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"Girls Wanted" advertisement

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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Most of the industries in western Massachusetts relied on word-of-mouth and walk-ins for their staff. As a result few had to use advertisements in the local newspapers to gain employees. This rare ad came from an industry that needed workers with specific skills. In this case it was the pocketbook industry which was widespread in western Massachusetts. Young women, it was presumed, would have the skills in needlework and experience working with materials. These skills would have helped overcome their inexperience with this particular industry. Pocketbook manufactories were found in many towns of western Massachusetts, including Springfield and Deerfield. Although there was a post-World War I recession in April, 1920, these skilled workers were still in demand.

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