather Lynn (1973–)
• Johnson, Opha Mae (1900–1976)
• Johnson, Shoshana Nyree (1973–)
• Johnson, Susannah (ca.1730–1810)
• Johnson-Brown, Hazel Winifred (1927–2011)
• K
• Keichline, Anna Wagner (1889–1943)
• Kennedy, Claudia J. (1947–)
• Keys (Evans), Sarah Louise (1929–)
• Kinney, Dita Hopkins (1855–1921)
• Korean War (1950–1953)
• L
• Ladies’ Association
• Lamarr, Hedy (1914–2000)
• Lane, Anna Maria (n.d.–1810)
• Latin American Military Interventions
• Lauwers, Barbara (1914–2009)
• Lee, Hazel Ying (1912–1944)
• Leftenant Colon, Nancy (1921–)
• Love, Nancy Harkness (1914–1976)
• Lovelace's Woman inSpace Program (WISP)
• Ludington, Sybil (1761–1839)
• Lynch, Jessica (1983–)
• M
• Maass, Clara Louise (1876–1901)
• Mammy Kate (n.d.–n.d.)
• Mariner, Rosemary Bryant (1953–)
• Martin, Grace Waring (n.d.–n.d.), and Martin, Rachel Clay (n.d.–n.d.)
• May, Geraldine Pratt (1895–1997)
• McAfee (Horton), Mildred Helen (1900–1994)
• McClelland, Helen Grace (1887–1984)
• McGee, Anita Newcomb (1864–1940)
• McGrath, Kathleen (1952–2002)
• McGuire, Colleen L. (n.d.–n.d.)
• McIntosh, Elizabeth P. MacDonald (1915–)
• McKee, Fran (1926–2002)
• Meyer, Marie Anne (1897–1969)
• Military Air Transport Service (MATS)
• Military Police
• Military Sea Transport Service (MSTS)
• Milligan (Rasmuson), Mary Louise (1911–)
• “Miss Jenny” (ca. 1760–n.d.)
• Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH)
• Monroe, Rose Leigh Abbott Will (1920–1997)
• Moody, Juanita Morris (ca. 1934–)
• Moon, Charlotte “Lottie” (1829–1895)
• Moon, Virginia “Ginnie” (1844–1925)
• Motte, Rebecca Brewton (1737–1815)
• Mountain Charley [Elsa Jane Guerin a.k.a. Charles Hatfield] (n.d.–n.d.)
• Mutter, Carol Ann Schneider (1945–)
• N
• “Nancy Harts”
• Native American Women
• Navy Nurse Corps
• Nelson, Yzetta L. (1923–2011)
• Newcom, Elizabeth [William “Bill” Newcom] (ca. 1825–n.d.)
• Nonhelema (Grenadier Squaw) (ca.1720–ca. 1786)
• North American Colonial Wars (17th–18th centuries)
• Nursing
• O
• Office of Civilian Defense (OCD)
• Ott, Elsie S. (1913–2006)
• Owens v. Brown (1978)
• P
• Parker, Cynthia Ann (ca. 1824–ca. 1870)
• Perkins (Wilson), Frances (1882–1965)
• Phipps, Anita Evans (1886–1953)
• Piestewa, Lori (1979–2003)
• Pigott, Emeline Jamison (1836–1919)
• Pitcher, Molly (n.d.–n.d.)
• Prather, Mary Louise (1913–1996)
• Prisoners of War
• Public Law 448 (July 2,1925)
• Public Law 90-130 (1967)
• R
• Ratcliffe, Laura (1836–1923)
• Rathbun-Nealy (Coleman), Melissa (1970–)
• Raye, Martha (1916–1994)
• Red Cross Volunteer Nurse'S Aide Corps
• Reed, Esther de Berdt (1746–1780)
• Republic of Texas
• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
• Reynolds, Arabella “Belle” (1843–1930)
• Rinker, Molly “Old Mom” (n.d.–n.d.)
• Rodgers, Marie Louise (1926–)
• Rogers, Edith Nourse (1881–1960)
• Roosevelt, Eleanor (1884–1962)
• Rosenberg, Ethel Greenglass (1915–1953)
• Rosie the Riveter
• Ross, Elizabeth “Betsy” Griscom (1752–1836)
• Rossi, Marie Therese (1959–1991)
• Roundtree, Dovey Mae Johnson (1914–)
• Rowlandson, Mary White (ca. 1635–1711)
• S
• Saar, Lisa (1966–)
• Sacagawea (ca.1787–1812)
• Salter, Fannie Mae (1884–1966)
• Salvation Army
• Samson [Sampson] (Gannett), Deborah [Robert Shurtliff] (1760–1827)
• Sears, Mary (1905–1997)
• Seoul City Sue (Anna Wallace Suhr) (1898–n.d.)
• Shattuck, Sarah Hartwell (ca.1737/1738–1798)
• Sheehan, Cindy Lee Miller (1957–)
• Smith, Genevieve M. (1905–1950)
• Spanish-American War (1898)
• Spanish Influenza (Influenza Pandemic)
• Stimson, Julia Catherine (1881–1948)
• Stratton, Dorothy Constance (1899–2006)
• Streeter, Ruth Cheney (1895–1990)
• Strong, Anna “Nancy” Smith (1740–1812)
• Swantek, Elizabeth (n.d.–n.d.)
• T
• Ten Percenters
• Thorpe (Pack), Amy Elizabeth “Betty” (1910–1963)
• “355” (n.d.–n.d.)
• Tompkins, Sally Louisa (1833–1916)
• Tower, Ellen May (1868–1898)
• Towle, Katherine A. (1898–1986)
• Tracey, Patricia Ann (1950–)
• Tubman, Harriet [Araminta Ross] (ca.1820–1913)
• Turchin, Nadine [Nedezhda] Lvova (1826–1904)
• Tyonajanegen (n.d.–ca.1820)
• U
• United Service Organizations (USO)
• United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve (SPAR)
• United States Sanitary Commission (USSC)
• United States v. Virginia (1996)
• Urdang, Constance (1922–1996)
• USS Benevolence
• USS Red Rover
• USS Relief
• USS Sanctuary
• V
• Valdez, Ramona M. (1984–2005)
• Van Devanter (Buckley), Lynda Margaret (1947–2002)
• Van Lew, Elizabeth (1818–1900)
• Vaught, Wilma L. (1930–)
• Vega, Sarah (1981–)
• Velazquez, Loreta Janeta [Harry T. Buford] (1842–1897)
• Victory Gardens
• Vietnam War (1965–1973)
• Vivandieres
• W
• Wakeman, Sarah Rosetta [Lyons Wakeman] (1843–1864)
• Walker, Anna Nancy Slaughter (n.d.–n.d)
• Walker, Mary Edwards (1832–1919)
• Walsh, Loretta Perfectus (1896–1925)
• War of 1812 (1812–1815)
• War on Terror (2001–)
• Ward, Nancy (ca.1738–ca.1824)
• Warner, Jemima (n.d.–1775)
• Watkins, Kathleen Blake [Kit Coleman] (1856–1915)
• Weiss, Cora Rubin (1934–)
• Widnall, Sheila Evans (1938–)
• Williams, Cathay [William Cathey] (ca.1844–n.d.)
• Wilson, Ruth Willson (n.d.–n.d.)
• Winema [Tobey Riddle] (ca. 1848–1920)
• Winnemucca, Sarah [Thocmetony “Shell Flower”] (1844–1891)
• Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES)
• Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP)
• Women in Military Service for America Memorial
• Women in the Air Force (WAF)
• Women in the Coast Guard Study
• Women Marines
• Women Strike for Peace (WSP)
• Women's Advisory Committee of the War Manpower Commission (1942–1945)
• Women's Advisory Council (Coast Guard)
• Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 (PublicLaw80-625)
• Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)
• Women's Army Band
• Women's Army Corps (WAC)
• Women's Army Corps (WAC) Officer Basic Course
• Women's Army Corps (WAC) Training Center (1948–1954)
• Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS)
• Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD)
• Women's Land Army
• Women's Medical Specialist Corps (WMSCP)
• Women's Nursing Corps, Army
• World War I (1914–1918)
• World War II (1941–1945)
• Wright, Prudence Cummings (1740–1823)
• Wu, Chien-Shiung (1912–1997)
• Y
• Yeoman (F)
• Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA)
• Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)
• Z
• Z-116 (August 7, 1972)
• Zane, Elizabeth “Betty” (c. 1759–c. 1847)
• Chronology
• Bibliography
• Contributors