Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 162, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1916 — First Woman Recruiting Officer Opens Station [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

First Woman Recruiting Officer Opens Station

Uncle Sam’s first woman recruiting “officer" recently opened headquarters in New York. This “officer”—Miss Edna Payne, a pretty California girl —is not recognized officially as a representative of the United States government. She didn’t obtain the job from Uncle Sam; she just created the job and appointed herself to fill it. Miss Payne became imbued with the idea that she would like to assist in securing recruits for Uncle Sam’s army and navy, so with her sister, Miss Lillian, who accompanied her to New York from California several months ago, she established an enlistment station. Clad in sailor’s cap and middy, Miss Payne stationed herself in front of the station, distributed reading matter relative to the opportunities offered by service in the army and navy, and brought many recruits daily to- the regular army and navy officers In charge of the New York enlistment stations. -

Miss Payne In Front of Enlistment Station Established by Her in New York City.