National League for Women's Service

"[1] The National League of Women's Services (NLWS) was established in early 1917 in conjunction with the Red Cross and in anticipation of the US entering the First World War.

The object of the NLWS was to coordinate and standardize the work of women of America along lines of constructive patriotism; to develop the resources, to promote the efficiency of women in meeting their every-day responsibility to home, to state, to nation and to humanity; to provide organized, trained groups in every community prepared to cooperate with the Red Cross and other agencies in dealing with any calamity-fire, flood, famine, economic disorder, etc., and in time of war, to supplement the work of the Red Cross, the Army and Navy, and to deal with the questions of "Woman's Work and Woman's Welfare."

"[1] The League was divided into thirteen national divisions: Social and Welfare, Home Economics, Agricultural, Industrial, Medical and Nursing, Motor Driving, General Service, Health, Civics, Signalling, Map-reading, Wireless and Telegraphy, and Camping.

When unrestricted submarine warfare was initiated by Germany in January, 1917, the NLWS accelerated their plans to register women and prepare them to take the place of men that would be needed for fighting.

On 7 March 1917, and while the US was "on the brink" of entering the war—war was declared just under a month later, on 2 April—the NLWS established a training program for female wireless operators at Hunter College in New York.

Canteen for Negro soldiers. In the canteen of the club for Negro soldiers and sailors which the National League for Women's Service has opened in New York City. The club was started at the request of Negro women who, now under the direction of the League, are managing the club and canteen.
Women of the NLWS knitting
Helen Campbell, a wireless operator was recruited by the National League for Women's Service, a World War I government program to use women to fill jobs vacated by men drafted into the military. 1917.