Printable Masters
“The Working Women of WWII” Jigsaw Activity
Dancing
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-2-3.1
Archives of Ontario, I0028236 |
Women working in the welding room, welding and riveting, Canadian Car and Foundry Co. 1945, Fort William (Ont.).
Canadian Car and Foundry Collection
Reference Code: C 190-3-0-0-23
Archives of Ontario, I0002961 |
You will be divided into four (4) “home” groups of at least four (4) students per group.
You will be given an activity package that is comprised of photos, magazine extracts, and radio broadcast transcripts from the General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds, a record collection in the Archives of Ontario. You will then be numbered and sent off to your “expert” groups and be required to answer corresponding questions to your assigned document sets. Once you have completed your own document sets, you will return to your “home” groups, and gather information about the rest of the document sets from your group members by answering the remaining questions in your activity package.
Record the names of the members in your “home” and “expert” groups once you have been divided.
“Home Group” Members:
“Expert Group” Members:
Group 1: Women in the Workforce
Women soldering and assembling cables for airplanes,
Canadian Car and Foundry Co. 1945, Fort William (Ont.).
Canadian Car and Foundry Collection
Reference Code: C 190-3-0-0-43
Archives of Ontario, I0002965
Shop 77: Packing Fuze M. C. A. T. No. 3 for shipment
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-2-2.1
Archives of Ontario, AO 2628
I0028233
Who are in these photos? Is there anything surprising in the photos? If so, what?
What are the people in the photos doing?
How are the people in the photos dressed? Can you infer anything from their postures and/or facial expressions?
What did the photographer want to capture in the photos? Is there a message he/she is trying to convey?
GECO Fusilier: A Powder Magazine
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-1-22, Box 3
Archives of Ontario | "In an article which appeared in the Toronto Evening Telegram recently, Miss Mary Galbraith, vice-president of the Federation of Women’s Teachers’ Associations of Ontario, speaking on behalf of the school teachers who worked during the summer months at Scarboro, paid the regular employees here a high tribute.
“We worked with the grandest lot of women”, Miss Galbraith is quoted as saying. “When we went into the plant we didn’t know much about our jobs, but everyone was so kind to us that it made it much easier.”
Continuing she said, “You sometimes hear criticism about people who work in munitions plants, but there should be none, because these are the people who are really patriotic.”
In her interview, Miss Galbraith stressed the fact that the teachers were here only temporarily to help out while the regular employees were on vacations. “It’s the day-to-day employee who does the real work year in and year out. There are housewives, girls, women with husbands and sons and widows whose heart and soul are in their work. They are wonderfully patriotic and I have the greatest respect for them,” she said." |
What do you think the criticisms were of people who worked at munitions plants?
What kind of women were working at the Scarboro Plant? Why were they more patriotic than others?
“Let’s Visit” Radio Broadcast Transcript Program Introduction (1:17)
| Host |
Let’s Visit.
We take on Let’s Visit microphone to one of the largest fuse filling plants in the Dominion of Canada. |
| Woman Host |
In Scarboro Plant of the General Engineering, at Toronto, Ontario.
Your name is? |
| Anne |
Mrs. Anne Edmonds. |
| Woman Host |
You are interested in doing a full-time war job Mrs. Edmonds? |
| Anne |
Yes I am. With my husband overseas, I have felt for a long time that I should be helping too. Now the children are older and I have a plan for them to be well-looked after [?] and I am ready to start. |
| Woman Host |
Well I’m glad to hear that! Canada has increased her ammunition filling program tremendously. We replace the millions of shells that are being used in the invasion. Plenty of ammunition means that saving of casualties, and the speeding of victory. Here at Scarboro, we are filling the fuses and other small parts of the shell. For this work hundreds of women are needed. Their desk fingers are especially skilful at those fine, light operations. You don’t need previous experience. |
| Anne |
Oh you don’t need to sell me on the job here; after all, my mother and three sisters have worked here. They have told me how clean it is. They say the work isn’t hard to do or learn, and I hear the meals are grand. Anyhow, my family seems to feel they are doing something about this war, so I’d like to join them here. |
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Let's Visit (1945)
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Radio Transcription Disk
Reference Code: F 2082-1-3-1
Archives of Ontario |
Why was it so important for women to come and work at the Scarboro Plant?
Why did Anne want to work at the Scarboro Plant? Do you think her decision reflected the majority of women who worked at the plant? Why?
Group 2: Women in the Workforce
Women wiring the main distribution panels for airplanes,
Canadian Car and Foundry Co. 1945, Fort William (Ont.)
Canadian Car and Foundry Collection
Reference Code: C 190-3-0-0-42
Archives of Ontario, I0002964
Filling Assembly, Primer 15
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-2-2.3
Archives of Ontario, I0028234
Who are in these photos? Is there anything surprising in the photos? If so, what?
What are the people in the photos doing?
How are the people in the photos dressed? Can you infer anything from their postures and/or facial expressions?
What did the photographer want to capture in the photos? Is there a message he/she is trying to convey?
GECO Fusilier: A Powder Magazine
Vol. 1 No. 2: April 11, 1942
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-1-22, Box 3
Archives of Ontario
What does the cartoon say about the role of women in the workforce? What message, and to whom, was the cartoon trying to convey?
GECO Fusilier: A Powder Magazine
Vol. 1 No. 2: April 11, 1942
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-1-22, Box 3
Archives of Ontario
Where did the women come from who are in the workforce?
What does the article say about the role women played in the workforce across Canada?
What other areas did women work in?
Why could the war not be won without the help of women?
Group 3: Women and Recreation
Bowling
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code F 2082-1-2-3.1
Archives of Ontario, I0028235
Baseball
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-2-3.2
Archives of Ontario, I0028237
Who are in these photos? Is there anything surprising in the photos? If so, what?
What are the people in the photos doing?
How are the people in the photos dressed? Can you infer anything from their postures and/or facial expressions?
How are the people in the photos dressed? Can you infer anything from their postures and/or facial expressions?
What did the photographer want to capture in the photos? Is there a message he/she is trying to convey?
GECO Fusilier: A Powder Magazine
Vol. 3 No. 2: May 8, 1944
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-1-22, Box 3
Archives of Ontario, I0028426
Who were these photos aimed at?
Do these photos seem a bit contradictory, considering the work women did at the plant? Why?
“Let’s Visit” Radio Broadcast Transcript The Recreation Program (1:30)
| Woman Host |
Much of the health and happiness of our workers is due to our recreation programs. Recreation for women is under the direct of Ms. Helen [?], who will show us about the centre. |
| Man Host |
How do you do Ms. [?]? Well, there’s certainly lots of space to play here. Tell me, just what games do you play? |
| Helen |
Well, those big cans of [?] are provided for golf driving practice for those employees who plan on getting their exercise and sunshine on the golf course. And these shuffle board courts are used a great deal in spare moments, as more and more people are realizing the real thrill in this game. |
| Woman Host |
Well can employees use this anytime during the day? |
| Helen |
The centre is supervised from nine in the morning to ten at night, by two recreation supervisors, whose job it is to see that employees participate and learn. Our two badminton courts here are very popular. Players provide their own racquets, but birds are provided for them. The nets can be changed for volleyball, which is played by six enthusiastic shop teams. |
| Man Host |
But do you find that these facilities are really used, and is it really necessary to have all these tennis tables, and driving courts, and shuffle board games we see here? |
| Helen |
There certainly is. We are gradually building up more and more participation. And all over recreation survey last week indicated that 1,400 took advantage of recreational facilities, sponsored by both inside and outside the centre. |
| |
Let's Visit (1945)
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Radio Transcription Disk
Reference Code: F 2082-1-3-1
Archives of Ontario |
Why was there a recreation program offered to employees at Scarboro? Why do you think it was so important?
“Let’s Visit” Radio Broadcast Transcript The Health and Beauty Program (0:33)
| Man Host |
Well you have dramatic clubs and glee clubs as well. |
| Woman Host |
Yes. But hell, did I hear you say beauty? |
| Helen |
You certainly did. Our health and beauty program is popular among old and young. It provides relaxing exercises to music, and a good thing for a tired war worker. |
| Man Host |
Well I tell you Helen those pinup girls are a good example of some of your beauty out here. |
| Helen |
Yes, they’re selected as pinup representatives for the various shops. The pinup contest was planned and carried out by the Fusilier, our plant magazine, which is published every two weeks. |
| Man Host |
But do you find that these facilities are really used, and is it really necessary to have all these tennis tables, and driving courts, and shuffle board games we see here? |
| Helen |
There certainly is. We are gradually building up more and more participation. And all over recreation survey last week indicated that 1,400 took advantage of recreational facilities, sponsored by both inside and outside the centre. |
| |
Let's Visit (1945)
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Radio Transcription Disk
Reference Code: F 2082-1-3-1
Archives of Ontario |
What was the purpose of the health and beauty program?
Why do you think Helen said “pinup representatives” instead of “pinup girls” as the man host said?
Group 4: Miss War Worker Beauty Contest
GECO beauty contestants
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-2-1
Archives of Ontario, I0028230
GECO beauty contest winners
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds.
Reference Code: F 2082-1-2-1
Archives of Ontario, I0028229
Who are in these photos? Is there anything surprising in the photos? If so, what?
What are the people in the photos doing?
How are the people in the photos dressed? Can you infer anything from their postures and/or facial expressions?
What did the photographer want to capture in the photos? Is there a message he/she is trying to convey?
GECO Fusilier: A Powder Magazine
Vol. 1 No. 7: June 20, 1942
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-1-22, Box 3
Archives of Ontario |
Attention All Ye Maidens Fair
Fame and Fotune Ye May Share
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"From the way things are shaping up it looks as if “Scarboro” will have an entrant in the beauty contest, restricted to women actively engaged in war plants, which is being sponsored by the Toronto Police A.A. Judging is to take place at the Toronto Police Diamond Jubilee Day to be held at the Exhibition grounds on July 18th.
. .. . Entrants must be 16 years of age or over, and must be clad in their factory costume. Office workers are barred."
As the suggestion of the management the matter of choosing a “Miss Scarboro” to represent GECO was considered and approved by the M.W.A. Executive |
and this organization will sponsor the undertaking and assume responsibility for the selection. The management has promised its full cooperation . . .
It is understood that most if not all of the other war plants in the Toronto area will be represented, and it was felt by both management and the M.W.A. Executive that “Scarboro” has no reason to take backwater from anybody in the manner of feminine pulchritude. So, as was said at the start, it looks as if we’ll be “in” there with a contestant that will take some beating. |
Why do you think GECO had a beauty contest?
What does “ . . . has no reason to take backwater from anybody in the matter of feminine pulchritude” mean?
GECO Fusilier: A Powder Magazine
Vol. 1 No. 7: June 20, 1942
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-1-22, Box 3
Archives of Ontario |
Contest Produces
Bevy of Beauties
"By the time this appears in print, the eight exponents of “super” feminine pulchritude to uphold the honour and glory of “Scarboro” in the “Miss War Worker” contest, will have been selected. . . . Entrants must be 16 years of age or over, and must be clad in their factory costume. Office workers are barred.
It’s too bad the Fusilier had to go to press before the judges had made their decision, otherwise it would have been a pleasure to acclaim the local winners personally.
However, we can extend the congratulations of the whole GECO personnel of “Scarboro” to the chosen octette and offer to them our very best wishes for their success on the 18th at Exhibition Park when “Miss War Worker” will be selected.
At the same time we must not overlook the others who entered the local preliminaries and who were not so fortunate as to be picked out to represent “Scarboro”. Their good sportsmanship in entering in the first place made it a contest, and in the second place it contributed not a little to the interest and fun of the whole affair.
It’s unfortunate that our official entry by mutual agreement with the other plants, was restricted to eight because we think everyone will agree that any of our girls who went before the judges on Thursday night could have represented “Scarboro” with credit to the plant and to themselves." |
Why did the article use “feminine pulchritude” to describe the beauty contest?
Do you get the impression that the contest was a success? Why?
“The Women of the Scarboro Plant” Assignment
Mary Pickford posing with a group of employees during her visit to the
General Engineering Company (Canada) munitions factory, June 5, 1943
General Engineering Company (Canada) Fonds
Reference Code: F 2082-1-2-10
Archives of Ontario, I0004930
Your assignment is to complete a 2-page essay that seeks to answer the following question, using the information in the activity package that you have just completed:
“What story do these documents tell us about the women of the Scarboro Plant?”
Here are some questions to help you focus:
- Why were women working at the Scarboro Plant?
- Where did they come from?
- What was their role?
- What type of work did they do?
- What did they do to have fun?
- What kind of relationship did they have with management? With other men at the plant?
The essay should be written in proper paragraph form (introduction, body, conclusion), but you may use headings and bullets if appropriate. If you directly use any of the primary documents from your activity package, you need to cite them using the proper APA or MLA format. If you are unsure about how to cite a document, please see the teacher for help. You will have class time to work on your rough, hand-written copy of your essay, which must be handed in with your final copy (preferably typed). You should hand in your final copy with a title page, bibliography, and the marking rubric.
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A Glimpse Into the Lives Of Ontario Women: The Working Women Of World War II
