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

Collection — Box: Box 1

Identifier: MSP 111

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains programs, a dvd, photographs and ephemera documenting 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, Dorothy Stratton.

Dates

2010 - 2012
Other: Date acquired: 04/10/2012

Creator

Stratton, Dorothy C. (Dorothy Constance), 1899-2006 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Biographical or Historical Information

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton is a Legend-class National Security Cutter, the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutter in the U.S. Coast Guard Fleet. The Stratton is named in honor of Dorothy Stratton, Director of the United States Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (known as SPARS).

Dorothy Constance Stratton (1899-2006) served as Dean of Women at Purdue from 1933 until 1946, at a time in which the enrollment of women students jumped from less than 500 to more than 1,400. During her tenure at Purdue, she oversaw the creation of a liberal science program for women in the School of Science as well as an employment placement center. She helped established the Housemother Training School that gave intensive training to fraternity and sorority housemothers from across the United States.

In 1942, during the Second World War, Stratton took a military leave of absence from Purdue and was commissioned to create and direct the Women’s Reserve of the Coast Guard (WAVES). She was soon called upon to create and direct the SPARS, an acronym she coined based on the Coast Guard motto "Semper Paratus" and its English translation "always ready.". Upon her retirement from the military in 1946, she was awarded a Legion of Merit Medal for her contributions to women in the armed forces. Stratton went on to serve as the first director of personnel at the International Monetary Fund and then later as an executive director of the Girl Scouts of the America until her retirement in 1960.

Extent

0.20 Cubic Feet

6 folders other_unmapped

1.00 mss._boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

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.

Arrangement Note

The collection is organized into two series: 1. Christening, 2010 2. Commissioning, 2012

Source of Acquisition

U.S. Coast Guard; Sammie Morris

Accruals and Additions

The christening ceremony material was sent by the U.S. Coast Guard in response to a request by a staff archivist on October 28, 2010. The commissioning ceremony material was donated by archivist Sammie Morris, who attended the ceremony on March 31, 2012.

Existence and Location of Originals

multi-part note content

Related Materials

For more information about the life of Dorothy Stratton, please see MSF 366, Dorothy Stratton papers.

Subjects

Collecting Areas

- Women's Archives. Susan Bulkeley Butler Women's Archives

Related Names

Creator

Stratton, Dorothy C. (Dorothy Constance), 1899-2006 (Person)

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Dorothy Stratton U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Christening and Commissioning collection
Status: In Progress
Author: Jonathan McConnell
Date: 03/05/2013
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: English
Script of description: Latin
Language of description note: English