These stunning color portraits, produced by the U.S. Office of War Information during World War II depict the role of women in the US war effort. All of the images were shot on 4x5 color transparency film by Howard R. Hollem and Alfred T. Palmer during 1942 and 1943 and were turned over to the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division in 1944. They are seen here with their original captions.

“On March 8th activists celebrate International Women’s Day, which dates back to the early 20th century and has been observed by the United Nations since 1975. In the run-up to the event, Reuters photographers in countries around the globe took a series of portraits of women and their daughters. They asked each mother what her profession was, at what age she had finished education, and what she wanted her daughter to become when she grew up. They also asked each daughter at what age she would finish education and what she wanted to do in the future. The series of images offers an insight into the lives of women and girls around the world”. – Reuters. (Photo by Feisal Omar/Reuters)

Three Burmese women members of a circus play cards as they wear the brass neck and leg rings traditionally worn by Padaung women since childhood and which cannot be removed, London, January 4, 1935. (Photo by Keystone). P.S. All pictures are presented in high resolution.

A woman rides a women-only bus as she returns from her college in Kathmandu January 6, 2015. Nepal's capital Kathmandu has introduced women-only buses in an attempt to reduce sexual harassment and groping on public transport, a senior government official said on Monday. The initiative will start with four 16-seater buses which will ply a popular east-west route across the city during peak morning and evening hours. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Iraqi women practice at the sports club in Diwaniya, Iraq on November 10, 2018. On the blue mats of the al-Rafideen Club in the conservative city of Diwaniya, some 180 km (110 miles) south of Baghdad, some 30 female wrestlers, some still wearing headscarves, train three times a week. When a big competition comes up, they train every day. (Photo by Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters)

Model Heide Lindgren attends Heidi Klum's 12th annual Halloween party at the PH-D Rooftop Lounge at Dream Downtown on October 31, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Model Adriana Lima attends the 2011 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show After Party at Dream Downtown on November 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

Bud Light Hotel Correspondent Leila Mahadin (R) interviews a Playboy Bunny at the 2012 Playboy Party hosted by Bud Light Hotel at Bud Light Hotel on February 3, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for Bud Light Hotel)