Archive Record
| Object ID | 1000.146.01 |
| Title | World War I May 1916 - National Service School exhibit |
| Object Name | Exhibit |
| Date | June 2007 |
| Creator |
Julie Rude Thomas |
| Description |
World War I May 1916 - National Service School on Connecticut Avenue at Underwood exhibit June 2007 by Julie Thomas A Tent City on Connecticut Avenue? Yes! National Service School at Chevy Chase May 1 to May 31, 1916 Article exerpts: "Wilson War Slogan: Honor and Integrity of U.S. Not to Be Tampered With" from Washington Post? "Fair Rookies 'At Home': Sunday Brings Crowds of Visitors to Inspect Service Camp" from the Washington Post, May 8, 1916 "Praise for Camp Girls: Speaker Clark, in Jovial Mood, Compliments "Veterans"" from the Washington Post, May 31, 1916 "Enlist for War Study: Hundreds of Women Enroll for Military Training Course" from the Washington Post, March 27, 1916 ""Repeaters" at Camp: Many Girls to Remain Another Two Weeks at Chevy Chase" from the Washington Post, May 15, 1916 "Nation is Awake, President Tells Women at Flag-raising of Their Service School: New Movement at Chevy Chase, He Asserts, Is Associated with Great National Conception and Duty - Declares America is Already Feeling Benefits of Patriotic Suggestion That is Impelling Men to Die in Europe" from the Washington Post, May 2, 1916 "Duty of All Young Americans to Train for Nation's Defense, Says Theodore Roosevelt, Jr." from the Washington Post, October 7, 1916 "Woman's Section of Navy League" from the Washington Post, December 15, 1915 "Speakers and Subjects in Assembly Tent Today" from the Washington Post, May 3, 1916 "Women Encamp Today: Wilson to speak at National Service School Opening" from the Washington Post, May 1, 1916 Model tent city is ready. "Official flag to be raised this afternoon by Mrs. Dewey, Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Barrett - 200 students begin training in red cross work this morning. In the presence of the President of the United States, Mrs. Wilson and a host of distinguished army, navy and marine corps officers, besides many prominent men of the country, the tented city of the National Service School at Chevy Chase, where the women of the country are to be given their first lessons in real preparedness, will formally open its sessions today. This force is drawn from half states of the Union, although many are from the District, and their ranks are many prominent young women of society. For the next two weeks this band will live the strenuous life "under canvas and strict discipline." There are to be no social activities; that is, there will be none officially. There will be, however, much study, much hard work and abundant opportunity for every one to get back to nature in a way that has hitherto been conceded as one of man's privileges only many of the students, perhaps will learn for the first time how to live without the assistance of manicures and maids, and without social frills and foibles generally. The course at this school is to be, without doubt, a strict and serious 'game.'" "Course to last Two Weeks" from the Washington Post, May 1, 1916 "Besides the '200,' who are to be the resident student body of the camp for the next two weeks, there will be 300 day students who have been enrolled for the course. When the first two weeks' course is up these students will have been thoroughly schooled in the essential duties which will fall to them should a national emergency arise. At the close of the two weeks these women will return to their homes and a new body of recruits will be "mustered in" for their turn. Those who have already received their training will in the meantime, under the plans formulated, be hard at work spreading the knowledge they have gained among the women of their respective communities who did not have the opportunity to take the training." [1000.146.01a] Scenes at Opening of National Service School [2007.72.14] National Service School Chevy Chase, World War I Women's Preparedness Camp [1000.146.01.01] Tent City "map" drawn by Julie Thomas Senator Newlands helps out with site for the Service School "Lends Land to Women: Senator Newlands Helps Out with Site for Service School" from the Washington Post, December 6, 1915 [1000.146.01b] The Woman's Land Army of America Training School University of Virginia, June 15 to September 15 Tuition free Board $5 per week [2006.44.09] "Daughters Who Were Raised to be Soldiers: Interesting Views from the Women's Preparedness Camp at Chevy Chase" "beginning the day by doing humble duties that they would never touch in their luxurious homes. But it is all part of the fun." [1000.146.01c] Feminine Occupations not Forgotten Recruit at National Service School Camp: Miss Winifred Fairfax Warder. Miss Warder, whose home is in Cairo, Ill., came to Washington as a delegate to the convention of the Daughters of 1812, when she was the guest of Miss Molly Elliot Seawell. She is now at the National Service School, Chevy Chase. [1991.12.07] Making Red Cross sponges on the grounds of the Chevy Chase College & Seminary, 7100 Connecticut Avenue (now the National 4-H Center). In this era, Red Cross sponges and wipes were often knitted. Edward L. Stock, CCHS [1000.146.01.02] "Class in Wireless, National Service Camp for Girls, Washington, D.C." (Actually Chevy Chase, MD) from Stereo Card, Library of Congress, c. Keystone View Company. International Service Code: "For the convenience of National Service School students who intend to attend camps of instruction, the International Morse Code, which is used for the radio work and wigwagging in the Signal Course is given below..." "Women Offer War Aid: Navy League Members and Girls from Service Camp Ready" from Washington Post, June 23, 1916 Guard Duty: a sentinel duty is the most important any individual can perform. Sentinels are the eyes and ears of the camp. Learn your general orders perfectly. Be careful that you thoroughly understand the special orders appertaining to the post on which you are a sentinel. [1000.146.01d] American Red Cross: Our Boys Need Sox, Knit Your Bit [1000.146.01e] Manual of Voluntary Aid...Women Awake! Your Country Needs You. Learn to be of National Service - join the Navy League. Helpf the Naval - local headquarters Published by the National Committee of Volunteer Aid Women's Section of the Navy League 1606 20th Street, NW Washington, DC Mrs. George Barnett, Chairman "Price, twenty-five cents in paper; fifty cents bound copies" copyright 1916 "Join Service School: Mrs. Dewey, Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Barnett Honorary Officers" from the Washington Post, April 10, 1916 "Heroines "Roughing it" in Effort to Make Themselves of Use to Uncle Sam in Case of War - Commandant Poe Just Like a West Pointer - Some of the Harships that must be Endured in Tent Life" from the Washington Post, May 4, 1916 "The Mission of woman on earth! to give birth To mercy of Heaven decending on earth. The mission of woman; permitted to bruise The head of the serpent, and sweetly infuse, Through the sorrow and sin of earth's registered curse, The blessing which mitigates all; born to nurse, And so soothe, and solace, to help and to heal The sick world that leans on her." --Lucille Committee on Convalescent Hospitals of the Woman's Section of the Navy League National Headquarters 1606 20th Street, NW Washington, DC Pledge: In the event of this country engaging in war I promise to place my house at the disposal of the committee on Convalescent Hospitals of the Woman's Section of the Navy League, to be used as a hospital. This pledge is valid for Five years from date. It is not valid in case of lease or sale of the property. This pledge is required of all who offer their property for this purpose. Letters From Camp: Keeping in Touch is Important "Patriot's record parade: demonstrations in New York break all records." Leslie's Weekly May 25, 1916 "Hughes Will March: Pledges Participation in Falg Day Parade if in the City" from the Washington Post, June 12, 1916 "Cadets in Big Parade: Schools Closed Flag Day, Board of Education Orders" from the Washington Post, June 10, 1916 Uncle Sam wants you ladies too! [Exhibit includes images of posters encouraging women to participate in the Navy League] "Host Marches Today: Led by President, 70,000 Citizens WIll Demand Preparedness" from the Washington Post, June 14, 1916 "Women Filling Ranks: Few Vacancies Even for Second Course at Service School" Washington Post, April 24, 1916 "Parade Order Given: Preparedness Host to March in Eleven Divisions" from Washington Post, June 11, 1916 [1000.146.01f] Preparedness Parade Doing Their Bit......Meanwhile what are the men doing... "District of Columbia Militia" from the Washington Post, January 30, 1916 "Seeks Light on Issue: Newlands asks for Committee to Study Whole Defense Problem" from the Washington Post, January 30, 1916 "Incorporate Service Schools: Prominent Women Take Steps to Protect Name of Organization" from the Washington Post, August 10, 1916 "School of Preparedness: Woman's Section of Navy League Will Establish Institution Here" from the Washington Post, August 30, 1916 "How Our boys in Khaki Live in Mexico" A view of the camp at San Antonio, Mexcio, taken on April 27th, 1916...the temperature sometimes reaches 120 degrees in the middle of the day..." Leslie's Weekly, May 25, 1916 "May Keep Girls' Camp: Movement to Have Permanent Service School is Begun" from the Washington Post, May 26, 1916 "Home of Preparedness: Navy League Women WIll Open Mason House Wednesday" from Washington Post, October 7, 1916 Others Who Forged the Way, Those who went before and paved the way "Story of "Sojounrer Truth" Most Famous Woman the Negro Race has ever Produced" from the Washington Post, April 8, 1903 Image of Suffragist Parade March 3, 1913 in Washington, DC ERA proponents roused by a big change in Congress Activists seek ratification in 3 more states Photo: "For ERA in '78: from left, Gloria Steinem, Dick Gregory, Betty Friedan, and Reps. Elizabeth Holtzman, Barbara A. Mikulski and Margaret Heckler march in Washington, DC" From Washington Times, November 28, 1978 August 26, 1920 - The nineteenth amendment is ratified Exhibit Photograph and Newspaper Credits: 1. Chevy Chase HIstorical Society Archives 2. "Leslie's Illustrated Weekly Newspaper" 3. ProQuest Historical Newspapers - The Washington Post (1877-1990) 4. "Washington Times" (11/26/06 5. Library of Congress 6. "Evening Star" (Washington) June 1, 1916 7. Keystone View Company [Some images not digitized because they are not pertinent to Chevy Chase History or are not owned by CCHS.] |