Speaking Info

Looking for something different at your church, community, historical society, writing, library or corporate event? I’m available to speak on a variety of topics. See below for a brief description of each one.
Other topics are available upon request.
Need more information? Contact me via email: linda(at)matchett(dot)ws.
Speaking Topics:
In Her Own Words: Ever wonder what it was like to be a Red Cross girl or member of the USO? How about flying an airplane as target practice, and you're the target? Women served in countless ways at home and overseas during WWII. Drawn from autobiographies, memoirs, and interviews, this lecture shares the experiences of these stalwart ladies "in their own words."

More than Rosie the Riveter: Thanks to Norman Rockwell's iconic illustration, most people are familiar with Rosie the Riveter, and the work women performed in the defense industry during WWII. But young and old, single, married, and widowed women worked and volunteered in other ways, many of which have been forgotten. Learn about the ladies who served at home and abroad while their brothers, fathers, and husbands were off at war. 

The Women's Land Army of America: By 1942, over two million men had left the farms to join the military, yet the crops had to be harvested to feed the U.S., its troops, and our Allies. Gas and rubber rationing impacted the use of migrant workers. Learn how the Women's Land Army was formed and saved the agriculture industry from ruin.

Sisterhood of Spies: OSS - one of the many "alphabet soup" U.S. government agencies that sprang up during WWII. Their name is innocuous - Office of Strategic Services - but their activities were anything but harmless. Unheard of at the time, Colonel William Donovan, head of the organization and nicknamed Wild Bill, hired hundreds of women as undercover agents. He realized that women were more inconspicuous as spies, especially in areas where men of combat age would stand out. Learn about these intrepid women, many of whom have faded into obscurity.

Life on the Home Front: Rationing began in 1942 with tires and by 1943 ration coupons were required to purchase coffee, sugar, meat, cheese, butter, lard, margarine, canned foods, dried fruits, jam, gasoline, bicycles, fuel oil, clothing, silk or nylon stockings, and shoes. The automotive and appliance industries quit producing until after the war. Find out how Americans coped during this difficult time.  
Women in the Workforce: With over twelve million men serving overseas during World War II, employers were left with gaping holes in their workforce. As a result, they hired women to take the positions. This created an immense change in the culture of the times. Women had to balance work and home life, deal with discrimination and harassment, and handle situations normally taken care of by their husbands or fathers. Hear first-hand accounts of these brave women.
Women War Correspondents: Dickey Chappelle, Therese Bonney, Toni Frissell, and Martha Gellhorn. These are just a few of the women who broke the barriers for female journalists. Fighting stereotypes and rules designed to prevent them from covering combat, more than 125 women earned the coveted designation of certified correspondents. Listen to their stories.

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