Guide to the Eleanor Jones Papers, 1921–2023

Overview of the Collection

Repository:
Special Collections & Archives
McIntyre Library
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
P.O. Box 4004
105 Garfield Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
(715)-836-2739
http://www.uwec.edu/Library/archives/info.htm

Reference Code: USGZE UHC378

Accession Number: 22-005, 23-008

Collection Number: University Historical Collection 378

Creators: Eleanor Jones, Grace Shipley, Rhoda “Randy” Andersen, Charlotte Plummer Owen

Title: Eleanor Jones Papers

Dates: 1921–2023

Quantity: 5 linear feet (4 archives boxes, 3 oversize boxes)

Location of Collection: Shelf location A7/2d, A7/2c (oversize boxes)

Languages: Collection materials are in English.

Summary: Materials collected by Eleanor Jones in her time as a musician in the Marine Corps Women Reserve Band in World War II, in the group known as the “Hormel Girls,” and her life afterwards. Collection consists of photographs, correspondence, documents, scrapbooks, and ephemera collected primarily between 1943–1952, but which also extend as late as 2017.

Biographical/Historical Note

Eleanor Edith Jones was born November 10, 1921 in Cornell, Wisconsin. Born to musical parents, Eleanor was surrounded by music in her early life before becoming an accomplished trombone, violin, and piano player. In 1943 Eleanor received a letter from the Navy, which she promptly threw in the garbage. Shortly after, however, she retrieved the letter and found the Marine Corps was looking to organize a Women’s Band. The Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band (MCWR) was formed under “The President’s Own” and was active from 1943–1945. Jones enlisted as a marine in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and underwent basic training. She was a trombonist with the band and toured throughout the country, raising money for the war effort and playing for wounded soldiers.

At the end of the war, the MCWR was disbanded. However, with the end of the war, Hormel Foods was in need of people to help promote their food, and so the company created The Hormel Girls. The group was made mostly of female veterans who had played in the military bands during the war. From 1946 to 1953, the women travelled throughout the country marketing Hormel products, such as SPAM, to the American public.

When The Hormel Girls was disbanded, Jones went back to school, this time for writing. In the years since receiving her degree, she has written for radio and television, taught writing at the college level, and worked as a media special for the University of Wisconsin – Extension. She lived in the city of Eau Claire from the 1950s until her death in April 2023.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: Transferred to the University Archives by Eleanor Jones in August 2021 and September 2022. Further materials expected to be donated in the future.

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public.

Use Restrictions: Researchers are expected to follow 17 U.S.C Title 17, the Copyright Law of the United States. Copyright law prevents the unauthorized reproduction of a work of authorship. Copyright owned by the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

Processing Note: Processed by Sarah Beer in October 2021 and September 2022.

Existence and Location of Duplicates: Collection has been fully digitized and is available on the A: Drive. The digital collection is roughly 17 GB and consists of approximately 3561 files. Files are in either PDF/A, MP4, WAV, or TIFF formats.

Arrangement: By series /flat arrangement.

OCLC #: 1366499965

Subjects

Personal Names:
Andersen, Marilyn
Andersen, Rhoda “Randy”
Hormel, Jay C.
Jones, Eleanor
Owen, Charlotte
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
Shipley, Grace

Corporate Names:
United States Marine Corps
United States Military
Hormel Foods

Subject Terms:
World War II
Military Bands
Marketing
Music
Trombone

Geographical Terms:
Cornell, Wis.

Detailed List of Contents

Series 1: Biographical Information

Dates: Undated

Extent: 1 folder

Series 2: United States Marine Corps. Women’s Reserve Band

Dates: 1943–1945

Extent: 1.5 linear feet (1 archives box)

Series 3: Hormel Girls

Dates: 1947–2007, bulk 1948–1952

Extent: 2.5 linear feet (1 archives box)

Series 4: Post-Hormel Years
Dates: Unknown
Extent: 1 linear foot (1 archives box)

Series 5: Writings
Dates: Unknown
Extent: 1 folder