Title

Exhibit - WWI Timeline (April 1917- April 1918) of War Related M.A.C. Events

 

Dates

M.A.C. Record Events

April 17, 1917

  • “Faculty Hold Special Meeting”: Allowed for 60-90 minute drills four times day, potentially forming Red Cross classes, department of bacteriology lends its support.

  • “State Board Establishes Officer Training Corps.”: Programs for OTC, highway development, and increased crop production to be created. ROTC did not go into effect until fall 1917.

  • “M.A.C. In the War”: M.A.C. encourages alumni going to war to register with M.A.C. so that they can alert alumni members that are near each other at the front.

  • “Alumni in Army Stand Good Chances of Promotion”: Alumni in Army will be on a fast track for promotion if a large scale war breaks out.

April 24, 1917

  • “School will end June 1”: This move will allow crop production to increase and allow juniors/seniors, roughly 100, to leave may 8th to Fort Sheridan to train as officers.

May 1, 1917

  • “Student and Faculty Convocation”: Dean Shaw emphasized the acute food shortage, Dean Bissell sketched the opportunities for engineers, and Dean White explained the role of women. Purpose is to tell the men rushing to join the war that it takes 7 on the homefront to support 1 on the front.

  • “An Opening for Patriotism”: Qualifying juniors/seniors are having their credits excused if they leave for officer training. M.A.C. at the time was not offering this for agricultural work.

  • “Drill to Continue”: Capt. Longanecker/ LT. Murray will leave with 25 cadets for Ft. Sheridan. The remaining cadets will train with remaining officers.

May 8, 1917

  • “Seniors will Assist in Food Production”: Senior agricultural students can leave early. If they retain a salary, they must return and take exams, if not then they may work and skip exams.

  • “Military Men Expect Call this Week”: Capt. Longanecker announces 54 students and 56 outsiders will be called to Ft. Sheridan the week of May 8 for OTC.

May 15, 1917

  • “President Kedzie Sends Invitation and Greeting”: Alerts students that this year’s commencement will be much different due to the men going to OTC.

  • “Pass in Review”: government inspection of cadets before some left for Ft. Sheridan.

May 22, 1917

  • “May State Board Meeting”: professor’s wages increased due to the increase in living. Conversion of the bath house into a gun and storage room, and improvements to the armory.

May 29, 1917

  • “Home Guard of M.A.C. Men in Lansing”: 50 M.A.C. alumni consummated the formation of a Lansing guard. Previous Wednesday consummated. Follows military command hierarchy.

  • “Home Guard for East Lansing”: Democratic creation of a guard for East Lansing made up of faculty.

  • “Additions to Training List”: Additions to the list of men posted to Ft. Sheridan from last week.

  • “Lundy, ‘01, on Battleship Pennsylvania”: Dr. C. B. Lundy is in command of the Pennsylvania. Was president of the Detroit M.A.C. association.  

June 5, 1917

  • “Place of Expert in Democracy” is Commencement Address: Lengthy article in M.A.C. Record on the events of the commencement on June 1. Many students missing due to war effort out of 264. Largest class size, serious tone due to war.  

June 19, 1917

  • “Special Canning Course Next Week”: Extreme interest in a home economics canning course for the fall season of canning. People prepare for increased food shortages.

  • “Physical Education program Outlined”: Freshman men will be examined and evaluated on their physique. Assigned special work to correct their imbalances.

  • “College presidents Unite in Invitation to Continue ‘Education as Usual’”: Presidents of M.A.C., University of Michigan, and Michigan college of Mines. “In this world crisis, some must shoulder the rifle, others must produce food, while others must be able to take charge of constructive enterprise”.

  • “Dean Lyman Qualifies 15 Vets”: 50 vets are to be examined, but 15 are already qualified for the US Army.

July 17, 1917

  • “Veterinary Work to Begin August 27th”: Program to provide 2,500 vets for the US government Needed in reserve army vet service and the bureau of animal industry.

  • “Sheffield Details Routine Training of Training Camps”: Extensive detail of typical day at OTC. they are taking a program designed to take years in 3 months.

Sept. 14, 1917

  • “Brewer Comes from Army Camps”: Brewer is commissioned by M.A.C. to organize athletics in conjunction with the war to train men to work the trenches.

  • “The Fighting Spirit”: The 2017 Fall Semester will not start until Oct. 10 to allow students to work on farmers even longer.

  • “The First”: First death of anyone connected with M.A.C.: John Woolbridge

Sept. 28, 1917

  • “Home Economics Department Active in War Work”: M.A.C. women all sent cards to determine their ability/time they could devote during emergency work.

  • “Campus Used by National Guard”: Battery C is temporarily stationed at the M.A.C. armory on their way to Grayling.

Oct. 5, 1917

  • “The Enrollment”: Enrollment for 1917-1918 School year will be 70% of its former year. Cutting down tuition revenue from $50,000 to $35,000.  

  • “Lansing M.A.C. Home Guards Get Uniforms”: After winning a competitive drill, the Guard was awarded either 50 rifles or 50 uniforms. They took the uniforms.

Oct. 12, 1917

  • “In France”: 19 M.A.C. men in France with 12 more on the way. Practically all are officers.

Oct. 19, 1917

  • “Forestry Regiment”: Professor Chittenden is the listing officer for the 20th Engineers Regiment (Forest). 10 Battalions of men to be sent to France, consisting of professional lumberers, to carefully cut down French wood with minimal waste.

Oct. 26, 1917

  • “Brewer Starts Physical Training”: Physical training in from of Wells Hall from 7:30-8 AM.

  • “M.A.C. Men at Ft. Sheridan Selected for C.A.C.”: 9 M.A.C. men from the Sheridan ROTC program were sent to Coast Artillery Corps at Ft. Monroe, Va.

Nov. 2, 1917

  • “Classes Take $3,500 Liberty Bonds”: The four class levels voted among their class level to cumulatively collect $3,500 for liberty bonds.

Nov. 9, 1917

  • “Reserve Officers’ Training Unit Finally Landed”: M.A.C. finally gets the go ahead to establish a ROTC program with a minimum of two years of service.

  • “M.A.C. Women Push Food Campaign”: M.A.C. women are collecting information on thrifty food recipes and thrift clothing ideas so people can implement them in their community. Due in part to the resource shortage from war.

  • “Meatless Barbecue Big Success”: Due to Meat shortages and lack of class money from war bonds, the students a successful meatless BBQ between Wells and Kedzie Halls.

Nov. 23, 1917

  • “Party for Men in Service”: M.A.C. Officers’ Association giving military party for returning men from Ft. Sheridan and Camp Custer.

Nov. 30, 1917

  • “Service Flag Unfurled”: 486 stars on the flag to represent the number of M.A.C. men “out there”. This is done during the halves of the Homecoming game for 1917.

Dec. 7, 1917

  • “Campus Guarded by Constabulary”: Campus buildings of the power house, engineering, agricultural, and farm buildings guarded from 8:00 pm. to 6:00 am. in two hour shifts. Meant to counter the spy network in place in the US.

  • “Training Officers”: Men are encouraged at M.A.C. to stay and study if they are under the draft age (21) because a trained man is more vital to the industry than an infantrymen.

  • “Sgt. Robinson New Assistance in Military Dept.”: Assistant to Maj. Wrightson, Robinson is a career life military man who brought a wealth of military knowledge to the M.A.C. program.    

Dec. 14, 1917

  • “M.A.C. Joins American University Union in Europe”: Perks for college men while they are in Europe. Men can go to Paris where the HQ is and get support through their College.

  • “Military Work on ROTC Basis”: Description in M.A.C. Record of the ROTC model and how it will be run at M.A.C..

Dec. 21, 1917

  • “Radio Course Begun”: M.A.C. opens a course on radio communication for men that are on the draft list.  

Jan. 11, 1918

  • “Physical Training”: M.A.C. is taking the lead on making physically fit men. ROTC is mandatory for men for two years, with Juniors/Seniors taking the last two years optional.

  • “Two M.A.C. Men in Army Medical College”: Son of president Emeritus Snyder, Robert M. Snyder, and Lee Hutchins join Army Medical College at DC, as privates.

  • “Brewer Begins Physical Training Course”: Students are divided up into groups depending on their class level and physical stature.

Jan. 25, 1917

  • “Forestry Dept. Serves Fuel Administrator”: Forestry Students get two weeks off to assist a woodlot campaign in Ingham county. This effort is to supplement wood as fuel with the shortage of coal.

  • “Twenty Engineers Enter Technical Students R.C.”: M.A.C. Engineer students go to technical school instead of being drafted. Initiative to train more men, as opposed to joining army.

Feb. 1, 1918

  • “Forty-Six M.A.C. Athletes in Service”: The US government is scouting for athletes to serve as officers and pilots.

Feb. 8, 1918

  • “Physical Training work for Faculty Too”: From 5-6, Tuesday/Thursday in the Armory, Faculty can collect and complete physical training .

Feb. 15, 1918

  • “Banquet for Camp Custer Men Feb. 22”: M.A.C. is having a banquet for the men from M.A.C. stationed at Camp Custer in the new gymnasium.

  • “Hausherr,’17, S.F. Wellman, ‘18, and W.R. Johnson, ‘12, Aboard Tuscania”: 3 M.A.C. men on the Tuscania when it was torpedoed in route to ireland.

March 1, 1918

  • “Hodkins, ‘17, Survivor of Tuscania”: Forestry engineer is another M.A.C. alumni alive on the ship.

  • “Union Banquet for M.A.C. Soldiers Biggest Ever”: Largest gathering of students, faculty, and friends to date for Camp Custer M.A.C. soldiers. Held on George Washington’s birthday.

  • “Our First Sacrifice”: William R. Johnson, 1912 succumbs to torpedo sinking.

March 15, 1918

  • “Abbot Hall to Remain Closed”: Abbot is closed due to the decrease in male students from draft and enlistment.

  • “Lt. Blake Miller, ‘16, in Charge Custer Gardening Project”: Former M.A.C. football star is in charge of working on sustainability at Camp Custer.

March 29, 1918

  • “‘17er gets French ar Cross”: Lt. Howard G. Smith first M.A.C. man of AEF decorated for bravery. Part of a permanent advance in the line since AEF landed.

  • “Students Liberty League Formed”: Student organization with aims to assist in all government wartime needs.

April 5, 1918

  • “ROTC Regimental Officers Named”: Major Wrightson names officers of M.A.C. ROTC unit via competitive examination.

  • “The World Conflict with Militarism”: Professor E. H. Ryder explains the causes of WWI, in the M.A.C. Record, as he sees them.  

April 12, 1918

  • “Community Garden Club in East Lansing”: Prominent M.A.C. officials and community leaders work to create a social garden to alleviate food shortages.

  • “Two underclassmen Die in Army Camps”: First two underclassmen to die in wartime, due to pneumonia.

  • “Inspection of the ROTC Unit Short and Snappy”: 45 min inspection of ROTC by Major Max Garber.

April 19, 1918

  • “National Army Men to Come to M.A.C. for Training”: 500 men on May 10 to come to M.A.C. to be trained in gas engines and motor mechanics.

April 26, 1918

  • “Japanese Live Stock Commissioner Visits M.A.C.”: Dr. Issa Tanimura visits colleges in US to work towards sheep production industry in Japan.

  • “The World Conflict with Militarism”: Second article by professor E. H. Ryder concerning Germany’s war plans for empire and steps leading to the war.

May 3, 1918

  • “The World Conflict with Militarism”:  Third and final article details causes leading up the present war.

  • “H. Ray Kingsley with ‘03 tells of French AMB. Service”: First M.A.C. man to serve in the War in 1916 three months before US declared war. Joined American Ambulance Service of the French Army.

May 17, 1918

  • “Soldiers for Auto mechanics course Arrive this Week”: 500 Wisconsin soldiers arrive and are stationed in Abbot Hall, the armory, agricultural building, and certain rooms in the engineering shops.

  • “New Spring Term Privileges for Senior Girls”: Senior girls get new time privileges, and the rules for them are lessened permanently.

June 1, 1918

  • “Gymnasium Dedication”: IM Circle was dedicated on May 29, 1918.  

July 8, 1918

  • “Gymnasium Pool Open”: Tuesdays and Thursdays are for women.

  • “College Hall Barracks”: Before it collapsed in 1918 from poor student construction, the building was repurposed for a barracks and mess hall.

  • “Lt. WM.D. Thompson ‘17 Wins Decoration”: First M.A.C. man to win citation for gallant conduct in action.

  • “First Motor Mechanic Course Great Success”: Lengthy article in M.A.C. Record detailing the two month intensive program.  

Aug. 30, 1918

  • “New Barrack Building”: In the wake of the collapse of College Hall, a new barracks for 250 men will be constructed between the armory and the new gym.

  • “Faculty Men Entering War Work”: Faculty are joining the war through administrative roles.

  • “The College to become Training Camp”: M.A.C. in the fall of 1918 will become an intensive student military training camp alongside school work.

Sept. 30, 1918

  • “Nine Barracks on Hort. Gardens”: 9 new barracks 160 x 120 ft. assembled for vocational training units.

  • “Two M.A.C. Girls Entered Red Cross”: M.A.C. girls entered Red Cross.

Oct. 11, 1918

  • “Army Corps Created Oct.3”: Under Capt. Murchie, the 550 men join the student corps.

  • “Military Organization of Student Body Complete”: SATC in companies C,D and E. C was on the top floor of Wells Hall, D was on the fourth floor of Agricultural building, and E was stationed in the new barracks. Companies A/B, which are vocational were in the new barracks as well.

Oct. 18, 1918

  • “SATC Guarding Against Epidemic”: The Spanish Influenza hit the campus and a quarantine went into effect south of the mail building and north of the river. The quarantine was lifted, but over 300 men were put under caution and some cases were severe.

Oct. 25, 1918

  • “Influenza Conditions Improving”: 8 Deaths at M.A.C. with 3 in East Lansing. 150 men seriously wounded.

  • “M.A.C.- University of Michigan Game Postponed may be Played Nov. 23”: In an attempt to keep the spread of the disease at bay, a state-issued order to move the game was imposed.

Nov. 8, 1918

  • Guards watch campus for troops trying to leave or civilians trying to enter under the quarantine. The Influenza took 16 M.A.C. students and is starting to fade away.

  • The gym was used to house the fit soldiers while their former barracks were turned into makeshift hospitals.

  • “Great Military Review Before the Game”: Never before seen a series of demonstrations and games in military style were displayed before the Homecoming game. These events were bayonet demonstrations, tug of war, milk bottle races, boxing.

Nov. 15, 1918

  • SATC men will continue to train until further notice even though the war is over. The vocational section will be disbanded.

Nov. 22, 1918

  • SATC men currently set to continue through 30 June 1919.

Nov. 29, 1918

  • Major Murchie will discharge all officers not looking to stay in the Army to make the transition towards civilian transformation of the SATC men.

  • “SATC to be Disbanded”: SATC that has been at M.A.C. since Oct. 1 is to be phased out starting Dec. 2 and will take about two weeks. The government asked the faculty if they wanted the men to stay throughout the year and they responded with no. This move affected roughly 1,000 men.

  • “College Year Opens Jan. 2”: M.A.C. will open a full year of collegiate work on Jan. 2nd to allows former soldiers to be in full standing with their class, due to not being able to enroll properly during the fall of 1919.

Dec. 6, 1918

  • Faculty are returning to the college after the war. Prof Paul Miller and J. F. Cox returning.

  • Spanish Influenza returning again with 10 cases.

  • “Demobilization Postponed”: The Dec. 2 deadline pushed back a few days to allow for discharge papers and payroll to come through from Washington.

Dec. 13, 1918

  • The equipment used by the army at M.A.C. will now be utilized by the truck and tractor school.

  • 26 cases of of Influenza among girls, women are predominantly affected as opposed to men this time.

  • Demobilization of the SATC is still not happening as papers have not come through.

Dec. 20, 1918

  • SATC companies A/B decommissioned on 17th of December, E removed on 19th, and C/D removed on 21st.

  • “R.S. Clark ‘18 Writes of Russia”: At the time, believed to be the only M.A.C. man to serve in the Expeditionary force in Archangel Russia.  

Jan. 10, 1919

  • “Williams Hall Burns”: 1 Jan. 1919 Williams Hall burned to the ground.

  • “Three Years Rule in Athletics Retained”: Peacetime rule reimplemented of barring Freshmen from being in sports.  

  • “War Relics Exhibit”: During Farmers’ Week (Feb. 3-8) a general exhibition of war trophies will be on display.  

Jan. 24, 1919

  • “Colonel Robert S. Welsh ‘94”: Highest ranking of M.A.C. alumni to be killed. Died in France 5 days before armistice from a German shell during reconnaissance.

Feb. 7, 1919

  • The Holcad, a student newspaper, is opening back up after it was shut down during the SATC regime.

  • In Williams Hall, dynamite holes were drilled at six foot intervals and will be demolished during Farmers Week.

  • “Butterfield ‘91 and Baker ‘89 Serving Nation in Paris”: K.L. Butterfield was appointed as a member of the Agricultural Educational Committee by President Wilson, working to help rebuild Europe.

Feb. 14, 1919

  • Donald Hootman: former grounds superintendent for the horticultural department is serving in the American North Russia Expeditionary Force with the 310th Engineers. A distance inland from Archangel fighting the Bolsheviki.  

  • “M.A.C. Man Decorated by Congress”: Harold A. Furlong ‘18 Wins Medal of Honor: Given the award for taking a M.A.C.hine gun nest and prisoners when his C.O. was killed. Believed to have been killed but the War Deptartment made a mistake.

Feb. 21, 1919

  • William H. Taft will give a lecture on Liberal Arts Courses at the M.A.C. Armory on March 5th.

  • 100+ charges were used to raze the walls of Williams Hall at 3:00 pm. on Feb. 14.

Feb. 28, 1919

  • “Special Preparatory Courses for Discharged Soldiers”: M.A.C. to give special “GED” courses to men who dropped out of school.

March 7, 1919

  • 85th Division containing several hundred M.A.C. men scheduled to return from France in March.

  • “The Bestowing of the Congressional Medal of Honor”: General Pershing gives Lt. Harold A. Furlong ‘18.

March 14, 1919

  • “M.A.C. Soldiers May Enter European Colleges”: Men who were in college at the start of the war are now allowed to continue college at French/English universities.

April 4, 1919

  • “Former President Taft at M.A.C.”: Taft is making rounds promoting the League of Nations notion.

April 11, 1919

  • The Horticultural Department is working to repair the ground in which the SATC ran bare during their marches.

  • A Real Whippet Tank is on display crushing machine guns in East Lansing, and drove over the rubble of Williams Hall.

April 18, 1919

  • M.A.C. to sell off an acre of land to the People’s Church of East Lansing.

  • “Brittain Decorates M.A.C. Man in North Russia”: Sgt. S.L. Schneider at Archangel receives meritorious service medal for fighting in Shenkursk in Jan. and Kadish.   

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections