American universities and colleges swiftly responded to the call for service when the U.S. prepared to enter World War I in 1917, and Carolina was no exception. The UNC campus quickly transformed into a military training ground. Campus dormitories became barracks and classes on battlefield strategy were added to the curriculum. By the end of the war, more than 2200 students, alumni, and members of the faculty and staff had served overseas. Those who stayed behind contributed money and time to support the cause.
The University also took on the role of educating the people of North Carolina about the war. The Bureau of Extension, formed in 1913, published informational pamphlets and sent faculty lecturers across the state. These activities reflected the public service ethos promoted by UNC’s new president, Edward Kidder Graham, and became policy for the University in the years to come.
This exhibition uses photographs, documents, and other artifacts to recall how the Carolina campus supported Graham’s vision and did its bit for the Great War.
For more details, visit the UNC Library News and Events blog.
