Original U.S. WWII Coast Guard Named Women’s Reserve SPARS Extensive Uniform Grouping with Scarce Untouched SPARS Purse - Lottie Mae Caldwell
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Original Grouping. One-of-a-Kind. This is a phenomenal & extensive Coast Guard Female S.P.A.R.S. uniform grouping identified to Lottie Mae Caldwell-Reynolds, one of the first 30 “Spars” to be training as a radio technician. The grouping includes several extremely scarce SPARS uniform pieces including a very rare bathrobe, bathing suit, and a rare SPARS purse which appears “untouched”, with many of the small bits and pieces still inside. This is a really tremendous collection with tons of research and display potential. Some of the uniform pieces have great period tags which may be early museum tags, with some information on the uniforms and Caldwell.
This spectacular grouping includes:
- Caldwell’s dark blue SPARS uniform jacket with US Coast Guard buttons, a Radioman Third Class rate on the left sleeve, a small SPARS Shield patch on the right cuff, and US Coast Guard collar insignia. There is a nametag stitched under the collar reading LOTTIE MAE CALDWELL.
- Caldwell’s striped “Seersucker” uniform shirt with US Coast Guard buttons, a Radioman Third Class rate on the left sleeve, a small SPARS Shield patch on the right cuff, and US Coast Guard collar insignia. There is a nametag stitched under the collar reading LOTTIE MAE CALDWELL.
- Caldwell’s striped “Seersucker” uniform dress with a Radioman Third Class rate on the left sleeve and a small SPARS Shield patch on the right cuff. There is a US Coast Guard nametag under the collar with Lottie M. Caldwell written on.
- Original scarce Coast Guard SPARS purse with US Coast Guard Clothing Division tag on interior. There are still some small bits inside such as a blue handkerchief, a bandaid, a pencil, some bobby pins, and half a stick of gum. The original carrying strap is retained, however the snap has broken off, but thankfully this doesn’t affect its displayability.
- SPARS Coast Guard hat with nametag inside reading CALDWELL, L.M..
- An extremely rare SPARS bath robe with a SPARS tag under the collar. There is a small tag clothespinned onto the robe which names the set to Caldwell.
- A great & scarce SPARS Swimsuit with a Coast Guard patch stitched to the front. There is a small nametag reading LOTTIE M CALDWELL inside.
- Three Identical dark blue SPARS uniform shirts, all with the same LOTTIE MAE CALDWELL tag stitched under the collars. One has a Radioman Third Class rate on the left sleeve and a small SPARS Shield patch on the right cuff, another has just the Radioman Third Class rate on the left sleeve, and the third has no insignia.
- Two identical white SPARS Uniform shirts, one with the LOTTIE MAE CALDWELL tag stitched under the collar, and another with the initials LMC written under the collar. Both shirts have a Radioman Third Class rate on the left sleeve and a small SPARS Shield patch on the right sleeve. One of the shirts has a tie.
- One set of SPARS trousers with a US Coast Guard nametag under the collar with Lottie M. Caldwell written on.
- Two identical SPARS Uniform skirts with the same LOTTIE MAE CALDWELL tag stitched on the interiors.
- Pair of white gloves belonging to Caldwell.
- Two copies of Caldwell’s official honorable discharge for the Coast Guard.
Lottie Mae Caldwell was born on February 7th, 1923 in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. She enlisted in the Coast Guard as an Apprentice Seaman on December 31st, 1943 for the duration of the war. During her enlistment she held the rates of Apprentice Seaman, Seaman 2nd Class, Seaman 1st Class, and Radio Technician 3rd Class. She was trained at Palm Beach, Florida, and stationed at the Coast Guard Barracks in D.C., the 4th Naval District in Philadelphia, and the Coast Guard repair base in Charleston, South Carolina. She was discharged on November 7th, 1945. According to a newspaper article, Caldwell would have worked with male radio technicians in repair shops for four hours each day, with an additional four hours devoted to class work each day. While in the service, Caldwell married Maurice H. Reynolds, Radio Technician, of the US Coast Guard, changing her legal name to Lottie Mae Reynolds. We can’t find much more on her service, making this a great research project!
This is a tremendous and expansive SPARS grouping with more than enough material for several display mannequins to honor one of the first 30 Spars trained as a radio technician. A fantastic group, ready for further research and display.
Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 23”
Shoulder to shoulder: 13"
Chest width: 17”
Waist: 15"
Hip width: 17"
Front length: 26.5"
Pants:-
Waist: 12"
Inseam: 27"
Collar to shoulder: 8"
Shoulder to sleeve: 10”
Shoulder to shoulder: 13"
Chest width: 17”
Waist: 15"
Hip width: 15"
Front length: 24"
Collar to shoulder: 7.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 21”
Shoulder to shoulder: 13"
Chest width: 17”
Waist: 14"
Hip width: 17"
Front length: 25"
Collar to shoulder: 8"
Shoulder to sleeve: 22”
Shoulder to shoulder: 13.5"
Chest width: 17”
Waist: 13"
Hip width: 17"
Front length: 24"
Pants:
Waist: 13"
Inseam: 25"
- This product is available for international shipping.
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