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United States. Coast Guard. Women's Reserve

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1942 - 1973

Historical Information

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Women's Reserve, also known as the SPARS, was the women's branch of the USCG Reserve in World War II. It approved the acceptance of women into the reserve as both commissioned officers and at the enlisted level for the duration of the war plus six months. United States Congress established this branch and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law on November 23, 1942. It's purpose was to replace male officers and men stationed at shore stations with women, releasing men for sea duty. Dorothy C. Stratton was appointed director of the SPARS with the rank of lieutenant commander and later promoted to captain. Previously, she had been the Dean of Women on leave from Purdue University and an officer in the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). Stratton is credited with creating the nautical name of SPARS.

After World War II, SPARS was demobilized and in 1973 Congress terminated SPARS as a separate branch of the USCG, making women eligible to serve with men in regular and reserve coast guard units.

Citation

Coast Guard Women's Reserve. (19 September 2018). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Coast-Guard-Womens-Reserve

Citation

SPARS. (8 September 2019). Wikipedia. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPARS

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Helen B. Schleman papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 334
Overview The Helen Schleman papers contain papers, clippings, speeches, and photographs documenting Helen Schleman’s life. The collection has particular emphases on her role as Purdue's Dean of Women and as an adovcate for women's rights.
Dates: 1920 - 2003; Majority of material found within 1934 - 1980
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections / Helen B. Schleman papers

Dorothy Stratton U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Christening and Commissioning collection

 Collection — Box: Box 1
Identifier: MSP 111
Abstract This collection contains material documenting two events: the christening in 2010 and the commissioning in 2012 of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton, named after Purdue University’s first full-time Dean of Women, and Director of the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, Dorothy Stratton.
Dates: 2010 - 2012; Other: Date acquired: 04/10/2012
Found in: Purdue University Archives and Special Collections / Dorothy Stratton U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Christening and Commissioning collection