Spencer Twins, Irene and Madelene

Photographer

Creation Date

circa 1944-1945

Preview

Description

Black and white photograph featuring the Spencer Twins, Irene and Madelene, of Bangor and Brewer, Maine. Irene Alice Spencer and Madelene Avis Spencer were born in Bangor, Maine, November 23, 1909, the daughters of James R. and Ula (Adams) Spencer. According to a 1996 interview, they traveled to Boston to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps because the local recruiter refused to take them seriously. This promotional recruiting photograph of the twins in uniform, saluting, was part of the War Bond drive show, "Direct Hit," that featured representatives from four branches of the military including boxing champion Jack Dempsey, who was a Coast Guard officer, cowboy star Gene Autry, and comedian Frank Fontaine. The show toured all the New England states. Madelene Spencer died July 27, 2001. Irene died December 15, 2003. Source: Rita Breton.

Topic

Women in the Military

Collection

MF500

Series Number

General Collection

Identifier

p05384

Recommended Citation

"Spencer Twins, Irene and Madelene" (2023). Northeast Archives of Folklore and Oral History Image Gallery. 294.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/nafoh_gallery/294

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For more information, contact Special Collections.

Existence and Location of Originals

Located at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress: AFC 2012/047 https://lccn.loc.gov/2013655211.