Scenes from Springfield College: Infirmary Ward and Commanding Officer's Office
Description:
This document has two photographic prints on them showing the campus of Springfield College as it was used during World War II. The first photo shows the infirmary section of one of the wards. There are four beds neatly made with white blankets and pillows. The second photo on this page shows the office of the Commanding Officer of the 323rd College Training Detachment, U.S. Army Air Corps. An officer is seated at a desk, looking at papers with a pen in hand. All his papers are spread out on the desk in front of him, and there is an empty chair opposite him. 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).
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