Soldiers and Nurses at the Naval Hospital at Springfield College
Description:
The black and white photograph shows a cheerful moment in a room at the Naval Convalescent Hospital at Springfield College. There are group seven soldiers and nurses. All the male soldiers are seated on benches or chairs, while two female nurses are wearing black uniforms and are standing. The Springfield College Bulletin used this photograph as their cover for their March 1946 issue. During the start of World War II, Springfield College served as training grounds for the Army Air Corps, which allotted the college $90,000 for upgrading facilities. In the spring of 1944, the training program was canceled; in order to conserve its assets for expanded postwar operations in the face of decreasing student enrollment, Springfield College negotiated a contract with the U.S. Navy to serve as a Naval Special Hospital. The Navy allotted $75,000 to bring the college up to the mark of a naval hospital, and the first contingent of one hundred and fifty patients arrived on September 22, 1944, and it was estimated that five hundred patients could be served. Alumni Hall was used as the hospital, and the old dormitory (now called the Administration Building) became administrative offices and housing for nurses and WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). Handwritten on the back of the photographic print, is "Sunday May Navy 2-Col Hospital";
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