World War I 100 Years Ago: Nov. 17-23

From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, November 23: “Business needs women with business training to supplant the thousands of men called to the colors,” declared Ancil T. Brown, president of the Brown Office Efficiency Bureau, in an interview yesterday. “An unprecedented demand for women is evident,” he continued. “Secretarial, financial, bookkeeping and stenographic positions and clerkships now open to women which, before the war, were closed to women. If we want to maintain the ‘business as usual’ policy, women must be encouraged to enter business and professional fields. Positions advantageous to women are now unfilled awaiting the young women who can qualify. Salaries in the positions now open to women are greatly larger than women could have previously received. Since America declared war, young married women have been placed in responsible positions left by their husbands in going to the front.”