Can you name several well-known military personnel throughout U.S. history? When hearing this question, most people may begin reciting names like George Washington, Ulysses Grant, George Patten, or Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., who all happen to be men. When thinking about the U.S. military historically, we tend to imagine that it is a man's world.…

The early twentieth century was a unique period of time in China's contemporary history. It has been marked as the beginning of China's modernization and liberalization. The circumstances and the long-term impacts of this political reform were certainly disputed. China's schooling materials mostly only indicate the bright side of the social…

This oral history describes the memories of a young German girl growing up during the Nazi Era and the end of World War II in a village in the Bavarian Alps of southern Germany. The narrative is based on her lived experiences and stories shared by her father about the horrors of the Nazi regime. Her memories include shrieking bells and imminent…

This document presents lesson plans and related materials for teaching about the role of women in the U.S. military from World War I to Desert Storm (the Gulf War). The lesson includes a table showing the number of women who took part in Desert Storm broken down by branch of service. Another chart shows the number of women who served in the…

This eighth-grade lesson teaches about military battles and the lives of women during the U.S. Civil War. Students work both individually and in groups, assuming the perspective of a young woman who has left home to join the war effort. The lesson progresses along the following steps: (1) "Getting Started" (Focus on a particular woman's role); (2)…

Reports on an interview with General Wilma L. Vaught, president of the Board of Directors of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation. Discusses a memorial to women in military service to be built in Arlington Cemetery near Washington, DC. (CFR)

Contends that recent historical research has found strong and growing evidence of the presence of women on Civil War battlefields in numbers far beyond what previously had been believed. Discusses women who fought in disguise, those who served as nurses, and women who were given the title "daughters of the regiment." (CFR)

Describes the role of women in the Chinese military during four eras: (1) the ancient period; (2) the post Opium War period; (3) 1949-present; and (4) today's women in the Chinese military. Includes a full-page chart indicating women warriors in ancient China. (CFR)

Contends that, although Joan of Arc is treated as an aberration by history textbooks, this view ignores a medieval military tradition that provided a context for the acceptance of Joan's leadership. Presents a five-part lesson that deals with different aspects of medieval women's' military traditions. (CFR)

Contends that, although the role of women in the U.S. military and on the homefront during World War II has received increased attention, the service of the civilian women pilots has not been adequately recognized. Presents a classroom lesson on the origins and work of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP's) during World War II. (CFR)

Contends that, although women participated as a group and as individuals in every war, they rarely are acknowledged in history books or commemorated with monuments. Describes nine roles that women played during the American War for Independence and the Civil War. (CFR)

Presents an annotated bibliography on women and war. Includes teaching materials, videotapes, and books containing firsthand accounts as well as histories of women's wartime experiences. Provides addresses for smaller, lesser-known publishers and suggests a grade level for each resource. (CFR)

Describes government efforts to mobilize U.S. women during World War II. Discusses the need for women's participation and the problems confronted by women who joined the wartime labor force. Describes efforts to increase participation by women in the armed forces. (CFR)

Contends that women experienced World War I differently from any other war. Asserts that, although thorough physical examinations prevented women from fighting while disguised as men, women played significant roles as nurses and on the home front. Relates accounts of women who participated as volunteers, clerical workers, and journalists. (CFR)

Contends that women leaders, especially women who were warriors, have been ignored by history textbooks. Describes historical research on the roles of women in military history. Presents the story of three women who became significant military leaders during the medieval period. (CFR)