In 1883, Fred Harvey decided that he wanted an all female waitstaff at his restaurants, so he placed ads in eastern and mid-western newspapers advertising for young women between the ages of 18 and 30, single, attractive, intelligent and of good character. He offered one year contracts, with a partial forfeiture of wages if they didn't make the whole year. Also free housing, board, and uniforms. Also a mandatory curfew of 10 P.M. Pay $18 a week, throw in the free room, board, and uniforms, that was actually a fairly high wage, not just for women, but for anyone. Too, I imagine it offered quite an adventure for young women in the 1880's.
Written on the back, "Harvey House girls Mom w/ little girl." Obviously this photo was taken well after 1883, and is suspect those aren't the original;Fred Harvey uniform, but I'd bet they're close.
In 1942, muck-raking journalist Samuel Hopkins Adams, known for his exposes of corruption in government and business wrote a novel,"The Harvey Girls,"which portrayed the Harvey girls as the civilizers of the west. I have no idea if that's true or not, but it is an interesting idea. The movie with Judy Garland came out a few years latter, albeit as a musical.
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