Laura Avis Gibson Collection
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Four SPARs on a street in Washington, D.C.
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Laura Avis Gibson (right, in white service dress uniform) poses on a sidewalk with three fellow SPARs in downtown Washington, D.C., in June 1945. Also pictured are Ruth Groening (left) and Avis' sister Mary Gibson (second from right). The three SPARS on the left wear the blue service dress uniform and service hat with white cover.
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Laura Avis Gibson at Fourth of July ceremony, 2005
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Laura Avis Gibson, wearing her SPARs white service dress uniform and officer's hat, poses in front of a statue while holding a U.S. Coast Guard flag at a 2005 Fourth of July celebration at Glen Street Baptist Church in High Point, North Carolina.
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Oral history interview with Laura Gibson
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Primarily details Laura Avis Gibson's service with the Coast Guard during World War II, in addition to her youth on a farm and her work at Burlington Industries. Gibson briefly recalls her childhood on a farm in Randolph County and then discusses her decision to join the Coast Guard with her sister, their reasons for enlisting, and the reaction of her family and friends. Many topics pertain to Gibson's basic training at Palm Beach, Florida, in January 1944, including: classes, drilling, singing, physical exercise, bunking with her sister, and Gibson's her first experience eating in a cafeteria. " Gibson also describes her time in Washington, D.C., in detail, including: her living arrangements; briefly meeting the man that she replaced; her work issuing checks for dependents in the Military Morale Division and the office arrangement; working with men and women at the Coast Guard Headquarters; her treatment at the Navy Headquarters; uniforms; and social life and entertainment, including fashions shows, being selected to be in a fashion show, and variety shows. She also recalls seeing Franklin Roosevelt's second inaugural parade; seeing Harry Truman on V-J Day at the White House; and carrying the flag during parades in Washington. " Post-war topics include Gibson's transition to civilian life; her career at Burlington Industries after the war; her sister's life after the Coast Guard; and talking with her sister about being in the Coast Guard.
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Portrait of Laura Avis Gibson
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Portrait of Laura Avis Gibson taken in 1944. She wears the SPARs blue service dress uniform and service hat with white cover.
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Portrait of Laura Avis Gibson
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Portrait of Laura Avis Gibson in the SPARs blue service dress uniform with matching garrison cap and white gloves, taken in 1945.
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Portrait of Laura Avis Gibson
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Portrait of Laura Avis Gibson taken while she was stationed at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in November of 1944. She wears the SPARs blue service dress uniform with matching garrison cap.
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Three SPARs pose against backdrop
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Laura Avis "Gibby" Gibson (top)"Ruthie" Groening (left), and Verda "Verdie" Smith (right) pose in a car at a photo studio in New York City in February of 1945. All the women wear the SPARs winter overcoat with matching garrison cap. All three have signed the photo: "No sleep but lots of fun -Ruthie"36 hrs. and 36 cents -Verdie"; and "A wonderful city--to spend your money. -Gibby."
