Women of Weyerhaeuser

women of weyerhaueser

The Stenographic Department in the Weyerhaeuser Building was made up of women. (Photo courtesy of the Forest History Society, Durham, NC)

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The Stenographic Department in the Weyerhaeuser Building was made up of women. (Photo courtesy of the Forest History Society, Durham, NC)

There may be a book on the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company titled “Timber and Men,” but that’s not to say women weren’t integral to the company.

When Weyerhaeuser’s headquarters to the Everett mills opened in 1923 – which included Mill A, Mill B and Mill C – 11 men and seven women worked in the new office.

In addition to an unnamed “information girl,” or receptionist, in the lobby, there was Miss McCarrell, Miss Loken and Miss Smith, stenographers, in the sales department; Mrs. Hyde, bookkeeper, in the accounting department; and Miss Crain, Mrs. Hyde and Miss Denhoff in the stenographic department. Perhaps Mrs. Hyde was a part-time bookkeeper and stenographer. A stenographer was trained to type on a typewriter or write notes in shorthand.

The women’s restroom was on the second floor, but it was made to be cozy and inviting. It was furnished with a sofa, chairs and a gateleg table. Also provided was a tea set for breaks and an electric stove for lunchtime. A rug, window hangings and several artistic pictures rounded out the room.

This is a photo of Weyerhaeuser’s Mill C “Rosies” circa 1942 – nicknamed after the “Rosie the Riveter” campaign aimed at recruiting female workers for defense industries during World War II. As men were enlisted for the war effort, women were needed to fill their positions at factories, including at the Weyerhaeuser mills in Everett. (Photo courtesy Historic Everett, Neil Anderson Collection)

During World War II, women stepped up to fill jobs left by men fighting in the war. They worked as paymasters, yard saleswomen, tallywomen and more.

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