Geneva Spratt Craig Collection

Details

Who's responsible?: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries (Repository)
How much has been digitized?: This collection has been digitized in its entirety.
What's in the full collection?: 18 November 2010 oral history transcript; scanned photographs
Full biography: Geneva Spratt Craig (b. 1919) served in the United States Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) from 1943-1946. Geneva Spratt Craig was born in Dysartsville, McDowell County, North Carolina in 1919. She graduated from high school in 1937, attending Asheville Normal and Teacher's College and graduating in 1941. She then worked as a teacher in Wake County, North Carolina, until she decided to enlist in the WAVES in the summer of 1943. One of her older sisters, Sybil, enlisted in the WAVES around the same time. Upon enlisting, Craig was sent to Bronx, New York for basic training. She and her sister were then assigned to Cedar Falls, Iowa for clerical training. Upon completing the training, Craig was stationed in Arlington, Virginia, working in Naval Personnel, where she worked until she left the WAVES in 1946. After receiving her discharge, Craig returned to High Point, North Carolina, and began working as a teacher. She later used her GI Bill to obtain her master's degree at the Teacher's College of Columbia University, and again returned to High Point, where she met her husband.
Topics: Women's History
Military
Branch of service: Navy -- WAVES
Conflict: World War II era (1940-1946)
Subject headings: World War, 1939-1945
United States. Navy--Women
Contributing Institution: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries

: Geneva Spratt Craig and friend humorously pose in Williamsburg, Virginia; Geneva Spratt Craig and friend, Sybil, posing in a stockade in Williamsburg, Virginia, attired in dress uniform. Text written on photograph:"Sybil and me Williamsburg, Va."

: Geneva Spratt Craig and friend pose in Washington, D.C. on Victory in Europe Day; Geneva Spratt Craig and friend pose in Washington, D.C. on Victory in Europe Day, 1945.

: Geneva Spratt Craig and friend pose in Williamsburg, Virginia; Geneva Spratt Craig and friend, Sybil, pose in Williamsburg, Virginia, attired in WAVES dress uniform with lapel insignia. Craig's rank insignia indicates she is a Second Class Petty Officer Yeoman, friend's rank insignia indicates she is a First Class Petty Officer Yeoman.

: Geneva Spratt Craig and friend pose in Williamsburg, Virginia by a trellis; Geneva Spratt Craig and friend pose in Williamsburg, Virginia, by a trellis, attired in WAVES dress uniform, including caps and satchels.

: Oral history interview with Geneva Spratt Craig; Geneva Spratt Craig discusses her early life, military service, and life after her service. She also notes topics such as the progress of her teaching career, women's roles in the military, the military service of her siblings, and Rotary Club "Freedom Flights"(possibly "Flights of Honor", which bring veterans to visit Washington, D.C. Geneva Spratt Craig discusses her early life, military service, and life after her service. She also notes topics such as the progress of her teaching career, women's roles in the military, the military service of her siblings, and Rotary Club "Freedom Flights"(possibly "Flights of Honor", which bring veterans to visit Washington, D.C.

: Platoon of WAVES members at Iowa State Teachers' College in Cedar Falls, Iowa; Platoon of female WAVES members at Iowa State Teachers' College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, dressed in service dress uniform. No insignia, which suggests basic training. Male naval officer in center." Writing on photograph:"My Platoon Cedar Falls, Iowa"

: Portrait of Geneva Spratt Craig in WAVES uniform; Official portrait of Geneva Spratt Craig attired in Women's Reserve of the US Naval Reserve [WAVES] blue service dress uniform.

: Portrait of Geneva Spratt Craig in WAVES uniform with cap; Official portrait of Geneva Spratt Craig in Women's Reserve of the US Naval Reserve [WAVES] uniform with WAVES insignia on lapels with soft-brimmed cap.