{"id":188,"date":"2014-04-16T11:51:34","date_gmt":"2014-04-16T15:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/whscl-news\/?p=188"},"modified":"2014-06-03T12:46:41","modified_gmt":"2014-06-03T16:46:41","slug":"emory-medical-unit-in-two-world-wars-is-focus-of-exhibition-at-the-health-sciences-center-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scholarblogs.emory.edu\/whscl-news\/?p=188","title":{"rendered":"Emory Medical Unit in Two World Wars is Focus of Exhibition at the Health Sciences Center Library"},"content":{"rendered":"
The stories of Emory doctors, nurses, and enlisted men who comprised Base Hospital 43 during World War I and World War II will be the focus of \u201cWhen the Emory Unit Went to War,\u201d an exhibition that opens Monday, April 28 at\u00a0Emory University\u2019s<\/a>Woodruff Health Sciences Center (WHSC) Library<\/a>. An opening event will take place in early June, with a specific date yet to be set.The exhibition, which will be on display through March 30, 2015, features materials drawn from WHSC Library\u2019s historical collections and items from the university\u2019s\u00a0Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library<\/a>\u00a0(MARBL), including diary entries, scrapbooks, photographs, uniforms, and books about the unit.\u201cThe exhibit is a way to let students and the larger community know about this unique part of Emory\u2019s history,\u201d says its curator, Clayton McGahee, a WHSC Library archives specialist.In 1917, U.S. Army Surgeon General William Gorgas called for the recruitment of medical personnel during World War I, just after the United States entered the war. The local group of 24 officers, 65 nurses, and 154 enlisted personnel trained for several months before being deployed to Blois, France in 1918. They were called the Emory Unit due to the large number of personnel who came from Emory University. During World War II, the unit was again called into service, this time serving in Algeria and France.<\/p>\n

\u201cNurses and physicians sacrificed by enlisting, traveling to France and beyond to care for the wounded,\u201d says Sandra Franklin, director of WHSC Library. \u201cIn this exhibit, we have a glimpse of both medical and social environments through the eyes of the Emory Unit.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the cases will display the complete nurse\u2019s uniform of Leila Anderson, who served in France during World War I. The case will include her original chambray dress, white apron, medical pins and worn, resoled shoes, along with a photograph of Anderson wearing the uniform.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo see something that was an everyday part of her life, and to see it here in such good condition, is a fascinating part of the exhibit,\u201d McGahee says.<\/p>\n

Among the photographs on display are images of the hospital exterior, wounded soldiers in the hospital wards, nurses in action during World War II, and nurses disembarking from a boat and wading into the water in southern France. Lt. Col. Edward C. Davis, founder of the World War I Emory Unit, and Maj. T. Sterling Claiborne of the World War II Emory Unit are also highlighted.<\/p>\n

The exhibition will also feature history books on World War I. In particular, “History of the Emory Unit: Base Hospital 43, U.S. Army, American Expeditionary Forces” provides detailed information about the life of Base Hospital 43, from its founding to the Emory Unit\u2019s return home from war. Other materials include a registered nurse certificate from Wesley Memorial Hospital and articles from both the Atlanta Constitution and Emory Alumnus.<\/p>\n

“The more you read about the experiences of Emory Unit members, the easier it is to be swept up by their stories,\u201d McGahee says. \u201cThe purpose for this exhibit is to bring everything together, to connect the Emory Unit to how it affected the university, and then take the time to tell the stories of select individuals.”<\/p>\n

Franklin says that \u201cWhen the Emory Unit Went to War\u201d will provide a second opportunity to showcase historical medical materials and artifacts acquired primarily through donations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first exhibition, \u2018Medical Treasures at Emory,\u2019 favorably promoted the existence of our historical collections,\u201d Franklin says, \u201cWith visibility through press releases and public programming, we hope the community will be drawn to experience the story being told.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library is located at 1462 Clifton Rd. The\u00a0library\u2019s webpage<\/a>\u00a0provides links to directions, parking, hours and maps.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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