Shirley Ann Thacker Lewis Collection

Details

Who's responsible?: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries (Repository)
How much has been digitized?: Most of this collection has been digitized. Some items have not beed digitized due to copyright or other logistical issues.
What's in the full collection?: 29 February 2008 oral history transcript; Official Navy paperwork.
Full biography: Shirley Ann Thacker Lewis (b. 1938) of Greensboro, North Carolina, served in the United States Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) from 1961 to 1965, followed by a career as a school counselor. S. Ann Thacker Lewis was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, on 15 October 1938. She graduated from high school at Curry School in 1957 and then attended Women's College of the University of North Carolina (now UNCG), earning a degree in physical education. Lewis joined a WAVES recruit program while in college. After graduating, she completed Officer Candidate School at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. She was chosen to be a legal officer and attended Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island, and was then assigned to Long Beach, California. In addition to defense counsel and prosecutorial duties there, she also worked as a separations officer, public information officer, communications watch officer, and in registered publications. In 1963, Lewis received orders to Wahiawa, Hawaii, where she served as a legal officer and trainer. She met her husband, Chuck Lewis, on a beach in Hawaii, and resigned her commission in January 1965 due to pregnancy. Lewis later earned a masters' degree in counseling and worked for thirty years as a school counselor.
Topics: Women's History
Military
Schools and Colleges
Branch of service: Navy -- WAVES
Conflict: Vietnam Era (1964-1974)
Subject headings: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
United States. Navy--Women
Contributing Institution: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries

: Navy relief rose ball; Article from the Long Beach Dispatch Women's Section describing the Navy Relief Rose Ball in July 1963.

: Seahorse article; Clipping from the U.S. Naval Station Long Beach newsletter, the Seahorse, depicting four servicewomen receiving a certificate of appreciation from the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors in November 1962. Pictured are Shirley Ann Thacker (Lewis), U.S. Navy; Margaret Cooper, U.S. Army; Dianne Batchelder, U.S. Air Force; and Barbara Boyd, U.S. Marine Corps.

: Seahorse article about Shirley Thacker; Article from Seahorse Newspaper announcing Shirley Thacker's appointment to Assistant Public Information Officer.

: Seps: important to the fleet; Article in the U.S. Naval Station Long Beach newsletter, the Seahorse, about the Separation Office, directed by Shirley Ann Thacker (Lewis), published 20 April 1962.

: Servron one hosts officers' party; Article in the U.S. Naval Station Long Beach newsletter, the Seahorse, describing an "international gala" held for visiting members of the French Navy in January 1963.

: Taluga holds cruise for guests and dependents; Article from the U.S. Naval Station Long Beach newsletter, the Seahorse, describing a day cruise held on the USS Taluga where Shirley Ann Thacker (Lewis) served as navigator.

In collections

Women Veterans Historical Project

Shirley Ann Thacker Lewis Collection

In collections

Navigate

Sort your results

Narrow your results

Topics

Additional tags

Decade

Veteran conflict/era

Veteran service branch

In collection

Contributed by