Welcome to
Homefront Archives: Behind the Uniform

Homefront Archives examines the military home front as part of how American wars were fought and sustained. If you’re new here, this page is your starting point.

This project argues that the home front was not a civilian backdrop to war, but part of the military system itself. Throughout American history, military spouses and families have operated within institutional ecosystems that have shaped readiness, logistics, morale, policy, and long-term force sustainability.

Words matter. Language matters. Agency matters.

Military spouses were not simply symbolic supporters. They operated as structurally embedded participants within military institutions—often essential to how those institutions functioned—yet rarely recognized as institutional actors in traditional military historiography.

Before you explore era-specific posts, case studies, and archival materials, These posts outlines the framework behind the work and explains how I approach the evidence.

Why This Matters

This project does not argue that spouses replaced battlefield decision-making. It argues that military institutions could not function without the domestic, emotional, logistical, and administrative systems sustained at home. Understanding American war requires understanding the systems that made it possible.

FAQ: Homefront Archives: Behind the Uniform

Military Spouse History FAQ: Understanding the Home Front as Military History

What is military spouse history—and why does it matter? This FAQ introduces Homefront Archives: Behind the Uniform, a digital history project examining how military spouses shaped U.S. military institutions, readiness, and endurance from the Revolutionary War to the present. Grounded in archival research, this work treats the home front as part of military systems, not a civilian backdrop.

2 min read

What Is Obvious Is Not Always Known: Rethinking Military History’s Hidden Front

What Is Obvious Is Not Always Known: Rethinking Military History’s Home Front

Military history often marches forward with tales of strategy, valor, and battlefield heroism—but what about the voices from behind? “Military History’s Hidden Front” explores the unseen contributions of individuals who sustained and even fought alongside soldiers, only to be overlooked in the official record. Their stories challenge us to rethink what is remembered, and more importantly, what is forgotten.

4 min read

Warning: this might provoke strong opinions and trigger an immediate urge to share a quote or conversation with someone.

My Library: My Bookshelves

My library isn’t just a reading list—it’s a bookish war room. This curated military history reading list explores memoirs, academic works, and overlooked voices to understand how American wars function as systems. Beyond battle plans and parade-ground narratives, these shelves dig into the logistics, households, and human networks that sustain the institution.

3 min read

Military historian beginning research on military spouse history

Military Spouse History | Life After the Uniform

After 26 years in the Air Force, unpacking for the last time led me to a deeper question: where do military spouses fit in military history? This post explores the beginning of my work in military spouse history and why the home front is part of how military institutions function and endure.

4 min read

Same Ocean, Different Boats (and Aircraft) [Created by Homefront Archives.]

Lost in Translation: Why Military Spouses' History Deserve its Own Chapter in Military History

Military spouse history is often reduced to sentiment, support, and sacrifice—but that framing misses something essential. Military spouses have long functioned inside the ecosystem of military life, embedded within base communities, policy structures, and informal advisory networks. Their influence may not appear on official org charts, but it has shaped morale, stability, and institutional endurance for generations.

8 min read

The George Washington Bicentennial Commission:The first flag being made, [532944,NARA]

Why I Created a Military Spouse History Timeline —Through the Eyes of Military Spouses

This timeline reframes American military history through the lens of military spouses and families. Rather than focusing only on battles and commanders, it highlights the home-front systems—formal and informal—that sustained military operations across eras. From camp followers to digital organizers, spouses adapted as the structure and demands of the U.S. military evolved.

4 min read

How Language Shapes Military Life and History—And the Stories We Tell

What if the strongest force in military history isn’t weapons or war—but words? From “dependent” to “camp follower,” language has shaped how we see military spouses: who counts, who’s remembered, and who’s left out. Homefront Archives reclaims that narrative—one story, one term, one voice at a time. Because words don’t just reflect history—they make it. #BehindTheUniform #MilitarySpouseHistory

5 min read

Dear Military History: Hold My Bourbon

Let's be real — this blog is part love letter, part war cry, and a historical mixed-tape of all the stories that got left behind. I'm diving

2 min read

Silent Ranks, Powerful Voices: Rethinking Military Wives/Spouses in Military History

Silent Ranks, Powerful Voices: Rethinking Military Wives in Military History Military wives have long stood in the margins of history—labeled, overlooked, yet essential. This work challenges traditional narratives by re-centering their stories in military history. From policy-shapers to cultural anchors, their impact is real. It’s time we ask: what if the silent ranks were never silent—they were just unheard?

5 min read

Unearthing Untold Narratives: My Journey into Military History

I explore untold stories in military history—especially the overlooked roles of military spouses. As a veteran, spouse, historian, and museum curator, my journey led me to uncover how women shaped strategy, logistics, and legacy. Through research, writing, and relentless curiosity, I’m reframing what—and who—counts in military history. It’s time to move military spouses from the footnotes to the front lines of our historical record.

4 min read

From the Soapbox to the Archives: Why Military Spouses Earn a Place in Military History

Frustrated by how little had changed for military spouses across centuries, I turned to the archives. As a veteran, historian, and spouse, I began tracing the overlooked impact of military families. Spouses weren’t just “dependents”—they were advocates, strategists, and change-makers. This project isn’t a memoir; it’s a mission. It’s time military spouses moved from the margins into the center of military history.

3 min read

Coming Soon: Explore the Untold Stories of Military Spouse History!

Welcome to Homefront Archives: Behind the Uniform! This blog shines a light on the often-overlooked history of military spouses—past and present. I'm diving deep into untold stories, myths, and milestones that reveal their real impact. Whether you're a spouse, scholar, or simply curious, you're in the right place. The blog is still under construction, but powerful stories are coming soon—along with a few cat pics. Thanks for joining me!

1 min read

Citation Policy

How I Handle Sources

I want this blog to be both trustworthy and readable, so I've tried to strike a balance between academic rigor and keeping things flowing naturally.

You'll find citations when I'm quoting directly from a document, referencing a specific policy , orders, a historian or event, or making a claim that historians might debate. But I don't footnote every sentence—that would bog down the work. When I'm sharing widely accepted historical facts or offering my interpretation of events, I let the narrative breathe without interruptions.

At the end of each post, I include a full list of sources I consulted, along with image credits and any additional context that might help you dig deeper. My goal is to make it easy for you to follow along while also giving you the tools to explore further if something catches your interest.

Using Content from This Site

©2024 Melissa Bauman, Homefront Archives. All original photos, research, and writing are protected by copyright. You're welcome to share brief excerpts with proper attribution (author, publication, and link), but please don't reproduce full posts without permission. If you're citing this work academically, I'd love to know—feel free to reach out.

One important note: if you're building on research I've cited from other historians or sources, please cite their original work directly rather than citing me as an intermediary. It's good scholarly practice and gives credit where it's due.