Rosalind P. Walter, First ‘Rosie the Riveter’ Dies at 95

Author Brian Ives // Managing Editor, Beasley Media

March 5th, 2020 7:21 PM

Rosalind P. Walter, who was the model for the original “Rosie The Riveter” posters during World War II, died Wednesday at age 95, according to NBC News.

Walter grew up in a wealthy home in Long Island, New York, but when the United States entered World War II, she joined the home-front crusade to arm the troops with munitions, warships and aircraft.

According to her New York Times‘ obituary, Walter worked the night shift driving rivets into the metal bodies of Corsair fighter planes at a plant in Connecticut, which was a job that had traditionally been done by men. A newspaper column about her inspired a 1942 song that catapulted her to fame as “Rosie the Riveter,” an iconic figure in overalls and bandanna-wrapped hair who kept the military factories working.  She was a symbol of hard-working women, and many women pay tribute to her today.

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Author Brian Ives // Managing Editor, Beasley Media

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