Carnegie Mellon Libraries:

World War I Collection

World War I Collection, Carnegie Mellon University Archives, Official University Records

Extent
Ten boxes (Boxes 1-10); 10 linear feet

Records History
When the United States entered World War I in 1917, the military realized it needed to train large numbers of soldiers in a short amount of time.  In order to train people for specialized tasks as quickly as possible, the War Department began establishing training centers at colleges and universities across the country.  On March 24, 1917, Arthur A. Hamerschlag, director of the Carnegie Institute of Technology (CIT), offered the services of this school for this purpose.

By early 1918, CIT had an established unit of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and all male students were required to take a one month military training course.  These courses covered a variety of specialties, such as radio operation or truck driving.  In addition, women were offered several of the so-called “war courses” through Margaret Morrison Carnegie College (MMCC) in subjects like mechanical tracing and stenography.

A military training camp was held on Schenley Oval from July 1 to September 28, 1918, and on October 1, CIT was designated as a unit of the Student Army Training Corps (SATC).  This meant that all regular classes were shut down, with the exceptions of MMCC and the war courses.  However, due to constantly changing orders from Washington and the devastation of the influenza epidemic that fall, the SATC period did not run as smoothly as planned, and with the end of the war in November, the Institute returned to civilian education.

After the war, most of the war courses were disbanded; the Navy School of Turbine Engineering was the only official War Department business that continued.  In addition, many disabled veterans came to CIT to take advantage of scholarships provided by the Federal Board for Vocational Rehabilitation.  This program, similar to the GI Bill after World War II (except reserved for the disabled), provided training for veterans who had been wounded and permanently disabled during the war.  The program lasted at CIT from 1919 until 1928.

Scope and Content Notes
This collection contains papers and photographs associated with Carnegie Institute of Technology’s activities during World War I on behalf of the war effort.  Among the items included are correspondence, administrative and financial files, information on student and soldier, and files covering the operation of the war courses.  Most of these files contain documents dated from 1917-1919.  However, Series V, which covers veterans’ issues, runs from 1919 until 1928.

The information in some of the series may overlap, particularly for administrative and financial papers and the war courses series.  The vast majority of the items are typescript and manuscript papers, including large amounts of carbon paper copies, which may be fragile.  In addition, scattered among the papers , there are a small number of other items such as postcards, photographs, and several books that should be handled with care.  The photographs, in particular, should only be handled wearing gloves and they have been placed in protective, acid-free folders.

Series I: War Courses

Series I contains records related directly to the war course offered at Carnegie Institute of Technology.  There is a sub-series for each of the men’s courses (numbers one through thirteen), as well as turbine engineering and the women’s courses.  The papers in these sub-series relate to the teaching of the courses and include rosters, applications, correspondence, and some administrative work.

There are also sub-series for proposed war courses (some of which were rejected), and a large sub-series for administration.  Some information in each war course file may also qualify as an “administrative function” but for the most part, records related to the administration of the courses in general are under administration, while those entirely concerned with a specific course are grouped with the corresponding war course sub-series.

Series II: ROTC-SATC

Series II contains records documenting the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and Student Army Training Corps (SATC) programs at the school.  There are sub-series for ROTC and SATC, as well as a sub-series for the Red Cross Auxiliary, which operated out of MMCC.  These files include correspondence, administrative records, rosters, inventories and reports.

Series III: Administrations

Series III covers a wide variety of records related to the general administration of military training at CIT during World War I.  It includes correspondence, financial records, reports, rosters, inventories and other such items.  This series covers such a wide range of records that they may seem to fit with several other series in the collection.  However, the vast majority of items in this series deal with the general administration of the college and the military training programs.

Series IV: Student Life

Series IV contains items related to student activities and entertainment on campus during World War I.  Many of these records related to the entertainment provided for the soldiers on the weekends during their training, such as dinner parties with local families, boxing matches and musical and educational programs.  There is also information about the commemorative pageant held on campus after the war in order to memorialize those lost during the war.  In addition, there are copies of a book of war poetry (Carnegie Tech War Verse, 1919) written by students and soldiers who trained at CIT.

Series V: Veterans

The final series consists of records regarding veterans of World War I.  This includes records related to the administration of the Federal Board for Vocational Education and the Federal Board for Vocation Rehabilitation programs that were operated at CIT, as well as extensive war records for students and alumni.  The Federal Board sub-series contains standard administrative papers, with correspondence, roster, inventories, registration information, and financial papers.  The war records are standardized forms.  Each one contains the record of a soldier in the war, as told by the soldier himself (or a relative in the case of a casualty).

Provenance
The provenance is unknown at this time.

Restrictions
There are no restrictions on these files except in cases of extreme fragility of the items.  Such fragility may not allow for photocopying or other methods of reproduction.

Related Collections

Processor
Nikolas M. Henle

Container List: World War I Collection

Bxl     Series I. War Courses 1915-1921

A.   War Department
FF1                    Folder 1 of 2
FF2                   Folder 2 of 2

B.   Rations and Quarters
FF3                    Rations and Quarters

FF4                        Rations and Quarters -- Memoranda 1918-1919

C.   War Course 1
FF5                    War Course 1

FF6                        Announcement of War Course for Radio Operators 1918

FF7                        Radio and Buzzer Operators - "For use in training conscripted

men for service as radio and buzzer operators" Oct. 1917
FF8                         Radio and Buzzer Operators - Application Request

FF9                        Applications for Admittance to the War Radio Course — 1918

(Folder 1 of 2)
FF10                      Applications for Admittance to the War Radio Course -1918

(Folder 2 of 2)

FF 11                      Radio and Buzzer Operation - Registration Cards 1918

FF 12                      Radio and Buzzer - Reports

FF13                      Radio and Buzzer

FF 14                      Radio and Buzzer - Personnel

D.   War Course 2

FF 15                      Automobile Maintenance - Questionnaire 1918

FF 16             Automobile Maintenance and Operation - Questionnaire Completed 1918

FF 17                     Automotive - Correspondence 1918

FF18                    Auto Maintenance and Repair - Copies of Orders

FF19                     Auto Maintenance and Repair

FF20                     Auto Maintenance and Repair — Questionnaire

FF21                      Auto Maintenance and Repair - Reports

FF22                     Auto Maintenance and Repair – Medical Personnel

E.   War Course 3

FF24                      Aeroplane Riggers and Engine Men - Reports

FF25                      Aeroplane Riggers and Engine Men - Rations and Quarters

FF26                       Aeroplane Riggers and Engine Men - Aeroplane Motor and Equipment

FF27                       Aeroplane Riggers and Engine Men

FF28                       Aeroplane Riggers and Engine Men - Personnel

FF29                       Aeroplane Riggers and Engine Men - Aeroplane Mechanics

FF30                       Aeroplane Riggers and Engine Men - Preliminary

Correspondence

FF31                       Aeroplane Riggers and Engine Men - Course 6 and 7 Detachments

FF32                       Aeroplane Riggers and Engine Men - Course Descriptions

F.   War Course 4
FF33                   Radio Engineers

G.  War Course 5
FF34                  Stenographers

H.  War Courses 6 and 7

FF35                   Aeroplane Blacksmiths and Aeroplane Coppersmiths

I.   War Course 8

FF36                   Radio Mechanics - Nurses

FF37                   Radio Mechanics - Instructors (Folder 1 of 2)

FF38                   Radio Mechanics - Instructors (Folder 2 of 2)

FF39                   Radio Mechanics - Radio Instructors - Claims

FF40                   Radio Mechanics

FF41                   Radio Mechanics - Contract

FF42                   Radio Mechanics - Personnel

Bx2

FF43                   Radio Mechanics - Rations and Quarters

FF44                   Radio Mechanics - Lists from Capt. Houston

FF45                    Radio Mechanics - Cost Analysis

FF46                    Radio Mechanics - Settlement

FF47                    Radio Mechanics -1918-1919

J.  War Course 9

FF48                    Engineers of Tests

FF49                    Engineers of Tests - Personnel

FF50                    Engineers of Tests - Lists from Lt. Hook

FF51                    Engineers of Tests - Instructors

FF52                    Engineers of Tests- Contract

FF53                    Engineers of Tests - Ordnance Information

FF54                    Engineers of Tests - Rations and Quarters

K.  War Course 10

FF55                    Telegraphers

FF56                    Telegraphers

FF57                     Telegraphers - Committee on Education and Special Training

FF58                    Telegraphers - Cost Analysis

FF59                    Telegraphers - Rations and Quarters

FF60                     Telegraphers - Committee Reports on Education and Special Training

FF61                    Telegraphers - Personnel

FF62                    Telegraphers - Publications

FF63                    Telegraphers - Equipment

FF64                    Telegraphers - Contract

FF65                     Telegraphers

FF66                     Telegraphers - 4th Detachment

L.   War Course 11

FF67                     Truck Drivers - Rations and Quarters

FF68                     Truck Drivers - Reports

FF69                     Truck Drivers - Contract

FF70                     Truck Drivers - Costs

FF71                     Truck Drivers

FF72                     Truck Drivers - Instructors

FF73                     Truck Drivers - Personnel

M. War Course 12

FF74                       Mechanical Tracing

FF75                       Mechanical Drafting and Tracing - Women 1918

N.  War Course 13

FF76                      Band Musicians Training

FF77                      Band Musicians - Briscoe, C.H. (Capt.) - Correspondence

FF78                      Band Musicians - Administrative and Miscellaneous Charges

FF79                      Band Musicians - Statement

FF80                      Band Masters Course - Letters of Application

FF81                       Band Musicians

FF82                      Rations and Quarters

FF83                       Personnel

O.  War Courses for Women

FF84                       Training for Government Jobs - Women

FF85                       Correspondence, Memoranda, Reports

FF86                       Office War Courses

FF87                      Bush, Ruth

P.  Turbine Engineering
FF88                 Turbine Engineering 1918-1919

Q. Naval Section

FF89                      Naval Section (Folder 1 of 2)

FF90                      Naval Section (Folder 2 of 2)

R.  Naval Detachments

FF91                       Naval Detachments (Folder 1 of 2)

FF92                      Naval Detachments (Folder 2 of 2)

S.  Proposed War Courses
FF93                 Proposed War Courses

FF94                       Emergency Training in Shipbuilding

Bx3

T.  War Courses (General)

FF95                       Committee on Education and Special Training

FF96                      Committee on Education and Special Training - Educational

Instruction
FF97                       Committee on Education and Special Training - War Aims -

Memoranda, Correspondence

FF98                       Committee on Education and Special Training - Settlement

FF99                       Committee on Education and Special Training - "The Fighting Mechanic"

FF100                     Student Certification

FF101                      Committee on War Courses - Minutes (Folder 1 of 4)

FF102                    Committee on War Courses - Minutes (Folder 2 of 4)

FF103                    Committee on War Courses - Minutes (Folder 3 of 4)

FF104                    Committee on War Courses - Minutes (Folder 4 of 4)

FF105                    Ordnance Dept. - Civilian Personnel Division

FF 106                    Grades of War Courses

FF107                    General Correspondence (Folder 1 of 2)

FF 108                    General Correspondence (Folder 2 of 2)

FF 109                    War Camp - Correspondence

FF 110                    Course Correspondence

FF 111                    Correspondence

FF 112                    Committees - Military

FF 113                    Minutes of Military Committee

FF114                    Military Committee - Minutes and Correspondence

FF 115                    Chemical Warfare Service

FF116                    Blueprints

FF 117                    Highways Transport Committee

FF 118                    Application for Admission to the Military Training Camp

FF 119                    Air Service School for Radio Mechanics

FF 120                    Addresses of Resident Officers at CIT

FF 121                    Aviation Examining Board

FF122                    Adjutant General's Office - Certificate and Correspondence

FF 123                    Adjutant General' s Office - Memorandum of Information

FF 124                    School of Applied Design

FF 125                    Moneys Received from War Department

FF126                    Infirmary

FF127                     Institutions at which a Naval Section of the Student Army Training Corps is to be Established

FF128                    American Council on Education

FF 129                    Office of the Registrar

FF 13 0                   Registrar - Correspondence

FF 131                    Student List Vocational Section

FF132                    Rejected

FF 13 3                   Official Telegrams

FF 134                    Condition of Science Building

FF 13 5                   Director of Collegiate Section - Questionnaire

FF 136                    Questionnaire on Instruction in War Courses

FF137                    Office of the President to Faculty

FF138                    Purchase, Storage, and Traffic Division

FF 13 9                   Standardized Military Truck

FF 140                    Arrival and Departure of Soldiers

FF141                     Rosters

FF142                    Instructors - Rosters, Memoranda

FF143                    Subsistence, Instructors, Housing, Radio

FF144                    Ratings Reports, Rosters, Correspondence, Memoranda

FF145                    Hospital

FF146                    Inventory and Costs

FF147                    Course 3, 6, and 7 - Dues

FF148                    Exemption

FF149                    Requisitions

FF150                    Contents of Wire Basket (Folder 1 of 2)

FF151                     Contents of Wire Basket (Folder 2 of 2)

FF 152                    Miscellaneous

FF 15 3                    Equipment and Supplies

Bx4     Series H ROTC/SATC 1918-1921

A.  ROTC

FF154                    ROTC 1918-1921 (Folder 1 of 3)

FF155                    ROTC 1918-1921 (Folder 2 of 3)

FF156                    ROTC 1918-1921 (Folder 3 of 3)

FF157                    ROTC - Summer Training Camp

FF158                    ROTC-Plattsburg

B.  SATC
FF159                SATC

FF 160                    SATC - Instructors

FF 161                    SATC - Vocational Section

FF 162                    SATC - Collegiate Section - Costs

FF 163                    SATC - Collegiate Section

FF 164                    SATC - Courses of Study

FF165                    SATC - Circulars

FF 166                    SATC - Telegram - Circulars

FF 167                    SATC - Information

FF168                    SATC

FF 169                    SATC - Contracts

FF 170                    SATC - Contract Dec. 1918

FF 171                    SATC - Collegiate Section - Personnel

FF 172                    SATC - Collegiate Section - Rations and Quarters

FF 173                    SATC - Vocational - Vouchers and Correspondence

FF174                    SATC-Rosters

FF175                    SATC - Collegiate Section - Company Rosters A,B,C,D,E,F

FF 176                    SATC - Final Report - National Training Detachments March 1919

FF 177                    SATC - Report - Section A and B

FF 178                    SATC - Vocational Section - Statements of Claim (Folder 1 of 3)

FF 179                    SATC - Vocational Section - Statements of Claim (Folder 2 of 3)

FF 180                    SATC - Vocational Section - Statements of Claim (Folder 3 of 3)

C.  American Red Cross Auxiliary
FF 181                Correspondence

FF182                    Charter

FF183                    Financial Data

FF184                    Mrs. Hamerschlag

Bx5     Series HI. Administration

 

A. Administration 1917-1924

FF185

Local Boards

FF186

Young Men Christian's Association 1918-1919

FF187

Collegiate Section

FF188

Collegiate Section

FF189

Dormitory - Ordnance

FF190

Exemption

FF191

Correspondence - Bids, Barracks, etc.

FF192

Faculty - War Buttons

FF193

Gasoline

FF194

General Costs

FF195

Government Accountant - Information Given to Mr. Dietze - Dec
 

10-12,1918

FF196

Housing Settlement

FF197

Housing - Working Sheets

FF198

Instructors - Correspondence and Memoranda

FF199

Instruction - Statements of Expenditures

FF200

Inventories - Nov. 1st, 1918

FF201

Janitors Service - Working Sheets

FF202

Commanding Officers - Notices and Correspondence

FF203

Officers - Lists and Correspondence

FF204

Miscellaneous - Correspondence, Memos, and Telegrams

FF205

Photographs - Correspondence

FF206

Radio - Contract and Reports

FF207

Radio - Bids

FF208

Reconstruction Aides

FF209

Registration

FF210

Restaurant

FF211

Special Claims - Men not Inducted, Rehabilitating Campus,
 

Infirmary, Gasoline, Furnished, Medical Corps

FF212

Subsistence - Working Sheets

FF213

Telegrams

FF214

Truck Drivers - Administration Charges

FF215

Truck Drivers - Statement

FF216

Vocational - Inventory

FF217

Vocational - Statement

FF218

War Service Opportunities - June 1918

FF219

Water - Working Sheets

FF220

Gas Helmet Models - Photographs, News clippings

FF221

Report of Number of Hours of War Work

FF222

"List of Materials Needed for our Boys Somewhere in France" -
 

1917

FF223

Military Training

FF224

War Information

FF225

Coast Artillery School

FF226

Military Training

FF227                    Naval Reserve Flying Corps

FF228                    Signal Reserve Corps

FF229                    Engineers Officers Training Camp

FF230                    Engineers Reserve Corps

FF231                     Research Work

FF232                    War Department Information

FF233                    Settlement - General

FF234                    Untitled

FF235                    Construction Reports

FF236                    Summer Contracts

FF237                    Induction of Soldiers - Memoranda, Telegrams - Aug - Oct 1918

FF238