What's the connection between The Salvation Army, women, and World War I?
The Salvation Army, founded by William Booth, began its
ministries as the Christian Mission in England in 1865. The name was eventually
changed to the Salvation Army to reflect their somewhat military
style. The Salvation Army’s theology was
radical. Booth believed
that people who were homeless and poor needed the gospel of Jesus Christ but
churches did not welcome these people in, so Booth decided he
would. The
Army was introduced in 1879 to America when teenager Eliza Shirley held the first Salvation Army meeting in Philadelphia.
Her father, who had previously immigrated to the United States, had
written her about the need in America for the Army due to the ungodliness found
here.
World War I
"During World War I, the Salvation Army sent approximately 500 volunteers to Europe who helped with everything from teaching Bible classes to playing music, providing meeting space for religious services, and cooking and serving food. These men and women followed the soldiers to the battle front and were often in danger as they served."*
Those women in the Salvation Army met a huge need on the front lines in Europe. Not only were they nourishing the soldiers with food but they were providing a friendly face during a time when many thought they would die. This was hard work the Salvation Army Lassies did. Yes, they were serving doughnuts and coffee but they were on the front lines, making doughnuts and coffee day and night.
Researching Salvation Army Ancestors
I spent some time researching my paternal 2nd great-grandfather who was a member of the Salvation Army. One of the more disappointing
pieces of news I learned as I was researching my ancestor is that the Salvation
Army was not as diligent about membership records as other Christian
traditions. It was common for individual
Salvation Army churches to throw away records when a new officer took
over. So if your ancestor was only a
member and not working on becoming an officer, you may find little to
nothing. But if you ancestor traveled
with the Salvation Army or was trying to become an officer, you may have better
luck.
The Salvation Army Archives and Research Center in
Alexandria, Virginia holds records, periodicals, and photographs
documenting the history of the Salvation Army in the United States. While they don’t hold membership records for
all of those involved in the Salvation Army, they do have some. They also have the official Salvation Army
periodical, The War Cry.
Microfilmed copies of The War Cry dating back to 1884 are
available through interlibrary loan. This periodical may not mention your ancestor, but it can
provide you social context.
The Salvation Army’s Southern Historical Center located in
Atlanta, Georgia is a museum and research facility that showcases the work of
the Salvation Army in the Southern Untied States. The research library and the services offered
through that library can help the family researcher possibly learn more about
their ancestor. Periodicals, both
current and out-of-print, records and photographs are part of this archive.
Don't forget newspaper research. In an article I wrote for the GenealogyBank blog, I found numerous mentions of women passing out doughnuts and coffee for the Salvation Army in Europe. Make sure to search on keywords "Salvation Army" since some of these articles may not mention individual women.
- Was your ancestor a member of the Salvation Army?
- Have you tried using Salvation Army resources?
- Do you own any photos of her life during WWI?
- Have you searched for her in the Ancestry.com Passport Collection?
Additional Resources:
Salvation Army- Original Salvation Army Donut Recipe & Video
Hallelujah Lads and Lassies: Remaking the Salvation Army
in America 1880-1930 by Lillian Taiz, published by the University of North
Carolina Press, 2001.
Women in God’s Army: Gender and Equality in the Early
Salvation Army by Andrew Mark Eason, published by Wilfrid Laurier
University Press, 2003.
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