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Ann Hayden - World War II

In 1941 Ann and husband Ray Hayden moved from Illinois to Seattle, Washington to work in the Boeing defense plant. Ray immediately secured a job, and Ann decided to pursue work shortly thereafter. Purchasing overalls and a bandana, she went to work holding the "bar" in the galley of an aircraft while the riveter set the rivets into the hull. Ann and Ray continued to work for Boeing for three years before moving back to Illinois and opening a Gambles General Store in Petersburg, Illinois in 1945.

Interview Links

Abstract

Interview (Audio)

A riveter in a Boeing Aircraft plant in Seattle Washington during WW II

Transcript

Related Materials

Picture Captions

Detailed descriptions of the pictures listed below


Photos

Caption
Ann Hayden enjoys a bit of fishing at the Illinois River, circa 1940.

Where:
Unknown

When:
1940

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Ann Hayden relaxes in front of her trailer near the Boeing Plant near Seattle, Washington in 1943.

Where:
Seattle, Washington

When:
1943

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Ann and Ray Hayden in 1945.

Where:
Unknown

When:
1945

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
A photo of Ann Hayden appeared in the Seattle Post Intelligencer on July 31, 1944, which prompted several lonely servicemen to write to her.

Where:
Unknown

When:
July 31, 1944

Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator

Caption
A letter Ann wrote to her brother, P.F.C. David L. Secrist, came back unopened, with “RETURN TO WRITER” stamp in the middle of the envelope, and the hand written message confirming David’s death in the bottom left hand corner of the envelope

Where:
Unknown

When:
May of 1944

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
One of several responses Ann received from lonely G.I. who had seen her photo in the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Another letter from a sailor who was inspired to write to Ann after seeing her picture in the Seattle Post Intelligencer. See also the next photo, the enclosed application.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
This “Application for a date with a Navy Man” was included with the preceding letter.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Ann received this lengthy letter from a sailor temporarily stationed at Quillayute, Washington in September, 1944.

Where:
Unknown

When:
September, 1944

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Second page of a sailor’s letter to Ann.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Third, and final page of a sailor’s letter to Ann.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo



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