This uniform group belonged to a Jean B. Daugherty from Cambria County, Pennsylvania who served in the SPARS during World War Two and afterward hosted a TV show called “The Magic Toy Shop” on which she was “The Play Lady.”

During World War Two women Coast Guard personnel were known as SPARS. According to her obituary, Miss Daugherty was assigned as a SPAR to the USO and worked in the United States.

Daugherty’s uniform consists of a blue wool jacket with a four button front and two false horizontal breast pockets. Each side of the collar has a rounded front edge with a perforated hole for attaching insignia which is not present. As per regulations the right sleeve only bears rank insignia of Petty Officer 1^st Class and on the cuff the white shield of the Coast Guard. The jacket has four dark blue hard plastic buttons with the Coast Guard eagle and anchor. The condition of the exterior is very good. The buttonholes are a bit worn but overall everything is clean and in nice shape.

The interior has a dark blue nylon or polished cotton lining in the collar and chest. Each breast has a horizontal pocket. In the right breast pocket is a tag with Daugherty’s name and across from it is a sewn-in cloth label also bearing her name. The exterior of the pocket has a nice label with a spread-winged eagle and “U.S. COAST GUARD CLOTHING DIVISION.” The lining shows one horizontal snag between the second and third buttonhole approx. 3.25 inches long, but this is very minor.

Also with the jacket is the matching dark blue skirt with one button and zipper at the hip. In the waistband is a worn tag with Daugherty’s name. The exterior surface of the skirt shows some light scattered surface dirt but a stiff brush will remove it.

The hat that comes with the uniform has a dark blue cloth bill that folds into a band around the base of a white crown that is held in place by eight interior snaps. Attached to the visor and running around the base of the crown is a black band with “U.S.COAST GUARD” in gold lettering. This band remains with the visor when the crown is changed.

The inside of the hat has a cloth label with an anchor that reads “MADE AND SOLD UNDER AUTHORITY OF U.S. NAVY W.A.V.E.S.” The WAVES were female personnel attached to the Navy but their headgear was similar to the SPARS. There is also a cloth name tag present inside but it is blank.

What makes this set even more desirable is that with the hat are two extra crowns making three in total. A white one, with some light surface dirt on the hat now, one dark blue in excellent condition and one seersucker also in excellent condition. All snaps are present on each crown.

Some brief research shows that Jean Burnette was born March 5, 1922 in Emeigh, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. She was a graduate of Barnesboro High School and in 1943 she earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State Teacher’s College.

She enlisted in the SPARS on June 29, 1944 and served until her discharge on June 28, 1946.

In 1948 she received a master’s degree in communications from Syracuse University and began her TV career winning many awards in the process.

Miss Daugherty led an active life and died on April 6, 2008 at the age of 86. She is buried in North End Protestant Cemetery, Barnesboro, Pennsylvania.

Tucked in the inside pocket of her jacket is some internet research including her obituary and a picture of Miss Daugherty later in life.

Women’s military items are scare and among them SPARS are the hardest to find.  [AD]

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