Women in Service bands

[Brown Mule]

When were women 1st allowed in service bands? Thought someone might know history on this subject. Seems like I once saw Photo of an All Lady service band--------from 40's I think.

[tubalamb]

From the Coast Guard's history, the first woman promoted to Master Chief Musician was Constance I. Coghlan (percussion) and she was also the first female member of the Coast Guard Band. I don't know the exact dates, but she enlisted c.1974-75 and retired from service in c. 2004-2005, not long after I joined the group.

For women in service bands, here's an interesting link to an excerpt from The American Wind Band: A Cultural History: http://books.google.com/books?id=9ETZ4S ... nd&f=false

[TUBAD83]

My first bandmaster, CW5 Jeanne Pace, enlisted in the army in 1972 and was a member of the 14th Army WAC Band--the only service band that women could join--until 1977.

Check out the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tym_jEW6n1s" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Dave Y]

When were women 1st allowed in service bands? Thought someone might know history on this subject. Seems like I once saw Photo of an All Lady service band--------from 40's I think.

http://militarymusic.com/blog/2010/06/w ... ary-bands/" target="_blank

Side note: I attended a lecture by Dr. Jill Sullivan on this topic. She really knows her stuff, and is more than happy to share her knowledge with anyone interested.

[Dean E]

Not many dates are given, but this site has some nice member photos and reunion recordings of the 14th Womens Army Corps Band.
http://militarymusic.com/blog/2010/06/w ... ary-bands/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

"All branches of the service had women’s bands. The first activated was in 1942 at the WAAC Training Center in Fort Des Moines, Iowa. The following year all other military branches started bands, while the WAAC–later named WAC–added four more to training centers around the country. The WAVES were the only branch of the service that did not have full-time duty status for its women’s military band. At the close of W.W. II, all bands were deactivated except the 400th WAC ASF Band which was renamed the 14th WAC Band in 1947, and lasted through 1976. The following year men were accepted into the band, the name was changed to the 14th Army Band, and a man was assigned as conductor. In addition, the WAC had the only female black band in the history of the United States military, the 404th, located at Fort Des Moines."