World War II Materials - Barnard College War Service

The Barnard College World War II collection reflects the college community’s attitude towards involvement in the war in Europe both before and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The student population, and the faculty, espoused strong viewpoints in defense of their positions which can be seen in the materials collected for the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies and the Barnard chapter of the British War Relief Society. However, with events at Pearl Harbor and a formal declaration of war by the U.S. government, Barnard undergraduates, faculty and alumnae enthusiastically supported the war relief efforts and national service commitments necessary to alleviate war time shortages in goods, services, and manpower. Barnard women joined many branches of the armed services during World War II including the WAVES, WACS, SPARS, WASPS and the American Red Cross Overseas to do their duty. The curriculum at the college was changed to an accelerated course of studies that emphasized science, mathematics and economics. The National Service Committee offered courses in First Aid, Motor Transport, Women’s Voluntary Services, Ambulance Driving, Map Reading, etc., to ensure that the Barnard graduate would have practical and beneficial skills to offer if they chose to enlist in a branch of the military either abroad or at home. As the war drew to a close, Barnard College was honored by the Maritime Commission with the commissioning of a warship in its name, the S.S. Barnard Victory, and later in the century, in 1995, with the dedication of a Peace Altar in Columbia University’s St. Paul’s Chapel to the students from Columbia University (including Barnard College) who died in World War II.