Rosie the Riveter

I was just going through an old file looking for the lyrics for “Rosie the Riveter,” (I’m giving a talk today about my book without my usual AV so I’m going to sing!) and discovered a letter from Jan Berenstain, of The Berenstain Bears who had worked as a riveter. During my research for “Rosie the Riveter: Women Working on the Home Front in World War II,” Jan taught me about riveting, plus sent me a photo for my book. Jan died last year & I’m so happy to have unearthed her congratulatory letter upon the publication of my book in March 1995. Here’s an excerpt: “I’ve long hoped someone would write this book. There’s something about working in a factory 52 hours a week day and night on a swing shift for a year (or more) that not only gives a girl a sense of what the average working stiff’s life is like, but gives her a sense of what can be accomplished in any field by putting in long hours! (Like delivering herself of a book, say.)”

#JanBerentain #RosietheRiveter #womenwarworkers