1889–1984
Helen Purviance was a Salvation Army officer and one of the most celebrated “Donut Girls” of World War I. Born in 1889, she volunteered for overseas service when the Salvation Army organized its first contingent to support American troops in France.
Purviance served alongside Captain Margaret Sheldon at Salvation Army huts near the front lines. Together, they are credited with first frying donuts for soldiers in 1917, using a small stove in their hut near Montiers-sur-Saulx in the Meuse department of France. The donuts became enormously popular and the practice spread to other Salvation Army huts throughout the AEF area.
The story goes that Purviance and Sheldon, looking for ways to make treats for the soldiers with limited ingredients and equipment, hit upon the idea of frying dough. With only a small pot to work with, they could not make the pies and cakes the soldiers requested, but donuts could be fried a few at a time. The soldiers loved them, and soon demand far outstripped supply — it was common for the women to fry hundreds of donuts in a single day.
Purviance received the distinction of being one of the first American women to receive a military decoration in WWI. After the war, she remained active with the Salvation Army and became a symbol of the organization’s wartime service. She lived to the age of 95, passing away in 1984.
Helen Purviance appears frequently in Margaret Sheldon’s diary, often referred to simply as “Helen” or “Purvy.” The two women shared quarters, duties, and dangers throughout much of the war.
Diary of a World War I Donut Girl 