Carolyn Newby Finger Collection
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Carolyn Newby Finger at Supply Corps training
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Carolyn Newby Finger poses by a building at Radcliffe College in Boston where she attended Navy Supply Corps School from October to December 1944. She wears a dark dress uniform, purse, and hat.
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Oral history interview with Carolyn Newby Finger
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Primarily documents Carolyn Newby Finger's time at the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro); her experiences at midshipmen's school, Supply School, and in Asheville with the U.S. Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) during World War II. Finger details her favorite subjects in high school; her reasons for going to the Woman's College (WC); her life on campus, including friends, dormitory life, social life, dances, academics, professors, and teacher training; visiting friends in Connecticut after graduation; and reactions to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. " Concerning her time in the WAVES, Finger discusses her reasons for joining; the uniform; living in Wiggins Tavern during basic training; basic training courses; WAVES songs; the concept of freeing a man to fight; reactions she encountered after joining; social life during Supply School at Radcliffe College; V-E Day and V-J Day in Asheville; wearing lisle hose instead of nylons; having to carry a weapon when picking up payroll money; the constantly changing navy regulations; and Ginny Kane, her roommate in Asheville. " Other wartime topics include the death of a cousin from friendly fire in Germany; recognizing WC girls in Asheville; her admiration of President Harry Truman; her favorite music; and worrying about her husband while he served in Europe. Finger also discusses her husband's military service during WWII, their courtship and family, and her opinion concerning women in combat positions.
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WAVES enjoy snow in Asheville
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WAVES Kitty Ruman, Carolyn Newby Finger, Flo Bergman, and Ginny Kane hold snowballs outside the Asheville, N.C., convalescent hospital following a December 1944 snowfall.
