Rosie The Rivior
Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park is a United States national historical park located in Richmond, California, near San Francisco. The park preserves and interprets the legacy of the United States home front during World War II, including the Kaiser Richmond Shipyards, the Victory ship SS Red Oak Victory, a tank factory, housing developments and other facilities built to support America’s entry into World War II. In particular, the role of women and African-Americans in war industries is explored and honored.
Naomi Fern Parker Fraley (August 26, 1921 – January 20, 2018) was an American war worker who is considered the most likely model for the iconic “We Can Do It!” poster.[2] During World War II, she worked on aircraft assembly at the Naval Air Station Alameda. Though Geraldine Hoff Doyle was initially credited as the subject of the iconic poster, a popular photograph of Fraley operating a machine tool at the Naval Air Station is now believed to be the inspiration.[3]
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Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front
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Temporary Schedule Change – Open Wednesday Through Sunday
Date Posted: 3/21/2024Alert 1, Severity closure, Temporary Schedule Change – Open Wednesday Through Sunday
As of March 25th, we are temporarily moving to a Wednesday through Sunday schedule while we bring on new staff during this Spring season. We plan to be back to a full 7-day per week schedule by May 5th. We apologize for any inconvenience.
We are Open but Experiencing Phone and Internet Outage
Alert 2, Severity closure, We are Open but Experiencing Phone and Internet Outage
We are experiencing internet and phone outages beyond our control. If you are trying to reach us, please call 925-812-6164.
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Older African American woman in ranger uniform sits on concrete porch.
Betty Reid Soskin
Biography, Video program and Passport Stamp
History and Culture
History and Culture
Looking to learn more about the WWII Home Front? Start by clicking here.
Places To Go
Sites To See!
The Richmond Home Front provides a number of historic places to drive by, view or visit. Click the image for points of interest.
Experiences On the Home Front
Explore the stories of the people who were part of the WWII home front. Learn more about their daily lives and the impacts that were made on the city of Richmond, California and the country at large. Most Bio’s have an expanded page of information. You can access these pages by clicking on any main Bio name that has a live link.
Note: We have LOTS more Rosies and Home Front worker bios to come. Please check back often.
An older African American woman in a ranger uniform sits on a concrete slab.
Ranger Betty Reid Soskin
NPS Photo/Luther Bailey
Betty Reid Soskin
Betty Soskin (Betty Charbonnet) grew up in a Cajun-Creole, African American family that settled in Oakland, California after the “Great Flood” that devastated New Orleans in 1927. Her parents joined her maternal grandfather, George Allen, who had resettled in Oakland at the end of World War I. The Allen family followed the pattern set by the black railroad workers who discovered the West Coast while serving as sleeping car porters, waiters, and chefs for the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads: they settled at the western end of their run where life might be less impacted by southern hostility.
Senior caucasian female smiles at the camera while holding a board with a photo of her younger self.
Marian Sousa worked as a Draftsman from 1943-1944 at Richmond Shipyard #3.
NPS Photo/Alison Taggart-Barone
Marian McKey Sousa
Richmond Kaiser Shipyard #3 Draftsmand 1943-1944
Marian McKey Sousa was born January 6th, 1926 in Eugene Oregon – the daughter of Sgt. L.H. and Mildred McKey. In 1940, her father, a career serviceman who was a WW I Vet, was transferred to the Astoria, Oregon area at Fort Stevens so the family moved to the coastal town of Seaside. Marian was 15 that December 8th when she sat in her High School’s auditorium to hear the speech by President Roosevelt, declaring that the U.S. was now at war with Japan because of the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Senior caucasian female smiles at the camera while holding a poster with photos of her on it.
Marian Wynn worked as a Pipe Welder from 1944-1945 at Richmond Kaiser Shipyard #3.
NPS Photo/Alison Taggart-Barone
Marian Wynn
Richmond Kaiser Shipyard #3 Pipe Welder 1944-1945
Marian Parsons Wynn was born on August 19, 1926, the third of 11 children. Her father answered the call for war work in 1942 and came out to Richmond, CA to become an Electrician Leadman in Kaiser Shipyard #3. Marian was anxious to follow but promised her father she would finish high school first before taking a 3 day Greyhound bus trip out to California.
Senior caucasian female smiles at the camera.
Mary Torres was a Journeyman Welder from 1942-1945 at Moore’s Shipyard, Oakland.
NPS Photo/Alison Taggart-Barone
Mary Torres
Moore’s Shipyard, Oakland – Journeyman Welder, 1942-1945
Mary Schevchik Torres was born in Donora, PA., on May 26, 1923. It was a nice quiet town with few jobs. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt declared war and lives were changed forever. Mary’s brothers John had joined the Army while Eddie joined the Navy. Mary wanted to help do something to win the war and she saw an ad in the local paper that war workers were needed out in California. With only a few months until graduation, Mary decided she would go to California.
Senior caucasian female with glasses smiles for the camera.
Agnes Moore was a Journeyman Welder from 1942-1945 at Richmond Kaiser Shipyard #3.
NPS Photo/Alison Taggart-Barone
Agnes Moore
In Loving Memory of…
Richmond Kaiser Shipyard #3 – Journeyman Welder, 1942-1945
Agnes Moore was born February, 1920, the 6th of 7 children in Searcy County, Arkansas. In 1924 her father, the local sheriff, was killed in the line of duty, leaving her mother a widow and to raise Agnes and her siblings on her own, now ages 2 to14.
As expected of girls during that time Agnes had married at 16 and had a 1 year old daughter when she and her soon-to-be ex came out to California in 1939, following her siblings to Salinas. She was able to find work in the vegetable packing industry. The young couple eventually divorced and Agnes now had to support herself and her child.
Senior caucasian female smiles at the camera while holding a board with a photo of her younger self.
Kay Morrison was a Journeyman Welder from 1943-1945 at Richmond Kaiser Shipyard #2.
NPS Photo/Alison Taggart-Barone
Kay Morrison
In Loving Memory of…
Richmond Kaiser Shipyard #2 – Journeyman Welder, 1943-1945
Catherine Stavros Morrison (Kay) was born in Chico, CA., on November 22, 1923. Kay and her husband Ray married when she was a junior in high school. Catherine’s older brother was in the Army, serving in the African campaign chasing Rommel and her husband was eager to join the service too but the military classified him as “4F”- unable to serve due to health reasons. After her graduation in 1941 they moved to the Bay Area to search for work in the war effort, finding an apartment on Haight and Fillmore in San Francisco and Ray was able to find work right away in Kaiser Shipyard #2 as a Shipwright (carpenter).
Senior caucasian female smiles at the camera while holding a board with a photo of her younger self.
Priscilla Elder was an Electrician from 1943-1945 for Richmond Kaiser Shipyard #3.
NPS Photo/Alison Taggart-Barone
