Mary Lou Schiltz papers on Purdue in World War Two

During World War II Purdue, like many universities, became involved in the war effort. As a land grant university and nationally recognized leader in engineering education, the University's role in the war effort was to ensure that military members and civilians alike were adequately trained to serve both overseas and at home in the factories. For women students, the war provided a unique opportunity to gain training and work experience that was typically restricted to men. As a result, American pop culture saw the development of icons such as Rosie the Riveteer and Wanda the Welder. Women were also given unprecedented training opportunities due to collaborative training and placement programs such as the Curtiss-Wright Cadettes and the RCA Engineering Cadettes. Women at university and homemakers alike were encouraged to consider work outside the home in support of the war effort, and some were recruited for military service in women's branches (i.e. SPARS, WAVES, etc)

Mary Lou Schiltz was originally from Elkhart, Indiana. She earned a Science degree from Purdue University in 1946. While at Purdue she was a member of Delta Gamma, the Panhellenic Council, and the V.C. Meredith Club. Schiltz was married to Arthur J Herrmann, Jr. who earned a Bachelors (47) and Masters (48) in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue.