Althea Skelton

The T-Shirt features a logo of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the shirt was from a program in 2004 held by the Association. The photo on the back of the T-shirt features 8 African American women who worked at Boeing during World War II. Among these women is Althea Skelton, a Pittsburgher who was employed as an electrical control panel installer. Skelton attended Schenley High School and graduated in 1943. She ended up working for Boeing after she moved to Seattle with her husband, a U.S. Navy ensign who was called to the West Coast. Skelton helped build B-17 and B-29 aircraft for the U.S. military in May 1944. She also participated in the production of 362 planes per month for Boeing. The IAM celebrated the contributions of Skelton and the other women to the war industry after discovering their history decades later. The 2004 celebration and program to honor Skelton and the others took place at the Boeing plant in Seattle, Washington.

Morrow, Christian. “Black ‘Rosie the Riveter’ Gets Her Due.” The Pittsburgh Courier. 17 February 2005.