Born in 1904, Dorothy M. Washburn was a daughter of M/M George Washburn of Bloomington. George was a principal in the family’s flower and seed business. Dorothy graduated Bloomington High School in 1921. She taught some nine years at a junior college in LaSalle, Illinois, before trying to enlist in the WWII efforts. After being rejected by both WAVES and Marines due to poor eyesight, Dorothy enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) in February 1943.
This collection includes items copies of letters from Dorothy to her family during her military service, copies of a memory book related to her service, officer’s commission, copies of her diary entries from 1920-24, etc.