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Library of Congress Research Guides

Women in Business and the Workforce

A guide to primary and secondary sources that reveal women's involvement in business, industry, commerce, and entrepreneurship throughout American history.

Introduction

Women have been involved in business and industry throughout history. In the United States, the nature of women's involvement in the workforce has changed over time affected by such events as industrialization, wars, and changes in societal norms. This research guide highlights primary and secondary sources that reveal women's involvement in business, industry, commerce, and entrepreneurship across United States history. Included are select samples of books, reports, statistical data sources, manuscripts collections, and online resources that cover various periods in history. To expand your research please see the Search the Library's Catalog page that will lead you to other resources on the provided subject headings.

Poster showing head-and-shoulders of woman operating a machine as part of World War II production effort.

[George R. "I've found the job where I fit best!" find your war job in industry, agriculture, business. 1943]. Prints and Photographs Division.

(1943) ["I've found the job where I fit best!" find your war job in industry, agriculture, business/ / George R]. United States, 1943. Washington, D.C.: Office of War Information. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/item/90707072/.

(1922) [Julia Obear, messenger girl at the National Women's i.e. Woman's Party headquarters]. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress,

[Julia Obear, messenger girl at the National Women's i.e. Woman's Party headquarters]. 1922. National Photo Company Collection. Prints and Photographs Division.

(1922) [Julia Obear, messenger girl at the National Women's i.e. Woman's Party headquarters]. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/item/92522519/.

[Three young women at work in an unidentified Washington, D.C. office. The girl at the left is operating an addressograph]. Washington D.C. [Photograph]

[Three young women at work in an unidentified Washington, D.C. office. The girl at the left is operating an addressograph]. ca.1922. National Photo Company Collection. Prints and Photographs Division.

(ca. 1922) [Three young women at work in an unidentified Washington, D.C. office. The girl at the left is operating an addressograph]. Washington D.C. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/item/94507461/.

Johnston, F. B., photographer. (1903). [Women coming from work, Cal.?. Store window reads T.B. Reardon, heating and plumbing]. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress

Johnston, F. B. [Women coming from work, Cal.?. Store window reads T.B. Reardon, heating and plumbing]. 1903. Johnston (Frances Benjamin) Collection. Prints and Photographs Division.

Johnston, F. B., photographer. (1903). [Women coming from work, Cal.?. Store window reads T.B. Reardon, heating and plumbing]. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/item/2002710328/.

Johnston, F. B., photographer. (ca. 1910) Wooden Box Industry: women in work room of box factory. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress,

Johnston, F. B. Wooden Box Industry: women in work room of box factory. ca.1910. Johnston (Frances Benjamin) Collection. Prints and Photographs Division.

Johnston, F. B., photographer. (ca. 1910) Wooden Box Industry: women in work room of box factory. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/item/2005696173/.

Section of Vital Statistics Census. [Between 1909 and 1940] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress

Section of Vital Statistics Census. [Between 1909 and 1940]. National Photo Company Collection. Prints and Photographs Division.

Section of Vital Statistics Census. [Between 1909 and 1940] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/item/npc2008008993/.

National Photo Co, W. (1919) [National Woman's Party activists watch Alice Paul sew a star onto the NWP Ratification Flag, representing another state's ratification of the 19th Amendment]. United States Washington D.C. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress

[National Woman's Party activists watch Alice Paul sew a star onto the NWP Ratification Flag, representing another state's ratification of the 19th Amendment]. 1919. Records of the National Woman's Party. Prints and Photographs Division.

National Photo Co, W. (1919) [National Woman's Party activists watch Alice Paul sew a star onto the NWP Ratification Flag, representing another state's ratification of the 19th Amendment]. United States Washington D.C. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/item/mnwp000263/.

About Business Reference Services

Part of the Science, Technology & Business Division at the Library of Congress, Business Reference Services is the starting point for conducting research at the Library of Congress in the subject areas of business and economics. Here, reference specialists in specific subject areas of business assist patrons in formulating search strategies and gaining access to the information and materials contained in the Library's rich collections of business and economics materials.

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