Engineering, Science, and Management War Training Program records, 1940 - 1945
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Summary
- Creator:
- United States. Office of Education
- Abstract:
- The Engineering, Science, Management War Training (ESMWT) program trained students to participate in defense activities, in order to meet the shortage of engineers, chemists, physicists, and production supervisors during World War II. The Duke University ESMWT was administered by A. S. Brower, and was overseen by the United States Department of Education. The Engineering, Science, and Management War Training Program Records includes general information, forms, reports, bulletins, financial records, correspondence, and course material dating from 1940-1945. English.
- Extent:
- 7.5 Linear Feet
7500 Items - Language:
- English.
- Collection ID:
- UA.26.01.0003
- University Archives Record Group:
- 26 -- Interdisciplinary Institutes, Research Centers, and Departments
26 -- Interdisciplinary Institutes, Research Centers, and Departments > 01 -- Independent Programs
Background
- Scope and content:
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The Engineering, Science, and Management War Training Program Records include general information, forms, reports, bulletins, financial records, and course material. Also included are correspondence and memos circulated among Duke University, the Office of Education, instructors, and trainees. The records date from 1940 to 1945, and are arranged in two series: General Information and Program Files.
- Biographical / historical:
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The Engineering, Science, Management War Training (ESMWT) program was designed to provide short courses of college level to individuals who would be immediately available upon completion to participate in defense activities, in order to meet the shortage of engineers, chemists, physicists, and production supervisors in fields essential to national defense. Organized under the Labor-Federal Security Appropriation Act, 1944 (PL 135), and administered by the U.S. Office of Education, the program was coordinated by regional advisors, working with individual institutions. Duke University's institutional representative was A. S. Brower, Treasurer of the University at that time.
Each institution assumed full responsibility for administering its ESMWT program in full accordance with the provisions of its approved plan. This included seeking approval for and the teaching of courses, recruiting and selecting trainees, expenditure of funds, and keeping records and accounts.
All courses provided by the institutions involved were approved by the Office of Education, based on regional and national need for this training. These courses were intended to provide skills in specific activities of immediate application, rather than being part of a course of study. "Chemistry of Explosives" and "Engineering Drawing" were just two of the courses offered. ESMWT courses were provided without tuition or fees to qualified trainees, and often took place in off-campus locations in the surrounding region.
ESMWT was operated under several names, and was at first called Engineering Defense Training. At the beginning of the 1941-1942 program, the name was changed to the Engineering, Science, and Management Defense Training. It was later changed to theEngineering, Science, and Management War Training.
- Acquisition information:
- The Engineering, Science, and Management War Training Program Records were acquired by the University Archives circa 1964.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by University Archives Staff
Completed 1990
Encoded by Valerie Gillispie, November 10, 2004
- Physical location:
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- World War, 1939-1945 -- War work -- North Carolina
World War, 1939-1945 -- Education and the war
World War, 1939-1945 -- War work -- Schools
Science -- Study and teaching
Engineering -- Study and teaching -- United States - Names:
- United States. Office of Education
United States. Office of Education
Duke University -- History
Duke University -- Students
Brower, A. S. (Alfred Smith), 1892-1968
Contents
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Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.
In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits students to inspect their education records and limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records.
Unprocessed materials are closed pending processing.
In off-site storage; 48 hours advance notice is required for use.
- Terms of access:
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Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Engineering, Science, and Management War Training Program Records, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.