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Marjorie Randolph Suggs Edwards Collection

Marjorie Randolph Suggs Edwards (1917-2005), of Passaic, New Jersey, worked in personnel, special services, and motor pool with the Women's Army Corps from February 1943 to December 1945.

African American WAC unit at Fort Des Moines, Iowa
African American WACs stand in formation during basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, in April 1943.
Army Special Services School class
Marjorie Suggs Edwards (2nd row, far right) and her Army Special Services School class at Washington and Lee University in February 1945.
Army personnel at Washington and Lee University
Marjorie Randolph Suggs Edwards and three male soldiers pose on the steps of a building at Washington and Lee University between special services school classes, circa 1945. Edwards wears her WAC olive drab winter dress uniform.
Army personnel at Washington and Lee University
Marjorie Randolph Suggs Edwards poses with four male soldiers between classes at special services school at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, circa 1945. She wears her WAC olive drab dress uniform.
Marjorie Randolph Suggs Edwards on the campus of Washington & Lee University, circa 1945
A woman poses with two soldiers on the campus of Washington & Lee University, circa 1945.
Marjorie Suggs Edwards and Lt. Cabelle
Marjorie Randolph Suggs Edwards and Lieutenant Cabelle read their letters after Sunday morning mail call at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, circa 1945. Edwards wears her WAC olive drab winter dress uniform.
Marjorie Suggs Edwards and Lt. Spencer
Marjorie Randolph Suggs Edwards and "nice fellow" Lieutenant Spencer stand on the steps of a building at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, where she attended special services school, circa 1945. Edwards wears her WAC olive drab winter dress uniform.
Marjorie Suggs Edwards and soldier
WAC Marjorie Randolph Suggs Edwards and a male soldier pose after chapel at Washington and Lee University, where she attended special services school, circa 1945. She wears her WAC olive drab dress uniform.
Oral history interview with Marjorie Suggs Edwards
Documents Marjorie R. Suggs Edwards's early life; military service during World War II; and her personal life and career after the war. Edwards describes her childhood in an immigrant section of Passaic, New Jersey. She discusses in detail her community; being raised by her Cuban grandmother; her family's multicultural background; and her summer job as a nanny in Massachusetts. " Edwards talks at great length about her introduction to segregation when she joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. She recounts several incidents of discrimination and discusses her feelings about being in a segregated military unit and of traveling in the segregated South. Other military topics include her basic training; her work as a special services officer; the separate but unequal service clubs for white and black personnel; a brief stint as transportation officer moving troops from Illinois to Texas; and her work in the motor pool. " Edwards also discusses life after the war, including her decision to leave the service and get married; her education in design; her love of adventure; her career as an interior designer; and her volunteer and civic activities in Durham, N.C.
Portrait of Marjorie Suggs Edwards
Portrait of Marjorie Randolph Suggs Edwards, circa 1944. She wears her WAC olive drab shirtwaist, khaki tie, and olive drab garrison cap.
Portrait of Marjorie Suggs Edwards
Portrait of Marjorie Randolph Suggs Edwards, circa 1944. She wears her WAC khaki summer uniform, garrison cap, and chamois scarf.

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