Records related to Selective Service registration at Harvard University
Overview
The United States began drafting men for military service with the passage of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 (also known as the Burke-Wadsworth Act) on September 16, 1940. This collection documents Harvard University’s participation in the registration of men under the Selective Training and Service Act on October 16, 1940 and June 30, 1942. Records include registration day placards, check lists for chief registrars, blank volunteer cards, lists of Harvard University registrar instructors and registrars, and completed registrar’s reports.
Dates
- Creation: 1940-1942
Creator
- Harvard University (Organization)
Researcher Access
Open for research.
Extent
.65 cubic feet (2 portfolio folders)This collection documents Harvard University’s participation in the registration of men under the Selective Training and Service Act on October 16, 1940 and June 30, 1942. Records include registration day placards, check lists for chief registrars, blank volunteer cards, lists of Harvard University registrar instructors and registrars, and completed registrar’s reports listing some of those Harvard students who registered for selective service at Harvard on June 30, 1942.
Historical note
The United States began drafting men for military service with the passage of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 (also known as the Burke-Wadsworth Act) on September 16, 1940. This Selective Service Act required those men between the ages of 21 and 35 to register with local draft boards. Later, when the United States entered World War II, all men aged 18 to 45 were subject to military service, and all men aged 18 to 65 were required to register. In October 1940, Harvard University offered to help Cambridge and Boston election officials in fulfilling the registration requirements mandated under the Selective Service Act. On October 16, 4,700 students and faculty members registered for United States military service. Subsequent registrations took place after the United States entered World War II. On June 30, 1942, Harvard University made the Widener Library available for a fifth registration under the Selective Service Act, where 1,278 Harvard students enlisted for military service.
Acquisition information
The documents in this collection are University records and were acquired in the course of University business. Whenever possible the archivist noted the terms of acquisition in the folder list below.
The acquisitions are as follows:
- 1942 August 25, Jerome D. Greene
- 1948, Harvard President’s Office
References
Registration Information for Students and Faculty Members,
The Harvard Crimson, October 14, 1940.Registration Aides Asked to Report to Widener Today: Clerks, Interpreters Who Answered Council Call Needed for Service,
The Harvard Crimson, October 16, 1940.Registration of 4700 Members of University Runs Off Smoothly,
The Harvard Crimson, October 17, 1940.1500 to Crowd Registration Today: Records Rush Expected with Remainder Enrolling Today,
The Harvard Crimson, June 29, 1942.1278 Register at Widener As 18-20 Group Signs Up: Only Oldest Subject to Immediate Call,
The Harvard Crimson, July 1, 1942.- Wikipedia contributors, "Selective Training and Service Act of 1940," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Selective_Training_and_Service_Act_of_1940&oldid=606708699 (accessed May 22, 2014).
- Wikipedia contributors, "Selective Training and Service Act of 1940," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Selective_Training_and_Service_Act_of_1940&oldid=606708699 (accessed May 22, 2014).
Inventory update
This document last updated 2019 March 13.
General note
Groups
- Harvard University -- Students.
- Harvard University -- History -- 20th century.
- Harvard University -- Military training and service.
- United States -- Selective Service System.
- Harvard University -- History -- World War -- 1939-1945.
General note
Topics
- Draft -- United States.
- Draft registration -- United States.
- Recruiting and enlistment -- United States.
General note
Formats and genres
- Placards (information artifacts)
- Registration (information handling)
Processing Information
This inventory was created in April 2014 by Dominic P. Grandinetti from a cursory inspection of the material and a variety of information sources. Titles were devised by the archivist.
Creator
- Harvard University (Organization)
- Title
- Harvard University. Records related to Selective Service registration at Harvard University, 1940, 1942 : an inventory
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hua30014
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
Pusey Library
Harvard Yard
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
(617) 495-2461
archives_reference@harvard.edu