19 Facts About Winifred Collins

Winifred Quick Collins was Chief of Naval Personnel for Women in the United States Navy, and Director of the WAVES from 1957 to 1962.

Winifred Collins was born Winifred Mary Redden, in Great Falls, Montana, United States.

Winifred Collins was the third child of four of Daniel A Redden and Mary Winifred Redden.

When Collins was 10 years old, her family moved to Missoula, Montana, to run a hotel.

Winifred Collins graduated with a major in business, in 1935.

Also in that year, Winifred Collins got a job as the Personnel manager of Brunswig Drug Corporation.

Winifred Collins recommended a number of changes to the president of the company; she suggested that the employees should be paid according to their performance and job type, regardless of gender.

Dr Ada Comstock, the president of Radcliffe College when Winifred Collins was educated there, sat on a committee that was looking into the idea of recruiting women into the US Navy.

Winifred Collins contacted Collins in June 1942 with a suggestion that she might apply for a commission.

In late 1944, the now Lieutenant Winifred Collins was the first female non-medical officer to serve outside the Continental United States when she was sent to Hawaii as the District Personnel Officer.

Winifred Collins organised accommodation for 5,000 WAVES who were going to be posted there in January 1945.

In 1946, Winifred Collins returned to Washington DC and helped plan the eventual inclusion of females into the Navy; this led to the 1948 Women's Armed Forces Integration Act.

On October 15,1948, the first female Commissioned Officers of the United States Navy were sworn in; Winifred Collins was one of them.

Winifred Collins then became the Assistant Director of Naval Personnel for the 12th Naval District; the area of the US comprising Nevada, Utah, and Northern California.

Between 1953 and 1956, Winifred Collins was personnel director of the 12th Naval District, and commanded 350 Navy personnel.

Winifred Collins was the only female captain, making her the most senior woman in the Navy, until she retired from service on August 31,1962.

Winifred Collins died at the Hospice of Northern Virginia on May 5,1999, after suffering from spinal cancer.

Winifred Collins was buried on May 25,1999, in section 3 of the Arlington National Cemetery.

Winifred Collins was married after she graduated from college to Roy T Quick.