What She Said

Part II, Case 4: Patriotism and Loyalty

Organized women had long rallied around patriotic causes. The Los Angeles Corp of the Grand Army of the Republic Women's Relief Corp Auxiliary worked to support Civil War Union veterans, much in the same way that Angeleno women would later support American soldiers’ needs in both World Wars and later 20th century conflicts. Many local chapters of lineage-based membership service organizations like the Daughters of the American Revolution focused fundraising efforts on benefiting veterans.

In the post-World War II era, Cold War fears of communism altered ideas about how to be American. While several earlier women’s organizations worked to integrate immigrant communities through assimilation, every individual’s loyalty to the United States was now liable to be called into question. Instead of demonstrating dedication through civic participation and education, allegiance was now interpreted through loyalty oaths. In 1954, the YWCA was asked to sign a loyalty oath to the United States in order to retain their non-profit tax exempt status. The Board voted to sign the oath and, after a divisive discussion and vote, decided to send a statement of protest along with it for "making the futile attempt to test loyalty by words instead of deeds."

At this time there was also a greater shift toward private solutions for local problems, instead of reliance on government safety nets or intervention, with an emphasis placed on single family households as key contributors to the country's democratic vitality, rather than sprawling community networks. During this time organizations continued to educate communities on pressing issues and to fundraise for the causes they prioritized.

Case 5, Community Citizens, is to your right along the south wall of the gallery.

• 1

  Letter, Mrs. Frederic P. Schrader, President of the Y.W.C.A. of Los Angeles, to Mr. John R. Quinn, County of Los Angeles Assessor, regarding a required loyalty oath, March 31, 1954Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles Collection

• 2

  Booklet, "The Valley Needs the Y," 1944Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles Collection

• 3

  Fashion Show Program, "Fly Me to the Moon," November 13, 1969Encino Women's Club Collection

• 4

  Scrapbook, "The U.S. Flag," 1954-1961Daughters of the American Revolution Fernanda Maria Chapter Collection

• 5

  Don Jose de Ortega Roll of Members, October 9, 1970Daughters of the American Revolution Don Jose de Ortega Chapter Collection

• 6

  Photograph, Junior League members selling War Bonds, circa 1945Junior League of Los Angeles, Inc. Collection

• 7

  Booklet, "Fallout Protection: What to Know and Do About Nuclear Attack," distributed by San Fernando Women's Club, circa 1961-1962San Fernando Women's Club Collection

• 8

  Cover, 6th Annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, Veterans Administration Hospital, May 2, 1961San Fernando Women's Club Collection