From: Sarah Taylor <sbtaylor2@wisc.edu> Subject: Re: What is the paddle object Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2022 21:59:17 +0000 Message-id: <3165A57B-5973-45B8-956B-14C6A08A7782@wisc.edu>
Hello Jon,
A year range would be helpful. Does the photo have a date?
I agree with those who’ve already posted. I’d guess the objects are either boating paddles or culinary tools. It appears that the women in the front row are holding paddles of a much smaller size, so I am leaning culinary—perhaps they are bread-baking paddles, which were commonly used at the time, especially in commercial settings.
It’s the women’s clothes I am interested in as a clue. They look like Navy nurses from WWI: [cid:75272C69-89B0-46DF-A1DF-D1E4E139994D-L0-001]
Perhaps the women in your photo are employed as nurses or caretakers at a medical institution, and the paddles are their tools for making food for residents?
Quite the mystery!
Best,
Sarah Taylor (she/her/hers)
Collections Management Assistant
Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections
Wisconsin Historical Society
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706
sarah.taylor@wisconsinhistory.org
Wisconsin Historical Society
Collecting, Preserving, and Sharing Stories Since 1846<https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/?utm_source=Email%20Signatures&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=si>
On Jan 10, 2022, at 10:41 AM, Douglas County Historical Society <dchs@douglashistory.org> wrote:
What is the paddle object these young ladies are holding?
Jon Winter
Douglas County Historical Society
1101 John Avenue Superior WI 54880
Business Manager
715-392-8449
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