| COLLECTION INFORMATION | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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| Dates: 1943-1944 Size: 2 large scrapbooks (3 linear feet) Acquisition: Gift, 1944 Access: Open for research Processed by: Emily Blackburn Kerr, 1982 |
The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was established during World War II to allow women to take over administrative duties at Army posts, camps, stations, service headquarters, and other army installations to relieve men for active duty. In July of 1943, President Roosevelt signed a bill to make the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps an integral part of the Army. This change was made over a period of months and by Sept. 30, 1943, enlistments were made in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) and the WAAC ceased to exist.
The Women's Army Corps Army Administration School at Nacogdoches, established in Feb., 1943, was the first of its kind in the United States. The school was established to train WAC's for administrative jobs in the Army. Stephen F. Austin College provided all necessary quarters, classrooms, and offices for the school while holding classes as usual for civilian students. Quarters were prepared in Gibbs Hall, the women's dormitory, the men's dormitory, and the Women's Recreation Center. Classes were held in the basement of the Administration Building. Offices were set up in the basement of the Science Building. Army officers and WAC officers served as instructors and directors. Lt. Col. Thomas M. Childs, A.G.D., New York City, was Commanding Officer of the school while Major John C. Woodbury was Educational Director of the 60 subjects taught. Six week courses were provided and had an enrollment of about 300 members, a new class starting at the school every three weeks. The first class arrived Feb. 12, 1943 and consisted of 250 WAC trainees. This first class was called Company A, Class 1. The next class was Company B, Class 2 and the next was Company A, Class 3. Thus the classes were lettered alternately A and B but numbered consecutively.
In June, 1943, the school was expanded to embrace 8 weeks rather than 6 weeks, with an increased emphasis being put on clerical training. As a result, classes graduated every 4 weeks rather than every 3 weeks from that time on. The dates of graduation for the twelve classes attending the school were: March 24, 1943; April 14, 1943; May 5, 1943; May 26, 1943; June 30, 1943; July 28, 1943; Sept. 1, 1943; Sept. 29, 1943; Nov. 3, 1943; Dec. 1, 1943; Dec. 29, 1943; and Jan. 26, 1944. Each of the classes presented a program for the public at the high school auditorium usually on the night before its graduation. The titles of the programs in the order presented are as follows: "Variety Show," "Two Knights in a Day Room," "Salute to the Nations," "Why I Joined the WAAC," "A Night in the Day Room," "G. I. Follies of 1943," "WAC's a' Poppin'," "Passing in Revue," "WAC Tracks," "Reunion in 155," "Bal Masque," and "Women at Camp." The classes also produced a mimeographed service newspaper for the local WAC branch called the "Tag Echo". Most of the WAC's trained at the school were from outside the state of Texas. Many were from New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, Georgia, and Iowa.
Through the financial support of the business firms of Nacogdoches, a Service Club was opened for the enjoyment of WAC's and others in the Military Service. The Service Club was formally opened on May 15, 1943 in the Beall Building on Main Street of Nacogdoches with about 150 WAC's and as many civilians attending.
Prior to the closing of the school in Jan. 1944, several officers of the school were transferred. Lt. Col. Thomas M. Childs was reassigned to the 8th Service Command, Dallas, in December of 1943. He was replaced as Commanding Officer of the school by Major Alford T. Hearne who was Adjutant of the station from the beginning. Major Woodbury was also transferred in December and was replaced as Educational Director by Major Ellen Bailey who had been Assistant Director of Instructions. The Army Administration School at Nacogdoches closed with the graduation of Company B, Class 12 on Jan. 26, 1944. In all, over 2,000 WAC's were trained at the school.
The collection consists of two volumes of large scrapbooks (about 27 x 18) entitled "WAAC Branch Number 1, Army Administration School, Nacogdoches, Texas, Volume 1" and "WAC Branch Number 1, Army Administration School, Nacogdoches, Texas, Volume 2." The scrapbooks are organized in near date order. Volume 1 spans Feb. 5, 1943 - Aug. 30, 1943 while Volume 2 covers Sept., 1943 - Feb. 10, 1944. Information about each class is usually presented together. The scrapbooks contain graduation programs of all 12 classes as well as programs of the shows presented by the classes. The DAILY SENTINEL's column "With the WAC" is included many times. Newspaper clippings from the DAILY SENTINEL, PINE LOG, and REDLAND HERALD announcing various events of the school and presenting human interest stories about the WAC's are included. Also, clippings from the hometown newspapers of WAC's of each class telling of their training at the WAC Army Administration School in Nacogdoches are included.
[B-29]
2 large scrapbooks
Volume 1
Volume 1 contains articles and photographs for several other events. On the first page of the volume is an 8" x 10" black and white photograph of Col. Albert Price and Lt. Col. Thomas M. Childs. Several articles and 21 snapshots describe the organization and opening of the school. Seven photographs of the first graduation are included. Volume 1 also contains several large WAC recruiting newspaper ads and a large HOUSTON POST newspaper article called "WAAC's Capture Entire East Texas" dated March 28, 1943, with six black and white glossy photographs that were used in the write-up. Two black and white pictures of WAC's that were not used in the article were also included at that point. Nineteen scattered snapshots of WAC'S and officers at the school and two larger pictures of Headquarters Company are also contained in the scrapbook. Volume 1 includes articles and snapshots of WAC's marching in parades at Beaumont (6 snapshots); Houston (article); and Timpson (article). Six snapshots of WAC's attending a Memorial Service in Timpson, Texas are included. Articles about the death of Capt. Hiram Joseph Clark, Quartermaster at WAC Branch No. 1 on May 23, 1943, as well as two 8" x 10" photographs of the loading of the casket on a train at Nacogdoches, and two snapshots of Capt. Clark are included. Near the end of Volume 1 are 8" x 10" black and white group pictures of Classes 1 through 6, the HQ Company (July 20, 1943) and of the Staff and Faculty (July 20, 1943). Also near the end of Volume 1 are nine snapshots of a trip to A & M College.
Volume 2
Volume 2 begins with a large newspaper ad saluting Col. Oveta Culp Hobby, followed by a collection of eighteen 8" x 10" black and white glossy photographs and one snapshot. In order, these photographs can be described as follows:
a picture of Lt. Col. T. M. Childs at his desk conversing with a civilian
a portrait of a WAC officer
3 group pictures of officers and staff of the school
1 snapshot of the sign for the school
2 pictures of speakers at Class Eight's graduation exercises including officers and guests seated on the stage (Sept. 29, 1943)
a picture of an instructors' meeting (Sept. 29, 1943)
a picture of a typing class
a picture of Lt. Fanny J. Cantrell instructing a class
2 pictures of Class Eight's Company Show (Sept. 29, 1943)
6 pictures of WAC's in various places including the message center, motor transport, personnel office, adjutant's office, volleyball game, and powder room.
The rest of Volume 2 contains programs and articles mentioned in the general description of the volumes. Also, several large ads supporting the WAC's and several articles about the close of the school are contained in Volume 2. Also included at the end of Volume 2 is a folder containing S. F. A. floor plans showing the proposed changes for the Army Administration School and Dr. Paul Boynton's speech at a WAAC luncheon in 1943.
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