Army Air Corps at the Graduation Dance (June 1943)
Description:
This black-and-white photograph shows the Graduation Dance that was held for Springfield College students and the 323rd College Training Detachment (Army Air Corps). Shown is a row of woman sitting on chairs. Blurred on the left is couple dancing. The dance took place in the West Gymnasium in Judd Gymnasia. This photo was taken in June, 1943. At 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. 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).
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