World War II

Columbia’s involvement in WWII stands as an example of how much a University is capable of aiding freedom in a world at war. The Navy and Army moved several training units on campus, with Midshipmen and Army barracks taking over all Columbia’s dormitories. Scores of new schools, councils, and programs were formed to educate civilians, scholars, sailors and solders in specifics and essential ways aiding the war effort. Columbia President Nicholas M. Butler said it best, “the University is happy to make toward complete cooperation with the government of the United States in the world-wide war of defense which is now raging” (Boardman v)

Biographies Campus Life

Wartime Efforts

Committees & Councils

June 1940 – University Committee on National Defense

June 1940 – Alumni Federation Committee on National Defense

October 1941 – Civilian Defense Council

- Free civilian courses in first aid, essential service maintenance, and demolitions

November 1941 – Committee for War Relief

- Combination of UCND & CDC

December 1941 – Student Auxiliary Corps

- formed by CWR

United Nations Information Council

- to educate on the workings of the UN

1943 – Emergency Council

- Wartime version of the student board

Committee on Social Affairs

University Committee on Postwar Plans

Schools and Curriculum

Fall 1940 – Pilot training by the School of Engineering under the Civil Aeronautics Authority

1440 – Intensive language programs focusing mainly on Japanese

1942 – School of Military Government and Administration

- Training program for the administration and governance of occupied foreign territories

- Professors Schuyler C. Wallace and Philip C. Jessup (Director) were responsible for the course

- Trained in languages, native institutions, understanding of foreign attitudes to western culture, and aspects of military government

- Both Naval (Pacific focus) and Army (European Focus) programs were created

May 1942 – School of Officer Indoctrination

- Training for the instructors of the Midshipmen’s School

Summer 1942 – Columbia moves to a trimester system, with 48 weeks of classes a year

- disbanded in 1945

October 1942 – “Lipstick 13,” the first engineering course for women was given in the School of Engineering

February 1, 1943 – Civilian Orientation Course

- took place in Earl Hall

- introduces Naval issues to American industry

Fall 1943 – 1,200 Coast Guard pharmacist mates are trained by the College of Pharmacy

1941-1945 – Curriculum change

- creation of “Accelerated Programs”

- History and background of the war class given under the Contemporary Civilization department

- Intensive Chinese courses

- Navel influence spread throughout the University

Naval Programs

April 20, 1942 – US Naval Reserve Midshipmen School of New York moved onto campus

Early July 1943 – V-12 Navy College Program

- Instant success; uniformed, paid, educated and commissioned

- Associate Dean Nicholas M. McKnight: “The V-12 Program is soundly conceived and, with careful administration, both naval and academic, can attain the objects for which the Navy established it. From the University’s viewpoint, we can properly feel that through participation in the program we are making direct and useful contribution to the war program and are at the same time continuing to perform our normal functions in the area of undergraduate studies” (Boardman 76)

Army Programs

Army Specialized Training Program

- Officer in Charge, LtCol. Mark R. M. Gwilliam

Division of War Research

Top Secret (Under Construction)

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