Evening star., 1942-08-28
WAVES Transforming
Northampton, Mass,
Into Gay Annapolis
Former D. G.. Worker.
Irene Rieh's Daughter
Among First Arrivals
BY RUTH COWAN,

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. Aug. g.
WAVES rolled into Northampton
today. bringing with them impress
sive records of achievements, we'll
powdered noses, and strong desire
to do their bit for America as this
country's first sailorettes of the
present war.
The first arrivals included reg
istered medical technologist. a pri-
vste secretary, college English
teacher an advertising expert and
the attractive daughter of Irene
Rich movie star, who has been do
ting engineering illustrating in
West Coast airplane factory
This first group. expected to num-
Der about so over the week end and
129 by September 28, has been dub
bed the "highbrows But no pho
tographers were heard complaining
that there were no pretty girls to
photograph among the first comers
because they are an especially Sc
ected unit of highly qualified wom-
en- to get the WAVES program
started. They hold probationary
commissions.
Class Opens October 6.
The formal opening class at this
feminine Annapolis has been set for
October 6 at which time 900 WAVES
student officer candidates will re-
port. About 10000 enlisted WAVES
will be trained at three Midwestern
universities.
Officially the first WAVE in was
1t. tj.g) Elinor Denton Rich, 80,
OF Quincy, Mass, medical tech
fologist, who arrived quietly last
night. She is a native OF Gloucester,
Mass, and a graduate of Emmanuel
College in Boston.
Also in during the night were 1t.
dg) Francis Jay, of New York.
private secretary to the director of
the New York Museum of Natural
History, and 1t. j.g) Bette Evans,
of Des Moines, Iowa, who comes here
from Washington, where she was
head of the women's press section
IA the Treasury Departments bond
drive.
Its. Rich and Jay. along with 1t.
d.so Louise K. Wilde of Concord,
N, H., who came from Rockford
College in Illinois where she was
freshman dean to be WAVES public
relations officer, three male Naval
officers, two Navy nurses in starched
white uniforms, four enlisted men
and three station wagons, were on
hand at the station to meet their
arriving sister WAVES.
Mink Coat on Arm.
The first off the train was a hazel
eyed girl with a short wavy bob and
happy smile. She carried a large
bag and had over her arms two
coats, one heavy cloth one and the
other mink
Mother was afraid 1 might get
cold" she laughed.
She was Frances Rich, daughter
OF Irene Rich, and she few to New
York from Los Angeles. I've been
here lots. though 1t. Rich con-
tinued. Tn fact. I'm a graduate Of
Smith-class 81
She studied both in this country
and in Europe to be sculptor. One
bit Of her handiwork Is the Army
and Navy nurse memorial In the
Arlington National Cemetery. She
has been doing engineering illustrate
Ing at the Lockheed airplane plant
at Burbank, Calf.
Most of the girls wore shoes with
moderately high heels, but when in
formed that the commanding officer
OF the school, Capt. Herbert w. Un-
derwood, had said they'd do a bit
OF drill before the sun went down,
they conf1ded they had walking
shoes In their bags.
Total May Be 10000.
From October on as many
officers will be trained as needed.
Capt. Underwood said. How many
that will be depends on how long
the wal lasts, he told press con-
ference yesterday. Though it was
originally planned to train 1000
officers and 10000 enlisted person.
mel. there is nothing In the law
creating the women's naval reserve,
limiting the number of volunteers
to be enrolled-and the reserve
could run up to 10000 officers and
sailorettes.