yesterday. Miss Edwina Barraclough has been named assistant to Miss Wilson. Mrs. Earl [Frances] Nutter is now in charge of all magazines. Mrs. Walter [Daisy] Belzer and Mrs. Herman [Julia] Schlueter compose the reception committee, and Mrs. Roy [Kathryn] Foust is in charge of the platform. Mrs. [Mae] Eshom and Mrs. [Edna] Neid have been placed in charge of the baskets, and Mrs. [Rose] Loncar and Mrs. [Lydia] Jensen are the dining room hostesses. Miss Wilma Lannin is in charge of the girls. The Canteen is now opening at 6 a.m. and op- erating until 11 p.m. … Mrs. [Maude] Mischke and Mrs. [Mayme] Wyman will be in charge of cookies hereafter. The next item, signaling the beginning of year- round daylight saving time (dubbed “War Time”) for the war’s duration, shows that though the Canteen never missed a day of operation, it did — in the very beginning — miss a handful of troop trains. Telegraph | Jan. 21, 1942 The change in time Feb. 9 will enable the Canteen to meet all the trains, where several are missed now because of the late hour they go through. … Miss Rae Wilson stated, “Having several more trains to meet will mean that we will be able to serve more men. Material donations are coming in fine, but to continue our work we’re going to need more cash donations.”
Canteen fund a number of commodities including tobaccos, cigarettes and apples. … According to Mrs. Hamilton, this newly orga- nized club has 12 members and was organized for the purpose of giving North Platte Negro women a chance to assist in national defense work. They plan to give donations weekly to the Canteen and also plan to help by giving Red Cross donations. Daily Bulletin | Jan. 24, 1942 Thursday morning The Bulletin passed the news to North Platte that the Canteen was “broke” and immediate cash and food was needed to carry on the work. Response was immediate and generous, Miss Rae Wilson, chairman, said last night. Many benefit dances, plays and concerts were staged as Canteen fundraisers throughout the war. This was one of the earliest — and sweetest. Telegraph | Jan. 24, 1942 Children who reside in the Mohawk apartments decided they too wanted to do something to help in this big emergency, so their plan was to have a program and charge admission, with proceeds to go to the Canteen fund. … The program was presented Friday night at 7:30 o’clock in the Mohawk “Little Theatre” basement (the washing machines were moved to the rear). …
Thousands of African-Americans served during the war, though they suffered racial discrimina- tion while fighting for freedom abroad. But as the next two excerpts show — and as subsequent news items and photos in this book will reinforce — the Canteen and its workers knew no color or national line on either side of the serving table. Canteen ladies, circa 1942. Those identified include (front row, from left), Opal Smith, Edna Neid and Harriet Wakefield and (back row, from left) Evangeline Waugh, Mabel Moore, Eva Muir, Grace Traub, Jessie Hutchens, Harriet LeMaire, Mayme Wyman, Elaine Wright, Maude Mischke, Florence Forstedt and Jennie Doxsee. Telegraph | Jan. 7, 1942 Two negro soldier boys missed their train in Chicago, were without money and had to take the next train. Upon their arrival here they were given money and food and other treats. Telegraph | Jan. 22, 1942 The Negro Women’s Victory club, headed by Mrs. Beatrice Hamilton, today presented to the
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