Oath of Office for Julia McWilliams
This is the Oath of Office taken by Julia McWilliams when she started her federal service in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Julia McWilliams would marry a couple of years later, and then forever be known by her married name—Julia Child.
The Oath of Office is taken by every federal employee at the start of their service. The oath is an assurance that an employee will support and defend the United States Constitution, have allegiance to the United States, and to faithfully discharge the duties of their position. Within the OSS, Julia Child worked first at the headquarters under Director William J. Donovan, then was transferred to posts in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Kunming, China, where she was an administrative assistant in the registry office. Her office received incoming and outgoing messages relating to intelligence and decided what information was actionable.
Julia McWilliams ended her service with the OSS with the conclusion of World War II, and married Paul Child in 1946. Her husband is credited with introducing Child to French cuisine.
View and download the Oath of Office for Julia McWilliams in the National Archives Catalog. You can explore more records held in the National Archives at College Park through the National Archives Catalog or by visiting our research room in person. These records are located in Record Group 226: Records of the Office of Strategic Services, Series: Personnel Files of the Office of Strategic Services, 1942–ca. 1962.
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