Helen VanGuilder WWII WAAC
Shared by Sandy Chamberlain

The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was a group of women who served in the United States Army during World War II. The WAAC was created to free up men for combat by taking on administrative duties.

Formation

The WAAC was established in 1942 in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor

The WAAC was created as an auxiliary unit, but was later converted to an active duty branch of the Army in 1943

The WAAC's first training center was located at Fort Des Moines, Iowa

Roles

WAACs performed a variety of roles, including aircraft spotting, mail sorting, and printing V-mail cards

WAACs were deployed all over the world

Challenges

The WAAC faced opposition from some quarters, including the defense industry and those who thought women shouldn't serve in uniform

Black WACs faced additional challenges, including being given menial jobs and court-martialed

Legacy

The WAAC's contributions were recognized with the passage of legislation that established a lasting presence of women in the Armed Services

The Women's Army Corps (WAC) was the women's branch of the United States Army before 1978. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), on 15 May 1942, and converted to an active duty status in the Army of the United States as the WAC on 1 July 1943. Its first director was Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby. The WAC was disbanded on 20 October 1978, and all WAC units were integrated with male units.

Tioga Point Museum has been gifted some letters written by Sgt. Helen Van Guilder while she served in the WAAC during WWII. Helen was from Sayre, Pennsylvania. She shared interesting thoughts and feelings as she served her country. From her excitement of entering training to her excitement about being able to come home to the U.S. again is palpable to the reader of her letters.

On March 23rd in 1943 she was “on her way”, leaving from Penn Station, NY. On March 24th her father received word that she had arrived safely at Fort Oglethorp, Georgia and would be undergoing processing for the next 2 days. After that she would be assigned to basic training and able to send her address for those 4 weeks.

In May of 1943, she wrote of having a large piece of chocolate cake but assured her mother that it was only “almost as good” as hers. She talked about celebrating her birthday and lamenting that her grades weren’t as good as she’d hoped. She said the WAAC’s couldn’t complain about food, that they ate well. She mentioned how much they enjoyed potatoes as they often had “substitutes” like rice or macaroni. She said they sure couldn’t complain because they were all putting on weight!

One letter of interest from June, 1944 shared that her boss was “in a peck of trouble.” She couldn’t elaborate but expressed her utmost sympathy for him! She also added a p.s. to this letter requesting some things from home, including Arrid, a garter belt, starch , soap and gum. She commented more than once about soap being hard to get.

By August of 1945 Helen was anxious to get home and mentioned the “red tape” of the military. A letter from September 29th, 1945 from England mentions not being sure when she would actually get to the U. S. but “will see you again. Loads of love to all. Helen”

More can be learned about Helen’s time in the WAAC by visiting Tioga Point Museum website. To view the letters on website scroll down to Virtual Collection then choose Archives and enter Helen Van Guilder.

The Tioga Point Museum is open Tuesday and Thursday all year but hours are seasonal so please check our web page or Facebook page for current hours or call at 570 888 7225.

Betsey Spalding

tpointmuseum
Nov 9
2 min read

The name of the artist who painted Betsey Spalding Griffin's portrait is unknown

Betsey Spalding was born on Feb. 26, 1785, in Plainfield, Windham county, CT, to Ezra Spalding (1854-1828) and Hannah Eaton (1758-1827). Betsey was descended from Joseph Spalding (1646-1740), a distant relative of Simon Spalding, one of the earliest white settlers of Sheshequin. She moved from Plainfield to Canton, Bradford county, with her parents in 1796, when she was nine years old.

Betsey married John B. Griffin Sr. on Jul. 5, 1810, in Canton. John was born on Mar. 5, 1783, in Connecticut to Samuel Griffin Sr. (1740-1805) and Mehitable Bacon Turner (1737-1788). He probably came to Canton in 1802 with his family.

After their marriage, Betsey and John moved to Tioga Point (Athens), where John built a log house. They lived there until about 1820, when they sold their property in town and bought farmland in Athens township. Their farm was on present-day McAfee Rd., about half a mile west of present-day Rt. 220. John Griffin became relatively wealthy. In addition to his extensive farm, he operated an inn in his residence and a distillery.

Betsey and John Griffin Sr. had seven or eight children, including:

Eliza Griffin (1812-1890) married Samuel McNett (1803-1899) in 1866; died and buried in Canton
Lucy D. Griffin (1814-1886) married ___ Page; died in Athens, buried in Tioga Point Cemetery
Hannah Griffin (1816-1890) never married; died in Athens, buried in Tioga Point Cemetery
John Griffin Jr. (1818-1874) married Nancy Morley (1822-1883); died in Athens, buried in Tioga Point Cemetery
Jane Griffin (1819-1897) married Alonzo Dole (1809-1892); died in Paw Paw, Lee county, IL
Sarissa Griffin (1821- <1830?)
Mary Griffin (1823-1896) married Abraham Morley (1818-1898); died in Athens, buried in Tioga Point Cemetery

John Griffin Sr. died on Mar. 1, 1843, on the homestead in Athens township.

In 1851 "B. Griffin" gave $25 (about $800 in 2025 dollars) toward the construction of the Athens Universalist Society meeting house. The only Griffin in Athens in 1850 whose first name started with "B" was Betsey Spalding Griffin. Betsey's son John Griffin Jr. and his wife Nancy Morley were members of the Society in 1854. Betsey's daughter Mary Griffin Morley gave $1 to the Athens Society for the Universalist Women's Centenary Fund in 1885.

Betsey Spalding Griffin died on Oct. 11, 1863, on the homestead.

References:

Murray, Louise Welles. A History of Old Tioga Point and Early Athens. Raeder Press, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 1908
Map of Bradford County Pennsylvania, from actual Surveys by Lake, Ames, & Davison. Wm. J. Barker, Philadelphia, 1858. Reprinted by the Bradford County Historical Society, 2010.
Athens Universalist Church Record Book, Vol. 1 (1847-1913)
Beers, F. W., et al. Atlas of Bradford Co. Pennsylvania. Beers, Ellis & Soule, New York, 1869
Craft, Rev. David. History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, 1770-1878. L. H. Everts & Co., Philadelphia, PA, 1878
Heverly, Clement C. Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County, Vol. 1 Bradford Star Print, Towanda, PA, 1913