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.

Dr. William Kiff and Jane Walker Kiff

tpointmuseum
12 minutes ago
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William Kiff was born on May 22, 1793, in Bloomville (town of Kortright), Delaware county, NY, the sixth of ten children of Andrew Kiff (1760-1825) and Mary Junteau Mabie (1752-1835). He may have lived with his parents in Bloomville in 1820.

Louise Welles Murray wrote of his arrival in Athens:

April 25, 1825, a stranger on horseback drew up at the door of Satterlee's tavern. Being questioned, he gave his name as Dr. William Kiff, on his way to Virginia to practice his profession. Dr. [Thomas T.] Huston had just left town, and Dr. [Stephen] Hopkins was disliked by some few people. Here was a good opening for a young physician, and Mr. Satterlee urged the young man to stay, and so he did.

Dr. Kiff was of Irish descent; his parents came to America previous to the Revolution, in which his father took part. They settled in this vicinity, but were driven out by the Indians, and finally made a new home in Bloomsville [sic - Bloomville], Delaware County, N. Y., where William was born May 22, 1790 [sic]. He served through the war of 1812 under Captain Penfield. When mustered out at New York City he returned to his old home and studied medicine under Dr. Clark.

William Kiff married Jane B. Walker on Jul. 9, 1829, in Nichols, Tioga county, NY. Jane was born on Aug. 13, 1813, in Nichols, the eldest of eight children of Samuel Walker (1788-1868) and Sally Schoonover (1792-1879). Jane was a cousin of local surveyor and map-maker Zephon Flower Walker.

The Kiffs lived in Athens – probably in present-day Athens township - in 1830. From at least 1840 until he died, William and his family lived in Athens borough. Their first house, as noted by Murray, was destroyed by fire in July, 1856. Their second house was at the west end of Bridge St. in Athens.

William Kiff was a tax collector for Athens borough in the late 1840s. He was active in the local Whig party. He was a member of the Athens borough council in 1870 and 1871.

William Kiff gave $30 toward the construction of the Athens Universalist Society's meeting house in 1852.

Louise Welles Murray wrote:

At Tioga Point he very soon acquired an extensive practice and wore himself out in hard country practice, riding hither and thither on his little horse Lightfoot, who could pick her way even across a ford in the night. He was an active and upright Mason, at his death one of the oldest members of the fraternity in the state, being

ninety-six years old... His first house near the old Exchange [Hotel - near present-day 630 S. Main - KSR] was burned, the later one is still [1908 – KSR] occupied by his daughter [Frances]... His practice extended over a longer period than that of Dr. Hopkins, whose enmity he incurred by injuring upon his circle of patients. Nevertheless, he was a successful practitioner, and was finally considered one of the ablest members of his profession.

William and Jane had four children:

Horace Agard Kiff (1830-1906) married Louisa Drake (1832-btw 1880 & 1900), a daughter of John L. Drake, one of the builders of the Universalist meeting house in Athens; died in Athens; buried in Tioga Point Cemetery
William Percival Kiff (1831-1834) died at age 2; buried in Tioga Point Cemetery
Frances J. Kiff (1834-1917) married Delos O. Hancock (1825-1883) in 1857; lived in Owego; died in Athens; buried in Tioga Point Cemetery
Isabel M. Kiff (1835-1854) died at age 19; buried in Tioga Point Cemetery

Jane Walker Kiff died in Athens on July 15, 1875. She was buried in Tioga Point Cemetery.

William Kiff was described by Jennie Davies Snell as "the oldest person in Athens" in 1880. He died in Athens at the age of 93 on Aug. 10, 1886. He was buried in Tioga Point Cemetery with his wife Jane and their children Horace, Percival, and Isabel.

References

Murray, Louise Welles. A History of Old Tioga Point and Early Athens. Raeder Press, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 1908
Bradsby, Henry C. History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania. S. B. Nelson & Co., Chicago, IL, 1891
Bradford Argus, Towanda, PA
Heverly, Clement C. Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County. Bradford Star Print, Towanda, PA, 1913 & 1915
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.
Findagrave.com
Gleaner, Athens, PA