|
Activities
Mount
Holyoke was a busy campus throughout the war
as the students participated in a wide range
of activities. The photos shown below were
just the tip of the iceberg. That funny old
truck in the photo at bottom right was filled
with hundreds of newspapers collected for one
of the many paper drives held during this period.
In addition to the paper drives, there were book
drives, blood drives, British War Relief,
Farmers Aid, the Victory Garden, child care,
hospital work, Adopt an Orphan and many many
more.
For
example, student Red Cross members rolled 20,000
surgical dressings, sewed 200 hospital garments
and knitted 275 other articles of clothing.
In March 1944, during one Red Cross drive,
the college surpassed the set goal of $3000
and eight dorms achieved 100% membership.(72)
Activities
In
the photo bottom left, sand crew members Janet
Anderson '42 and A. Barbara Corliss '42 prepared
for emergencies by practicing an incendiary
bomb snuffing technique. Pictured
in the center photo are Marilyn Damon '48,
Carol Day Hubbard '48, Jeanne Limpert '48 and
Dorothy McDonald '48, who were called "ingenious
freshman" in a Mount Holyoke press release
from 1944. They were responsible for this "wrap
your package" station for gifts going
overseas. Intent on their work, these girls
are described as "A1 morale builders."(73)
and
More Activities
The
Farmerettes worked in the Victory Garden, as
the college farm garden was called. It was
located behind the athletic fields, across
Silver Street from the college. The college
purchased the produce from the students and
the money raised was contributed to a number
of different causes. After the war, the produce
money was to fund new athletic facilities
Mount
Holyoke's famed V8's (V represented Victory,
NOT vegetable) began their a cappella song
stylings in 1942 during the Junior Show. The
group proved very popular and were soon entertaining
troops at Westover Air Force Base. Their smooth
harmonies delighted audiences and the V8's
were the the first non-professionals to sing
at the famous Stage Door Canteen in New York
City. The V8's have existed continuously for
over 60 years now and audiences enjoy listening
to them just as much now as they did then.(74)
|
