The Harvey Girls

The Harvey Girls were a group of women who worked as waitresses at the Fred Harvey Company restaurants and hotels along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in the United States. The concept of the Harvey Girls was created by Fred Harvey, an entrepreneur who recognized the need for high-quality food and service for travelers. The Harvey Girls played a significant role in the development of the American West, serving passengers at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, Chicago, Illinois, and other major railroad hubs, including Albuquerque, New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California. They were known for their excellent service, cleanliness, and hospitality, which set a new standard for the hospitality industry, influencing establishments like the Plaza Hotel in New York City and the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado.

History

The history of the Harvey Girls dates back to 1883, when Fred Harvey opened his first restaurant in Topeka, Kansas, along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Harvey's vision was to provide high-quality food and service to travelers, and he achieved this by hiring women from the East Coast and Midwest to work as waitresses. The Harvey Girls were initially recruited from Chicago, Illinois, Cleveland, Ohio, and other major cities, and were trained to provide exceptional service to passengers at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, La Junta, Colorado, and other railroad stops, including Gallup, New Mexico, and Barstow, California. The Harvey Girls worked at various locations, including the El Tovar Hotel in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, the Bright Angel Lodge in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, and the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which was a popular stop for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. They also served passengers on the California Zephyr, the Super Chief, and other famous trains that traveled along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

Organization and Recruitment

The organization and recruitment of the Harvey Girls were highly structured and selective. Fred Harvey and his company recruited women from finishing schools and boarding schools in the East Coast and Midwest, including the Miss Spence's School for Girls in New York City and the Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut. The recruitment process involved a series of interviews and evaluations, and only women who met the highest standards of cleanliness, hospitality, and service were hired. The Harvey Girls were required to sign a contract, which included rules and regulations for their behavior and performance, and were expected to adhere to a strict code of conduct, similar to that of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. They were also provided with room and board and were expected to live in company-provided housing, such as the Harvey House in Barstow, California, and the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona.

Work and Lifestyle

The work and lifestyle of the Harvey Girls were highly demanding and structured. They worked long hours, often for 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, serving passengers at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, and other railroad stops, including Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California. The Harvey Girls were responsible for taking orders, serving food and drinks, and providing exceptional service to passengers, including those traveling on the California Zephyr and the Super Chief. They were also expected to maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene, and were responsible for cleaning and maintaining the restaurants and hotels, including the El Tovar Hotel in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, and the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Despite the demands of their work, the Harvey Girls were known for their excellent service, hospitality, and kindness, and were often praised by passengers, including Theodore Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and other notable figures, such as Helen Keller and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Impact and Legacy

The impact and legacy of the Harvey Girls are significant and far-reaching. They played a major role in the development of the American West, providing high-quality food and service to travelers and helping to establish the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway as a major transportation hub. The Harvey Girls also helped to promote the growth of tourism in the American West, and their excellent service and hospitality set a new standard for the hospitality industry, influencing establishments like the Plaza Hotel in New York City and the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado. The Harvey Girls also paved the way for future generations of women in the workforce, demonstrating that women could work outside the home and achieve success and independence, inspiring women like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul. Today, the legacy of the Harvey Girls can be seen in the many museums and historic sites that commemorate their history, including the Harvey House Museum in Belen, New Mexico, and the Fred Harvey Museum in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Cultural Depictions

The Harvey Girls have been depicted in various forms of media and popular culture, including films, books, and music. The 1946 film The Harvey Girls, starring Judy Garland and Ray Bolger, tells the story of a group of Harvey Girls who work at a restaurant in Sandrock, New Mexico, and features songs like "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe". The Harvey Girls have also been featured in books such as "The Harvey Girls: Women Who Opened the West", and have been the subject of numerous documentaries and exhibits, including those at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California. The Harvey Girls have also been honored with a US postage stamp, and have been recognized by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas, and the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.