Strength & Stamina: Women in the Seattle Fire Department

The Seattle Fire Department has grown through the years to accommodate Seattle's expansion, both in population and in size. The Department historically has been close-knit, proud of the loyalty of its members. From its early days as a volunteer unit, its roots were as a social and fraternal organization. Gaining members from the armed services, the fire fighting unit was called the "Combat Division," and by the mid-twentieth century had developed a strong male culture. The story of the women who changed the image of female firefighters from the unusual to the usual is one of courage, hard work, and perseverance.

Table of Contents Early Years: 1883-1915 Fully Manned: 1915-1960 A Man Among Men: 1960-1975 Minority Recruitment and Women Development of a Pre-Recruit Program The First Woman Firefighter in Seattle Early Discrimination The End of the Pre-Recruit Program Pregnancy and Disability Equal Terms?

After entering the exhibit, you may move through it by using the navigation buttons on the left or the "Next Section" links at the bottom of each section. Clicking on thumbnail images within the exhibit will bring up larger versions with full captions.

This exhibit was sponsored in part by the Washington Women's History Consortium, a part of the Washington State Historical Society.

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