Army Contract Surgeon Uniform

Army Contract Surgeon Uniform

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Description
U.S. Army Contract Surgeon women's uniform from World War I. The uniform consists of a coat, skirt, shirtwaist, necktie, campaign hat, gloves, boots, and insignia. The coat and skirt are made of olive drab wool. The hat is brown wool with a black and maroon hat band and black and gold hat cord. The shirt is olive drab cotton and the tie is maroon cotton. The gloves and boots are brown leather. Insignia include metal "U.S." insignia on shirt collar and bronze caduceus with a superimposed "CS" monogram on the coat lapels. World War I Victory ribbon on left breast. Three overseas service chevrons on lower left sleeve, depicting 6 months of service each. This uniform was worn by Dr. Loy McAfee, who was assigned to the Office of the Surgeon General by orders dated May 17, 1918. Donated by Dr. McAfee through The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
During World War I the U.S. Army Medical Department employed contract surgeons in order to meet the demand for additional skilled medical personnel. Women who were contract surgeons served as anesthetists, lab technicians, dispensary physicians, and other capacities as needed.
Source:
Vivian Lea Young, “'Petticoats Are Part of this Uniform': American Women Volunteers of the First World War and Their Uniforms” (Master's thesis, George Washington University, 1987).
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
gloves
Other Terms
gloves; Woman
associated date
1917-1918
Physical Description
leather (overall material)
Measurements
overall (padded): 9 in x 4 in x 1 in; 22.86 cm x 10.16 cm x 2.54 cm
overall (mounted): 11 in x 8 in x 2 1/2 in; 27.94 cm x 20.32 cm x 6.35 cm
ID Number
1998.0165.63.07
accession number
1998.0165
catalog number
31061
1998.0165.63.07
World War I
See more items in
Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, Military
Military
Clothing & Accessories
Women's World War I Uniforms
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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