This Week in Vanderbilt History

This Week
In Vanderbilt History ...

Though the United States had not yet entered World War II in January of 1941, students returned to campus that year determined to do their part to help the overseas war effort. Under the direction of Dean Fred J. Lewis and assisted by the staff of the engineering school, Vanderbilt began offering national defense classes. About 140 students participated in courses for mechanical drawing, materials inspection and testing, and machine design. These three classes met four nights a week for 30 weeks, plus two defense classes formed along with two civil power training courses. The courses were subsidized by the government.

Source: Vanderbilt Hustler, Jan. 10, 1941
-- Tara S. Donahue & Alyson Fant