Women Spies in History
Women have often served as spies during times of war. They were often successful and unsuspected, especially if society assumed that women's proper role was in the domestic, not public, sphere.
Female Spies for the Union
Pauline Cushman, Sarah Emma Edmonds, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Van Lew, Mary Edwards Walker, Mary Elizabeth Bowser and more: here are some of the many women who spied during the American Civil War, helping the cause of the Union and the North with their information.
Pauline Cushman, Sarah Emma Edmonds, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Van Lew, Mary Edwards Walker, Mary Elizabeth Bowser and more: here are some of the many women who spied during the American Civil War, helping the cause of the Union and the North with their information.
Female Spies of the Confederacy
Belle Boyd, Antonia Forc, Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Nancy Hart, Laura Ratcliffe, Loreta Janeta Velazquez and more: here are some women who spied during the American Civil War, passing information to the Confederacy. Some were captured and imprisoned, some escaped detection.
Belle Boyd, Antonia Forc, Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Nancy Hart, Laura Ratcliffe, Loreta Janeta Velazquez and more: here are some women who spied during the American Civil War, passing information to the Confederacy. Some were captured and imprisoned, some escaped detection.
Female Spies in World War I and World War II
Women spies in World War I and World War II: female undercover work in World War I and World War II is largely unacknowledged.
Women spies in World War I and World War II: female undercover work in World War I and World War II is largely unacknowledged.
Tokyo Rose Conviction: Iva Ikuko Toguri d'Aquino
Convicted of treason for propaganda broadcasts during World War II (only the 7th American ever convicted of treason), she was later pardoned amidst a public campaign to exonerate her. POWs working with her in Japan during the war tell the story of her subtle undermining of the Japanese efforts.
Convicted of treason for propaganda broadcasts during World War II (only the 7th American ever convicted of treason), she was later pardoned amidst a public campaign to exonerate her. POWs working with her in Japan during the war tell the story of her subtle undermining of the Japanese efforts.
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker, exotic dancer and entertainer, was also a spy. During World War II, she gathered intelligence for the French underground.
Josephine Baker, exotic dancer and entertainer, was also a spy. During World War II, she gathered intelligence for the French underground.
Mata Hari
Mata Hari, one of history's most infamous spies, was executed in 1917 by the French for spying for the Germans. Was she guilty as charged?
Mata Hari, one of history's most infamous spies, was executed in 1917 by the French for spying for the Germans. Was she guilty as charged?
Harriet Tubman
A four-part in-depth biography of Harriet Tubman, highlighting the four phases of her life: her life in slavery, her years as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, her service in the U.S. Civil War as a nurse, scout and spy, and her later years working for reform and telling her story.
A four-part in-depth biography of Harriet Tubman, highlighting the four phases of her life: her life in slavery, her years as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, her service in the U.S. Civil War as a nurse, scout and spy, and her later years working for reform and telling her story.
Mary Edwards Walker
Dr. Mary Walker was an unconventional woman. At the start of the Civil War, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker volunteered with the Union Army and adopted men's clothing. She was at first not allowed to work as a physician, but as a nurse and as a spy. She finally won a commission as an army surgeon. She was awarded the Medal of Honor for her service -- it was taken away in 1917 and finally restored in 1977.
Dr. Mary Walker was an unconventional woman. At the start of the Civil War, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker volunteered with the Union Army and adopted men's clothing. She was at first not allowed to work as a physician, but as a nurse and as a spy. She finally won a commission as an army surgeon. She was awarded the Medal of Honor for her service -- it was taken away in 1917 and finally restored in 1977.
A Nurse's Perspective on the Civil War
Sarah Emma Edmonds was a Civil War nurse, soldier (disguised as Frank Thompson), and spy. In this excerpt from her memoir, she recounts her experiences at the Battle of Bull Run (also known as First Manassas), July 21, 1861, the events leading up to the battle and her exploits after the battle, returning to Washington, DC.
Sarah Emma Edmonds was a Civil War nurse, soldier (disguised as Frank Thompson), and spy. In this excerpt from her memoir, she recounts her experiences at the Battle of Bull Run (also known as First Manassas), July 21, 1861, the events leading up to the battle and her exploits after the battle, returning to Washington, DC.
Clandestine Women: The Untold Stories of Women in Espionage
An online summary of the 2002 exhibit on American women spies, presented by the National Women's History Museum.
An online summary of the 2002 exhibit on American women spies, presented by the National Women's History Museum.
Rose O'Neal Greenhow: Online Archive
Confederate spy "Wild Rose," key to Beauregard's winning of the Battle of Bull Run. Collection includes many of her letters.
Confederate spy "Wild Rose," key to Beauregard's winning of the Battle of Bull Run. Collection includes many of her letters.
Mildred Harnack: Unknown Hero
Michelle Munro writes about this German-American woman who worked within Germany against the Nazis by helping the Russians. She was the only American woman to be executed for opposing Hitler.
Michelle Munro writes about this German-American woman who worked within Germany against the Nazis by helping the Russians. She was the only American woman to be executed for opposing Hitler.
Mata Hari
Mata Hari - her name has become synonymous with a kind of female spy who uses her sexuality to get access to information. This page highlights her World War I exploits.
Mata Hari - her name has become synonymous with a kind of female spy who uses her sexuality to get access to information. This page highlights her World War I exploits.
Miss Jenny
A spy in the American Revolution, not much is known about this French woman, whose deposition taken by German mercenery Baron Ottendorf for the British Army. She had been sent to General Washington's camp, where she'd been questioned and punished as a spy -- but then allowed to return to the British where she reported on Washington's plan to attack New York City.
A spy in the American Revolution, not much is known about this French woman, whose deposition taken by German mercenery Baron Ottendorf for the British Army. She had been sent to General Washington's camp, where she'd been questioned and punished as a spy -- but then allowed to return to the British where she reported on Washington's plan to attack New York City.
Melita Norwood: A Secret Life
The BBC News tells the story of an elderly woman, exposed in the 1990s as "the spy of the century" who betrayed British secrets to the Soviets beginning soon after Joseph Stalin took power. Why? Not for financial reward, which she refused.
The BBC News tells the story of an elderly woman, exposed in the 1990s as "the spy of the century" who betrayed British secrets to the Soviets beginning soon after Joseph Stalin took power. Why? Not for financial reward, which she refused.
Melita Norwood: The Little Old Lady from the KGB
Douglas Cruickshank of Salon.com on the reaction of reporters and intelligence agencies to the disclosure of the "granny spy" in 1999.
Douglas Cruickshank of Salon.com on the reaction of reporters and intelligence agencies to the disclosure of the "granny spy" in 1999.
Ethel Rosenberg
Cold war spy: Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg was convicted of the crime of conspiracy to commit espionage, and, when she (and her husband Julius) refused to give evidence against Communist Party spies, were executed in 1953.
Cold war spy: Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg was convicted of the crime of conspiracy to commit espionage, and, when she (and her husband Julius) refused to give evidence against Communist Party spies, were executed in 1953.
Kate Richards O'Hare and World War I Sedition
Socialist and labor organizer Kate Richards O'Hare was one of the Americans incarcerated after World War I for violating the Espionage Act. Learn more here with a summary and reproductions of original documents about Richards and her activities.
Socialist and labor organizer Kate Richards O'Hare was one of the Americans incarcerated after World War I for violating the Espionage Act. Learn more here with a summary and reproductions of original documents about Richards and her activities.
Rose Pastor Stokes
Born in Russia, she was convicted in America in 1917 under the Espionage Act for writing a letter to a newspaper saying "no government which is for the profiteers can also be for the people, and I am for the people while the government is for the profiteers."
Born in Russia, she was convicted in America in 1917 under the Espionage Act for writing a letter to a newspaper saying "no government which is for the profiteers can also be for the people, and I am for the people while the government is for the profiteers."
Violette Szabo
A rich and deep site on Violette Szabo, a British woman with half French heritage who volunteered during World War II. She parachuted into France twice, and, after she lost a gun battle with the Germans, she was sent to Ravensbrück where, in 1945, she was executed.
A rich and deep site on Violette Szabo, a British woman with half French heritage who volunteered during World War II. She parachuted into France twice, and, after she lost a gun battle with the Germans, she was sent to Ravensbrück where, in 1945, she was executed.
Women Spies
Transcript of a Voice of America broadcast detailing an exhibit at Arlington National Cemetery on women in espionage. Includes mention of the Office of Strategic Services - OSS - and the CIA. Also includes brief mention of the stories of Virginia Hall in World War II, an anonymous woman in the American Revolution, Josephine Baker and Julia Child.
Transcript of a Voice of America broadcast detailing an exhibit at Arlington National Cemetery on women in espionage. Includes mention of the Office of Strategic Services - OSS - and the CIA. Also includes brief mention of the stories of Virginia Hall in World War II, an anonymous woman in the American Revolution, Josephine Baker and Julia Child.