In 1939, the eve of America's involvement in another war of aggression, MGM produced  it masterpiece, the Civil War Epic, "Gone With the Wind" and thus introduced millions of Americans to Hollywood's version of the South during the Civil War; but was this the real South?  The OCR strives to preserve the truth of the matter that women during this period were strong and resilient women who fought to keep their homes, farms and shops operating while their husbands were off fighting in the war.

Women at the time weren't just the "stand by your man" type, but much like women in WWII, they had to act as temporary replacements for men in positions that they weren't even perceived qualified for by most men of the time.  Some of the of jobs today that are considered "women's jobs", nursing and teaching for example, were considered "male" oriented jobs, yet women had to step in and take over those positions during the war, as well as work in factories, tend the farms, become attorneys, doctors, financiers, newspaper reporters, etc. Some even became spies or worked near the battle front and traveled with the armies. Some took on employment disguised as men; working on barges, book salesmen, and even fought in the ranks as soldiers.

The OCR strives to educate the public with the truth about the many challenges and accomplishments that the Women of the Civil War faced and achieved.

So, remember, even though Scarlet sat on her lawn uttering "Fiddle Dee Dee!" at the beginning of the film, by the end of the film she had been a nurse, seamstress, farmer, business women, land owner, and Widow.

That is the truth about Southern Women.