Hello Girls Videos – U.S. Army Signal Corps Telephone Operators in WWI

🎥 Introduction

The videos below bring the story of the Hello Girls—the U.S. Army Signal Corps female telephone operators of World War I—to life. From documentary features to scholarly presentations, they provide valuable insights into the daily work, challenges, and long-overdue recognition of these pioneering women.

Highlights include:

• Historical documentaries explaining the Hello Girls’ role in military communications.
• Expert lectures by leading historians such as Dr. Elizabeth Cobbs.
• Educational programs from the U.S. Army and the National WWI Museum.
• Archival footage recently released by the National Archives, showing the Hello Girls at work alongside General Pershing and Grace Banker.

Together, these films provide teachers, students, genealogists, and military historians with multiple perspectives on why the Hello Girls matter.

"Our Girls Over There": The Hello Girls of World War I

National Museum of the United States Army

On March 2, 1918, a U.S. Army Signal Corps unit boarded the Celtic, a transport ship, destined for England and eventually the battlefields of France. The unit, comprised of female telephone operators, made history as the first women to actively support combat operations on a regular basis. Telephone communications were vital to the success of U.S. Army operations during World War I.

The first American troops shipped overseas were members of the U.S. Army Signal Corps sent to establish telephone lines at the front. These lines required hundreds of operators to connect calls between the front and higher headquarters. The Army turned to French-speaking, female, telephone operators to connect calls.

Over 200 women served the American Expeditionary Forces in the First, Second, and Third Army Headquarters. The women, nicknamed the “Hello Girls,” worked tirelessly, under at times combat conditions, to connect calls on behalf of the Army. In doing so, they paved the way for expanded roles for women both in the U.S. Army and at home. Explore the commitment, sacrifice, and challenges of the Hello Girls during World War I.

Learn more about how these female telephone operators were recruited for specific skills and how their contributions were critical to effective U.S. Army wartime communications. Also examine how they fought to achieve appropriate recognition and military benefits after the war.

This program is supported by the U.S. Army Women’s Museum at Fort Gregg-Adams. Caitlin Healy is an education specialist at the National Museum of the United States Army. She received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Fairfield University and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Marist College.

Prior to joining the National Army Museum, Healy worked as the director of education at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, Connecticut. The National Museum of the United States Army invites you to learn more about the Army’s history through Virtual Field Trips.

Virtual Field Trips invite middle and high school students to connect with the Museum without leaving their desks. During these field trips, students are introduced to U.S. Army history through artifacts, primary sources, and personal Soldiers’ Stories.

Hello Girls of the US Army Signal Corps

The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered

When the first members of the American Expeditionary Force arrived in France in 1917 they found that the telephone lines already in operation were overloaded. To solve the problem, John J Pershing called for experienced, bilingual switchboard operators, which meant women. Hundreds would don the uniform and answer the call as “Hello Girls,” serving in the Signal Corps. This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

Women at War: The Hello Girls - Dr. Elizabeth Cobbs

National WWI Museum and Memorial

Hundreds of women, fluent in multiple languages, served within the U.S. Army Signal Corps, playing a pivotal role in wartime communication. They became known as the “Hello Girls.” This year, Women’s History Month coincides with the 100th anniversary of the overseas deployment of the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit. Join Elizabeth Cobbs, author of The Hello Girls: America’s First Women Soldiers, in a discussion on the invaluable role these pioneering woman served and their legacy today. Presented in partnership with the National Archives at Kansas City. For more information about the National WWI Museum and Memorial visit http://theworldwar.org

🌟 Featured Archival Documentary: The Hello Girls

Produced by Dr. Elizabeth Cobbs, this powerful documentary blends archival footage with personal stories from descendants of the U.S. Army Signal Corps telephone operators. Viewers will see rare film of Chief Operator Grace Banker and General John J. Pershing, alongside interviews with families who preserve uniforms, photos, and treasured memories.

This film captures both the urgency of wartime service and the dignity of remembrance, making it one of the most important modern presentations of the Hello Girls’ legacy.

🎓 Educational Use

Teachers and students can use these videos in the classroom alongside GG Archives primary sources such as the full roster of Hello Girls and affidavits from operators. Together, they provide both visual context and archival evidence for essays, projects, and research.

🔎 Finding More Hello Girls Videos

For students and researchers wishing to explore further, here are suggested sources and search terms:

• National Archives Catalog — search for Hello Girls, Signal Corps telephone operators, or Grace Banker.
• YouTube — try search terms like Hello Girls WWI, Signal Corps operators, or U.S. Army telephone operators.
• National WWI Museum and Memorial — video archives and lectures on women’s roles in WWI.
• Army Historical Foundation — programs and articles related to the Signal Corps.

As Dr. Elizabeth Cobbs noted in her presentation, the National Archives has recently released original motion picture footage of the Hello Girls in service, including images of Chief Operator Grace Banker and General John J. Pershing. These rare clips represent a unique opportunity to see the Hello Girls in action during the Great War.