Artifacts from the Archives
Every time the Archive staff opens a new collection, it is a new adventure.
We never know what treasures we are going to find.
Rosa Lea Fullwood Meek's Photo Album
This remarkable photo album showcases the journey of Rosa Lea Fullwood Meek, 43-W-4, during her time at Avenger Field, capturing moments from her training and her experiences at her assigned duty bases. This captivating album is now part of our current exhibit, WASP in the Spotlight, giving visitors a unique insight into the life of WASP pilots. Stop by and see Rosa’s album in her WASP in the Spotlight exhibit. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Andrea McGilvray for generously donating Rosa Lea’s collection to the National WASP WWII Museum.
Zenith vacuum radio
In 1942, the Zenith Vacuum radio, celebrated for its sleek and sophisticated design, became commercially available for $125, an amount that would be equivalent to $2,788 in today’s currency. This particular radio was procured from Mr. Alan Griffen of Boys Ranch, a cherished piece with a rich history. Sadly, it fell victim to the ravages of a tornado, enduring damage from strong winds and water. Despite this adversity, Mr. E.A. Heras undertook the remarkable task of meticulously restoring the radio to its former glory. Notably, he skillfully integrated modern features such as an Aux input, USB, and Bluetooth capabilities, seamlessly blending the vintage appeal with contemporary functionality. It’s fascinating to imagine that a radio akin to this could have been used by the WASP to tune in to the iconic fireside chats with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, adding another layer of historical significance to this remarkable artifact.
The Zenith Vacuum Radio is now displayed in the National WASP WWII Museum's gift shop.
Jacqueline Cochran's WASP Doll
The museum archives has recently been enriched with items from Jacqueline Cochran’s collection, courtesy of a donation by Wings Across America. This collection includes a one-of-a-kind WASP doll, crafted specifically for Jacqueline Cochran. This doll belonged to Jackie who left it to her friend, and co-executor, Yvonne Smith. Upon Yvonne’s passing, she donated the doll to Wings Across America and Nancy Parrish.
Despite its age-related fragility and cracks, the doll still dons the WASP Santiago Blue dress uniform, complete with WASP wings and insignias. This unique doll has traveled across the states. Its journey has taken it to the Women’s Memorial at Arlington, the Bullock Museum in Austin, Wings Over the Rockies in Denver, the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, and the 1940s Air Terminal Museum in Houston. The Official National WASP WWII Museum is thrilled to finally welcome it back to Avenger Field, home of the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Wings Across America for their donations of unique WASP artifacts that will help us continue to tell the story of these courageous women.
