In the spring of 1943, some 380 soldiers - among the nation's best and brightest military draftees - were assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) at Providence College. The Army paid their room, board and tuition costs while they attended classes in mathematics, physics, chemistry, history, geography and English, taught by the college's Dominican faculty, that ran simultaneously but separately from the college's normal curriculum. Most of the soldiers lived in Aquinas Hall, five to a room, while others lived in the original Guzman Hall. They used the college's athletic fields for training exercises.
The goal of the program, initiated by Secretary of War Henry Stimson and conducted at more than 120 colleges and universities throughout the nation, was to provide specialized training to prepare these soldier-scholars for military tasks in engineering, mathematics, medical/dental areas and foreign languages, and to ensure that there would be sufficient numbers of doctors, dentists,lawyers, and other skilled and well-educated professionals after the war ended.
In March of 1944, the program was abruptly canceled and the soldiers were reassigned to the 328th infantry regiment of the 26th Yankee Division. The War Department had determined that the soldiers enrolled in the program, whose presence at Providence College had enabled the college to continue operating, were needed to reinforce troops stationed at the front lines.
The goal of the program, initiated by Secretary of War Henry Stimson and conducted at more than 120 colleges and universities throughout the nation, was to provide specialized training to prepare these soldier-scholars for military tasks in engineering, mathematics, medical/dental areas and foreign languages, and to ensure that there would be sufficient numbers of doctors, dentists,lawyers, and other skilled and well-educated professionals after the war ended.
In March of 1944, the program was abruptly canceled and the soldiers were reassigned to the 328th infantry regiment of the 26th Yankee Division. The War Department had determined that the soldiers enrolled in the program, whose presence at Providence College had enabled the college to continue operating, were needed to reinforce troops stationed at the front lines.
TITLE | TYPE | DATE CREATED | COLLECTION(S) | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|---|---|---|
Civilians and Soldiers mingle at a Party | Image | 1943-10-09 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Junior Veridames Saturday Dances |
Clipping about ASTP Leaving PC | Digital Document | ASTP 1943-1944 | ||
Clipping from Robert Madson about ASTP Leaving PC | Digital Document | ASTP 1943-1944 | ||
College Loses Dr. Arthur L. Quirk | Digital Document | 1943-09-30 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Providence College Physics Department Chairman to Join Cambridge Firm |
College Prepared to Handle 500 Students | Digital Document | 1943-04-12 | ASTP 1943-1944 | College's preparations: Housing, Messing, Medical care, Curriculum, Faculty, Instruction Facili… |
College Training Plans Completed- Newspaper Clipping | Digital Document | 1942-12-05 | ASTP 1943-1944 | War Manpower Chief Paul V. McNutt Announcing Education Programs for the Armed Services |
Colleges to be Assigned Training | Digital Document | ASTP 1943-1944 | Estimate and Rules Regarding Selection | |
Colleges to Train Soldiers- Newspaper Clipping | Digital Document | 1942-12-17 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Announcing Full Program Guidelines |
Commencement | Image | 1944-01-28 | ASTP 1943-1944 | |
Comments on NY Times Article- May 30, 1943 | Digital Document | ASTP 1943-1944 | Response to SMEAR article of NY Times dated May 22, 1943 | |
Correspondence on Father English's Information regarding Colleges receiving Students | Digital Document | 1942-12-09 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Instructions on how to proceed |
Couples dancing together to the Music | Image | 1944-01-16 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Junior Veridames Saturday Dances |
Crowd Gathered for Camera at November Dance | Image | 1943-11-24 | ASTP 1943-1944 | |
Crowd singing around the Piano | Image | 1944-01-16 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Junior Veridames Saturday Dances |
Crowds Waving as Men March Past | Image | 1944-03-19 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Deactivation |
Dance Orchestra at ASTP Dance | Image | 1943-09-18 | ASTP 1943-1944 | |
Dance Orchestra during October Dance | Image | 1943-10-09 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Junior Veridames Saturday Dances |
Dance Orchestra plays a Song | Image | 1943-10-09 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Junior Veridames Saturday Dances |
Dance Orchestra Ready to Play | Image | 1944-03 | ASTP 1943-1944 | |
Dominicans Review Soldiers Preparing to Leave | Image | 1944-03-19 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Deactivation |
Dr. Quirk Resigns Post at Providence College | Digital Document | 1943-09-30 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Also, Professor of Physics Raymond A. Degraff will teach courses in the basic engineering curriculum… |
Ensign Aaron J. Slom promoted to Lieutenant | Digital Document | 1944-01-28 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Slom is a graduate of PC |
Faculty Required for Army Program | Digital Document | ASTP 1943-1944 | By Dept. for Basic Engineering | |
Father Chandler Comments on ASTP | Digital Document | 1944-07-17 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Comments on curriculum and other program notes |
Father Clark Protests Use of Mothers in War Work | Digital Document | 1943-10-04 | ASTP 1943-1944 | Father Clark Says too many Mothers are Making "War Orphans of Their Children" |