Inez Crittenden

Inez Crittenden, from a 1918 publication.

Inez Ann Murphy Crittenden (1887 – November 11, 1918) was a leader of the "Hello Girls", the U. S. Telephone Corps in France during World War I.

## Early life

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Inez Ann Murphy was born in California, the daughter of T. P. Murphy and Emily Murphy.[1] She was originally from San Francisco.[2]

## Career

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Inez Crittenden worked as a telephone operator in California at age fourteen. She later worked as a secretary to the president of the California Packing Corporation in San Francisco.[3] She was one of the first women to join the United States Signal Corps, where her fluent French skills were in demand during World War I.[4] In January 1918, she became Chief Operator, Second American Unit of Telephone Operators, in charge of hundreds of American women who worked as interpreters in war-related telephone communications.[5] She and her unit sailed for France in March 1918.[6] "We were among the first girls to go across, and arrangements were very sketchy in those days," recalled a member of her unit.[7] Crittenden was soon transferred to work for the public relations bureau at the American Embassy in Paris.[8]

## Personal life

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Inez Murphy married Nathaniel P. Crittenden of the Crittenden family of Oakland in 1911; they divorced in 1917.[9][10] She was living with her mother at the time of her appointment to the U. S. Telephone Corps.[8] Inez Crittenden died in Paris, on Armistice Day in 1918, from pneumonia, a complication of influenza. She was 31 years old. Her grave[11] is in the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial in Suresnes, France.[12] She was given a military funeral, which was unusual for a civilian telephone operator.[8]

Crittenden's ex-husband was wounded in France during the war; his family told newspapers that the two planned to be reunited after the war. Emily Murphy denied these reports.[13]

## References

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1. ^ "Ranks as Lieutenant in Army" Gaffney Ledger (March 2, 1918): 3. via Newspapers.com
2. ^ "Answers Calls from Pershing". The San Bernardino County Sun. May 25, 1919. p. 6.
3. ^ "Trade Personals" California Fruit News (February 23, 1918): 13.
4. ^ "American Telephone Girls in France" The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book (Chicago Daily News Company 1918): 689-690.
5. ^ Pauline Hess, "Interesting Westerners", Sunset Monthly (June 1918): 47-48.
6. ^ "Woman Ranks as Lieutenant in Army; Mrs. Crittenden on Way to France" San Francisco Chronicle (February 17, 1918): 7. via Newspapers.com
7. ^ Millicent Martin, "My Great Adventure" Green Book Magazine (October 1919): 32.
8. ^ a b c Elizabeth Cobbs, The Hello Girls: America’s First Women Soldiers (Harvard University Press 2017): 92-93, 135-136, 272. ISBN 9780674978546
9. ^ "Divorce Decree is Granted Wife" Oakland Tribune (June 24, 1917): 36. via Newspapers.com
10. ^ "N.B. Crittenden Sued for Divorce". Oakland Enquirer. June 23, 1917. p. 7.
11. ^ "Burial information for Inez Ann Crittenden". American Battle Monuments Commission. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
12. ^ Inez Ann Crittenden, American Battle Monuments Commission.
13. ^ "Mother Denies Reconciliation" San Francisco Chronicle (November 30, 1918): 6. via Newspapers.com