American Women’s Legion, 1920

[jagjetta]

In response to the formation of the Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion, other women's service organizations sprung up after WWI that no desire to form official affiliations and surrender their autonomy. On March 19, 1920, the Shortsville Enterprise reported that Miss Byrd Mock, founder and executive secretary of an unrelated organization called the American Women’s Legion, commented, “While it is our purpose to aid in every way members of the American Legion and all ex-service men, we do not want to become mere hangers-on and to lose our identity.”

The first photo shows Byrd Mock in the Uniform of the American Women's Legion. It is described as "Columbia [illeg.] in color. The rain proof hat is of maroon colored [illeg]. The uniform can be quickly converted into a riding habit, as the Legion is forming equestrian troops."

The second photo, courtesy of the National Archives, is captioned, "The uniform was inexpensive, being of blue denim. The skirt, when unbuttoned, forms a cape to "become a very pretty riding habit."

 

 

[cutiger83]

Very interesting! Thank you so much for posting this....Kat