Edna Painter Searles Collection
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Oral history interview with Edna Painter Searles
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Primarily documents Edna Painter Searles' experiences with the Marine Corps Women's Reserve in the legal office at Camp Lejeune during World War II and her professional life after the war. Searles details her father's work at Kingsport Press; her family's reaction when she joined the service, particularly her brother's opposition; basic training, including drill instruction, gas mask training, and obstacle courses; her involvement in courts martial; the women's barracks at Camp Lejeune; her work at Camp Lejeune, including taking shorthand and typing transcripts; fraternizing with officers; social life, including sailing, USO shows, and trips to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina; and a Woman Marine who died after drinking moonshine. Remainder of the interview discusses her admiration of President Franklin Roosevelt and the shock of his death; working at Stetson University; work for the Fish Trust; her retirement; benefits of her military service; and her opinion of women in combat.
