THE WOMAN'S AUXILIARY TO THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING, METALLURGICAL AND PETROLEUM ENGINEERS (WAAIME) RECORDS

In 1916, on Ladies Night of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers (AIME) meeting at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, the wives passed the hat for money to donate to fighting men in the trenches of World War I. This inspired the women to create their own, separate organization. By 1917, fifty women formed the Woman's Auxiliary. Mrs. Sidney J. Jennings served as the first president. Their purpose was to render service to the country, to the community and to humanity at large through all that pertained to mining engineering.

During World War I, the Woman's Auxiliary to the AIME (known as WAAIME) knitted garments for the men of the 27th Engineers and raised money for relief of Europe. After the war, WAAIME continued to provide aid to Europe. In the United States, they established a vocational scholarship for fourteen-to-sixteen-year old immigrants. This program led to a National Education Fund in 1920 to assist young men with their educations.

By 1920, WAAIME consisted of ten sections in the United States with a membership of six hundred and fifty. Mrs. Herbert Hoover served as chairman of the first national membership committee and the national chairman from 1928-1929. In addition to providing loan/scholarships, WAAIME provided milk for undernourished children. In 1921, the organization began to provide libraries in mining camps. They translated books into Braille for the blind from 1923 until 1934, when the federal government assumed this responsibility. The newsletter begun in 1924 by the Arizona Section led to a national newsletter in 1926.

By 1925, WAAIME's membership was 1,474. In 1926, the Auxiliary incorporated.

In 1930, the number of scholarships awarded increased, and the New York section established a loan fund for girls from a mining or metallurgical family called the Girl's Activities Loan Fund Committee. The Great Depression left many destitute miners and engineers. WAAIME's Emergency Chest Committee aided mining families and continued to provide scholarships and libraries for mining communities.

During World War II, WAAIME provided international aid, including candles for a darkened Finland, bundles for Britain and aid to Belgium. American troops received traveling libraries, recreation centers and many knitted items. WAAIME produced kit bags for ship-wrecked seaman and a fully equipped ambulance for the Army. The organization adopted the battleship U.S.S. Boise, supplying it with books, records, games and sports equipment. After the war, they knitted sweaters and afghans for use in Veterans Hospitals. Aid was also sent to the Philippines.

During the 1950s, new scholarships were created and funds were raised for Dr. Howard Rush's Rehabilitation Center at Bellevue Hospital in New York. Scholarships to train Korean nurses were provided. When AIME started building the United Engineering Center in New York City, WAAIME raised construction funds.

In 1957, the organization's name was officially changed to The Woman's Auxiliary to the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers. The acronym WAAIME was retained. The Endowed Funds of WAAIME totaled $600,000.00 by 1961. WAAIME wrote new by-laws to ensure the tax-exempt status of the organization.

Any woman in the immediate family of an AIME member, known today as The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, is eligible to join the auxiliary. In 1995, there were 24 sections throughout the United States and international sections in Peru and Mexico. The contemporary goals of WAAIME include advancing the interests of mining, metallurgical and petroleum engineering; promoting exchange of ideas and work amongst its members; and maintaining a fund for loan/scholarships for mining, metallurgical and petroleum engineering students.