#WWI was a #homefront experience for millions of women. Julia Hunt Catlin Park Depew Taufflieb, an American #socialite, directly contributed to impede combat casualties. During the #GreatWar, Julia converted Chateau d’Annel, her French mansion, into a 300-bed military hospital for the #Allies for four years with her own money.

According to the World War I Centennial Commission, “She appealed back the to the States for money to support the 1500 refugees camping out nearby in the cold, only some of whom she managed to house. Among them she mentioned a mother with a three-month-old baby, whose husband and daughter were captured by Germans. The anguish in her tone was evident as she described several freezing to death from lack of shelter; $4000 were sent to her immediately ($85,000 today).

The German advance forced her to flee France, but she returned and inspired other American French to open their own military hospitals. World War II forced her to leave again, this time for California.

After the war she was able to return to her home, where she passed away in 1947. Her only living daughter (Frances) ended up marrying the head surgeon at Julia’s hospital.”

Visit https://www.worldwar1centennial.org for more historical #narratives.

#VeteransDay #ArmistanceDay #100years #centennial #history #hospital #military #war #worldwar #peace #women #archive #JuliaHuntCatlinParkDepewTaufflieb #chateau #philathropy