Helen C. Eads Boeing Machinist Collection

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: 2023-10-05

Contents of the Collection

The Helen C. Eads Boeing Machinist Collection is a single-file collection that pertains to Eads' work as a machinist on B-29 aircraft at The Boeing Company in 1944. It includes Eads' union card book and "honorary retiring card" for the International Order of Machinists, Lodge Number 751-H. It also includes three black-and-white photographs. One depicts a B-29 in flight over Mount Rainier. The other two images both depict Eads; one shows her working as a machinist. The other image is a group shot of a wedding shower thrown for Eads by her Boeing co-workers in Cable Shop 257 at the Boeing plant in Renton, Washington. The group is largely comprised of women, although there are a small number of men. Eads is in the front row, kneeling next to a quilt and wearing a corsage. No other individuals are identified.

Dates

Creation: 1944

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.

Conditions Governing Use

The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.

Biographical Note: Helen C. Eads

Helen C. Eads was born on January 28, 1910 in Waterville, Washington. After high school, she obtained a job as a machinist at The Boeing Company, which entailed cable machine operations and installation on the Boeing B-29. Eads was very motivated to contribute to the war effort on a deeply personal level as she sought independence to leave a marriage of domestic violence. Additionally, her brother was a prisoner-of-war for three-and-a-half years and was on the Bataan Death March in 1942. He survived the war and became postmaster of Snoqualmie, Washington where Eads was his assistant for two decades.

Eads was married and had two children. Helen C. Eads died October 6, 2002.

Biography derived from donor information and collection materials.

Extent

.01 Cubic Feet (1 letter size file folder)

Language

English

Additional Description

Separated Materials

A pendant in the shape of a bomb, which was likely made in the machine shop where Eads worked, was removed from the archival component and is kept in Objects storage.