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

Pages

: WAVE in uniform, 1961; An unidentified WAVE poses outside the female officers' quarters while at Officer Candidate School in 1961.

: WAVE in uniform; An unidentified WAVE poses outside the female officers' quarters while at Officer Candidate School in 1961.

: WAVE in swimsuit; WAVE lieutenant junior grade Carol Abackbank(", a Japanese American, poses in her swimsuit at Long Beach, California, in 1962. In the water behind her, many ships can be seen. The back of photo reads "we took this pin-up type so she could send a copy to her husband. He's stationed in New London, Conn. She's getting out soon."

: USS Kearsarge, 1961; Photograph of USS Kearsarge given to Shirley Thacker as a souvenir after a day cruise on the ship, taken on 18 January 1961.

: US Naval Justice School Certificate, 1961; Certificate awarded to Shirley Ann Thacker upon completion of United States Naval Justice School training on 21 December, 1961.

: 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.

: Shirley Thacker outside barracks; Shirley Thacker Lewis stands outside the WAVE officer quarters wearing her blue service uniform while at Officer Candidate School in October 1961.

: Shirley Thacker in swimsuit; Shirley Ann Thacker Lewis poses on a beach in her swimsuit while stationed at Long Beach, California, in 1962.

: Shirley Thacker at formal ball; Shirley Ann Thacker Lewis poses in a white evening gown at a navy ball in 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.

: 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.

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

: 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.

: Portrait of Shirley Thacker in uniform; Official full-length portrait of Shirley Ann Thacker Lewis in U.S. Navy white service uniform with gloves and handbag.

: Portrait of Shirley Thacker in uniform; Official headshot of Shirley Ann Thacker Lewis in U.S. Navy white service uniform, circa 1962.

: Officer and girl dance at Foreign Officers party; Argentine Ensign and Sandy Silk dance at party for foreign officers organized at U.S. Naval Station Long Beach in 1962.

: Navy wedding; Wedding portrait of naval officers Sylvia Cass and Jack Reid, attended by maid of honor Shirley Ann Thacker Lewis and an unidentified man (possibly chaplain J.D. Cox), in Long Beach, California, in June 1963.

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

: Navy officers pool party; A U.S. Navy officer and his date are served punch at a pool party honoring visiting foreign officers at Naval Station Long Beach, California, in 1962.

: Navy officers at party; Officers at U.S. Naval Station Long Beach mingle by a swimming pool at a party, circa 1962

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Women Veterans Historical Project

Shirley Ann Thacker Lewis Collection

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