Work shirt with signatures Cleo Pearl Nixon Denton

With the troops overseas during WWII, many women entered the workforce in industrial jobs that were previously staffed by men only. For many women, their goal was to work hard to “bring the boys home.” However, the realization that they could do “men’s jobs” would change perspectives long after the war was over. This work shirt belonged to one of those women, Cleo Pearl Nixon Denton, who worked for Goodyear Aircraft. The work shirt is covered with signatures, drawings, and sayings from her coworkers. Not wanting to forget the people she met or the time she spent there, Cleo later embroidered the signatures and notes permanently on the shirt. Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, located in Richmond, CA, one of the home front boom towns, collects stories and mementos from the nationwide home front experience.