Hello Girls – Introduction & Context
This section introduces the U.S. Army Signal Corps Telephone Operators of WWI, explaining their recruitment, training, and unique status.
Birth of the AEF Signal Corps "Hello Girls" (1918)
From Pershing's 1917 cable to first sailings in early 1918—how the Army built a bilingual, high-throughput switchboard force, what they wore, where they worked, and how they were supported.
Introduction & Context · Last updated: 2025
General Squier in Charge of Aviation and Signal Corps (1918)
How a scientist-officer came to oversee both aviation and the Signal Corps—and why that organizational choice mattered for AEF telephony and the rise of the "Hello Girls."
Bell Telephone News (Detroit ed.), January 1918 · Portrait by Harris & Ewing
Who were the "Hello Girls"? This overview explains how bilingual operators in the U.S. Army Signal Corps sped command decisions, served under fire, and—after decades of advocacy—were finally recognized as veterans. A concise entry point for students and educators.
How the Signal Corps Organized 100 Girls – 1918
From Pershing's cable to overseas deployment: how the Signal Corps recruited, tested, trained, uniformed, and shipped a bilingual operator unit for AEF exchanges—featuring the original Official Bulletin article. Ideal for classroom use on mobilization, gender, and communications in WWI.
Information Relative to Telephone Operators for Duty in France – 1918
Official notice detailing who could join the Signal Corps telephone unit, required bilingual skills, pay and allowances, travel, and the proposed uniform—closing with step‑by‑step reporting and training instructions.
Introduction Pages
- General Squier in Charge of Aviation and Signal Corps (1918)
- Hello Girls of the Great War
- How the Signal Corps Organized 100 Girls (1918)
- Information Relative to Telephone Operators for Duty in France (1918)
- Telephone Operators Join Our Army (1918)
- Women Telephone Operators in France (1920)
- Young Women of America – Attention (1918)
- Young Women Train for Telephone Service in France (1918)
- Telephone Operators Creation (1917)
Repository Information
The Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives (GG Archives) is cataloged with the Library of Congress under MARC Org Code: WiMfGGA and ISIL: US-wimfgga.
Current location:
N91W16562 Pershing Ave, #1
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin 53051-2170, USA
Note: Historic addresses listed in earlier MARC records include Marietta, GA and Woodstock, GA. These appear in authority files but are no longer active.
