Soldiers are settling in the dorm with their roommates in Alumni Hall
Description:
This black and white photograph shows soldiers from 323rd College Training Detachment settling into the dorm with their roommates after arriving at Springfield College. Two soldiers are seen in the room. The soldier on the left is standing and smiling. Both soldiers are looking at the camera. You can also see the bunk beds, chairs, tables, pillows, clothes, lights inside the room. The photo was believed to be taken between 1942-1944. 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). Hand-written on back of photographic print is "Room-mates settling in"
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