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African American Women's Army Corps in the Snow

  • $85.00

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

African American Women’s Army Corps in the Snow depicts a rare moment of levity for members of the United States’ first and only all-Black female battalion to be deployed overseas during World War II. The U.S. Women’s Army Corps (WAC) was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in July of 1943. After several units of all white women were deployed to Europe, civil rights leader Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt successfully advocated for the admittance of African-American women as enlisted personnel and officers. Thus, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was formed. 

Nicknamed “Six Triple Eight”, the battalion’s mission was to clear the immense backlog of mail intended for soldiers throughout Europe. Working in three eight-hour shifts for seven days a week, the 6888th managed to sort and redirect an average of 65,000 pieces of mail per day. Given six months to complete this first mission, they finished in just three. 

They were then sent to Rouen, France to clear almost three years of backed up mail. The unit’s Military Police were not allowed to carry firearms, so the women trained in jiu jitsu to ward off unauthorized personnel. Again, they completed this mission in only three months.

The battalion was reduced by about 300 in January 1946 after the end of the war. African American Women’s Army Corps in the Snow shows some of the first women to arrive back in the U.S. before the Six Triple Eight was officially disbanded one month later. There was no public recognition of their service at that time.

This Vintage Edition captures snow day joy in black and white, starring a baker’s dozen of Black excellence—members of the unquestionably badass “Six Triple Eight” battalion that made history delivering happiness to countless service members during World War II. African American Women’s Army Corps in the Snow features some of the first members of the 6888th to return to the U.S., showing gleeful moment mid-snowball fight before the unit was officially disbanded a month later. This print is a wintery celebration for your walls, but it’s also an acknowledgement of this special battalion’s insanely hard work ... Read more on the blog!

+ Limited-edition, exclusive to 20x200
+ Museum quality: archival inks, 100% cotton rag paper unless noted
+ Handcrafted custom-framing is available

Our quoted dimensions are for the size of paper containing the images, not the printed image itself. We do not alter the aspect ratio, nor do we crop or resize the artists’ originals. All of our prints have a minimum border of .5 inches to allow for framing.

Hahnemuhle Fine Art Baryta

Edition Structure:
8"x10" | edition of 10
11"x14" | edition of 100
16"x20" | edition of 20