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Geraldine Doyle

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Geraldine Doyle
Hoff in 1942 at age 17
Born(1924-07-31)July 31, 1924
Inkster, Michigan, U.S.
DiedDecember 26, 2010(2010-12-26) (aged 86)
Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Cause of deathComplications from arthritis
NationalityAmerican
Other namesGeraldine Hoff Doyle
Known forPossible model for "We Can Do It!" poster
Spouse(s)
Dr. Leo H. Doyle, DDS
​
​
(m. 1943⁠–⁠2010)​
Children6
Naomi Parker Fraley
Photo of war worker Naomi Parker Fraley, often mis-identified as Geraldine Hoff Doyle

Geraldine Hoff Doyle (July 31, 1924 – December 26, 2010)[1] has been widely promoted in the media as the possible the real-life model for the World War II era "We Can Do It!" poster, later thought to be an embodiment of the iconic World War II character Rosie the Riveter. However the photograph formerly credited in the media as an image of Doyle, and as inspiration for the well-known poster,[2] actually depicts another young war worker, Naomi Parker.[3][4]

Life

Geraldine Hoff was born in Inkster, Michigan. Her father Cornelious was an electrical contractor who died of pneumonia when she was 10 years old. Her mother, Augusta, was a composer who had scoliosis. After graduating from high school in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1942 Hoff found work as a metal presser in the American Broach & Machine Co. of Ann Arbor.[1][5] As men started enlisting and being drafted into military service for World War II, women began to support the war effort by taking on roles, including factory work, that were formerly considered "male-only."

Because she was a cellist, Hoff feared a hand injury from the metal pressing machines and so she left the factory after having worked for only a couple weeks.[1][6] During the brief time she worked there, according to Doyle, a United Press International photographer took a picture of her. Soon after quitting work as a metal presser, Geraldine Hoff met and married dentist Leo Doyle in 1943. The couple had six children (a son, Gary, died in 1980) and remained married until his death in February 2010.[1]

Geraldine Doyle claimed to have been the model for the "We Can Do It!" poster.

Because the "We Can Do It!" poster was created for an internal Westinghouse project, it did not become widely known until the 1980s, when it began to be used by advocates of women's equality in the workplace. In 1984, Doyle came across an article in Modern Maturity magazine which linked a press photo of a young war worker to the "We Can Do It!" poster, which she had not seen before. Doyle felt she recognized herself in both the photo and the poster.[7] The photo, however, is actually a photo of California war worker Naomi Parker (later Fraley) taken at the Alameda Naval Air Station in California in March of 1942.[3][4][8] The original UPI photograph of Parker was used as the cover image for the Time-Life book The Patriotic Tide: 1940-1950 published in 1986.[9][10]

The "We Can Do It!" image, representing the World War II-era women who worked in factories to support the war effort and were (and are) collectively known as "Rosie the Riveter," remains an icon and appeared on a 1999 postage stamp as part of a World War II series produced by the U.S. Postal Service.[11]

Death

Geraldine Hoff Doyle died on December 26, 2010 in Lansing, Michigan, as a result of complications from severe arthritis, aged 86.[1][9] She was survived by her five children, eighteen grandchildren and twenty-five great-grandchildren.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e McLellan, Dennis (December 31, 2010). "Geraldine Hoff Doyle dies at 86; inspiration behind a famous wartime poster". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Michigan Woman Who Inspired WWII 'Rosie' Poster Has Died : The Two-Way : NPR". 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  3. ^ a b "Museum Collections, U.S. National Park Service -". museum.nps.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  4. ^ a b "All This and Overtime, Too - 42-62386550 - Rights Managed - Stock Photo - Corbis". www.corbisimages.com. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  5. ^ Geraldine Doyle: Obituary - legacy.com
  6. ^ Geraldine Doyle, inspiration for 'Rosie the Riveter,' dies at 86 published December 30, 2010 by NBC News: "Geraldine Doyle left her factory job after two weeks"
  7. ^ Chuck, Elizabeth (December 30, 2010). "Geraldine Doyle, inspiration for 'Rosie the Riveter,' dies at 86". Field Notes from NBC News. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  8. ^ "Naomi Parker Fraley". www.naomiparkerfraley.com. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  9. ^ a b Shapiro, T. Rees - Washington Post Staff Writer (2011-12-29). "Geraldine Doyle, 86, dies; one-time factory worker inspired Rosie the Riveter and 'We Can Do It!' poster". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  10. ^ The Patriotic Tide: 1940–1950 (This Fabulous Century). Time-Life Education. 1986. pp. cover image. ISBN 0809482002.
  11. ^ Diversity Development (April 2003). "Women on Stamps" (PDF). Publication 512. United States Postal Service. p. 24. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  12. ^ Moss, Hilary (December 30, 2010). "Geraldine Hoff Doyle Dead: 'Rosie The Riveter' Inspiration Dies At 86". Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
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