Help in identification of uniform requested

MHILE ^ | 10/18/2012 | MHILE

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Are there any FReepers who could help in the identification of this uniform that my grandmother is wearing? She was born in 1905 in Maine and I'm told she's 14 in this picture.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

I know that many FReepers have better internet search skills than I do. My mother says it's a WPA uniform, but the WPA wasn't created until 1935.

[Born to Conserve]

Navel looking clothing was the style.

[brownsfan]

The arm patch is the style of a Navy Chief’s chevron. Single star would be a Senior Chief.

[forgotten man]

Was there something like the “sea scouts” during World War I? She was a little young to be a chief petty officer in the Navy. BTW, the quality of the old black and white portraits are great.

[af_vet_rr]

Might not be her uniform (especially if she’s 14 and given the insignia), she might have had somebody special in the Navy (this was during World War I given the dates you posted) and took a picture wearing his shirt for him.

[G Larry]

Compare w WWI Navy Nurse uniform.

[CIB-173RDABN]

I would agree. Naval style tops and skirts was a girl’s style in the 1920s and early 1930s.

[TADSLOS]

Navel looking clothing was the style.

Must have been a belly button down.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

My mother said she did sewing in the WPA, but I can’t find any pics anywhere that show that WPA workers had ‘uniforms’. If the style was popular back then, I suppose it could be a hand-me-down or charity because I believe they were very poor.

[MissMagnolia]

http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2012/03/22/the-uniform-of-the-day-is/

Check this link out.

[proudpapa]

Time traveller?

[Bryanw92]

I agree. She’s too young to be a CPO. According to the OP, this was 1918-1920, so its probably just a fashion that looks like a military uniform. She wouldn’t have been a Sea Scout, if they even existed then.

[kiryandil]

http://www.ww1propaganda.com/world-war-1-posters/ww1-navy-posters?page=17

Google for images of "WWI Navy Nurse uniform".

[Born to Conserve]

I searched around, and found that insignia with “Sea Cadet Chief Petty Officer”.
http://benmoreellseacadets.weebly.com/all-about-the-ranks.html

[My hearts in London - Everett]

I researched to see if it might be an early Girl Scout uniform, but I don’t think so. As you can see the collar is rounded as it goes over the shoulder unlike the Girl Scout uniform or a Sailor’s uniform. It’s hard to tell from the picture what color the cloth is. I don’t see any buttons down the front and the seam/trim across the front is different.

[null and void]

Navel looking clothing was the style.

Maybe so, But I sure don't see her navel.

(And I've done my share of navel gazing)...

[reg45]

This would have been at least 10 years before the WPA.

[null and void]

Anoreth the time traveler?

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Yes, I know, but I can’t tell my mother anything. I need proof. lol

[Bob]

The arm patch is the style of a Navy Chief’s chevron. Single star would be a Senior Chief.

Two things regarding that interpretation:

1. The stars on senior and master chiefs' insignias are located above the crow. (The area between the rocker and top chevron is used for the rating designator.)

2. The senior and master chief ranks didn't come into existence until 1958.