I shared a photo of my grandmother Eveline Coates’ high school graduating class in Mystic, Iowa a few weeks (now months!) ago. Along with the photo and her diploma, a couple of other mementos were saved. One is the program for the Junior-Senior Banquet in honor of the graduating Seniors. It was interesting to see how World War I seemed to be the overarching theme of the festivities. I decided to take a deeper look at what her life may have been like during the 1917-1918 school year. There was a lot going on, a war and the beginning of an influenza pandemic to name the two biggies. The list of related posts is getting long, so I’ll link them at the bottom.
Stahr, Paul, Be Patriotic (United States: United States Food Administration, 1918).
Readers of the local newspapers published in Appanoose County had read about the national food campaign since before the U. S. joined the war in the spring of 1917. Once the U.S. went to war, the food campaign intensified. Herbert Hoover, who headed the U. S. Food Administration, didn’t hold back, telling Americans to stop eating so much!
1917 Jun 4, Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
On October 15th, local readers might have seen a sample pledge card in preparation for the upcoming food pledge week later in October (immediately following a Liberty Bond campaign).
1917 Oct 15, Semi Weekly Iowegian, Centerville, Iowa
Although the food pledge campaign was not exactly new at this point, a couple of days before the above, the paper published an article providing the back story to the food pledge campaign, hoping to encourage a majority of families to join the effort to save food to help the war effort. Most of the publicity was directed to women, who were told that their domestic duties were needed to win the war. They would be Kitchen Soldiers. One of their first assignments: sign the food pledge.
11 Oct 1917 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa All of the thread below are part of the same article.
Women of Iowa were asked to sign the pledge, which would allow the government to create a mailing list to communicate directly with them.
The campaign started six weeks earlier, but hit some snags, so the government wanted to quash any misunderstandings and make a further appeal to the housewives of Iowa. Those who didn’t sign on, well, they would represent a new class of “slackers.”
Readers were told that college girls, fraternal organizations, and churches had joined the movement..
School children would be assigned a special essay on October 15th, to be titled: “Why Every American Family Should Sign the Food Pledge Card.”
The final pitch.
Just as it would have been nearly impossible to avoid the Red Cross membership and fundraising drives, it would have been equally difficult to miss the call to join the food campaign. I think I can safely assume that a canvas worker knocked on the door of the Coates family home; the working men were approached at work; and the school children heard their teachers talk about the need to conserve food. Eveline must have written an essay about the importance of signing the food pledge. If Eveline’s mother, or Eveline herself, signed the pledge, they may have hung one of these cards in the window of their home.
National Archives at College Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
No one was too young to help win the war. Eat no wheat for breakfast and clean your plate.
Cushman Parker, Little Americans, Do Your Bit (United States: United States Food Administration, 1917).
This is my very late contribution to Sepia Saturday, where a child with a similar hairstyle stands tall on a chair, ready to do her bit.
I shared a photo of my grandmother Eveline Coates’ high school graduating class in Mystic, Iowa a few weeks (now months!) ago. Along with the photo and her diploma, a couple of other mementos were saved. One is the program for the Junior-Senior Banquet in honor of the graduating Seniors. It was interesting to see how World War I seemed to be the overarching theme of the festivities. I decided to take a deeper look at what her life may have been like during the 1917-1918 school year. There was a lot going on, a war and the beginning of an influenza pandemic to name the two biggies. The list of related posts is getting long, so I’ll link them at the bottom.
Three Faces In Search Of A Back Story : Edited Detail of Third Party Print (See 2013.09W.12) Sepia Saturday 634 Theme Image
Alan’s prompt photo and title provided the perfect words to describe this series: “Three Faces In Search Of A Back Story.” This series about my grandmother during her senior year of high school has been a search for the back story to the military-themed senior reception her class celebrated in May 1918. I dived in deeper than I initially planned or expected and I have certainly learned a lot. Not so much about Eveline and her family in particular, but the family in the context of their time and place. I think today is a good time for me to look back at what I have learned so far. I have read a lot and searched so many news items, that I think I need a mini refresher as I begin to close the series.
I expected to read about the influenza epidemic hitting Eveline’s home town. I didn’t find cases of influenza. Instead, the prominent infectious disease was smallpox. Eveline had it in November 1917.
Eveline’s older brothers, Carl and John, were required to register for the draft in June 1917. As a married man with a child expected any day, Carl was exempt from service. John awaited his draft number being called.
Eveline became an aunt for the first time when Carl’s daughter, Pauline, was born in late June 1917.
Eveline hosted her classmates for a party in July at the covered bridge.
I learned a little more about the town of Mystic. The population was about 2700, the streets were unpaved, and it was experiencing a boom due to the increased production of coal. A large percentage of the population were immigrants, as were Eveline’s parents. I located photos of several of the buildings in town and learned more about the Interurban, which ran between Mystic and the county seat, Centerville. And I learned about some of the entertainment and community gatherings of the time.
I had always wondered what mines Eveline’s family worked in, where the mines were located, and where their home was located. I was able to map their locations. Carl and John worked mine #12, which was pretty close to their home. Brother Joe worked at Twin Mines. I was not able to determine where her father worked, but I would guess the #12. I learned that the town ran on “mine time,” arising and eating and ending the day according to the mine whistles – the last one of the work day indicating if there would be work the following day. I could not find lists of union membership, but the miners had an active union, there were walkouts during this time, and I was surprised to learn that Mother Jones came to speak to the miners.
Some of the political issues of the time were enforcement of the “blue law” in the county, the national push for suffrage, and the temperance movement. Once the United States joined the war, things changed for everyone. The young men enlisted and the people of Mystic watched their “boys” leave for training and for France. Although I assume there was already a fairly strong commitment to civic life, once the nation joined the war, people were called upon to show their patriotism and support in new and numerous ways: through financial and volunteer support of the Red Cross, the Y.M.C.A., Liberty Bonds, War Stamps … And some immigrant populations, especially German immigrants, came under suspicion as possible supporters of the enemy.
There remains another likely influence on Eveline’s life during her senior year that I have yet to write about – the politics of food.
I’ll close with a postcard I recently acquired of Walnut Creek in Mystic.
I have a couple of undated photos taken at Walnut Creek, several years later than Eveline’s senior year of high school, I think.
Eveline Coates Wading in Walnut Creek, Mystic, Iowa
The cursive handwriting is Eveline’s. The printed handwriting is my mother’s.
And this one of Alice Tingle. Alice is next to Eveline in the class photo at the top. Alice married Eveline”s brother Joe.
Alice Tingle Coates at Walnut Creek, Mystic, Iowa
Please visit other Sepia Saturday participants here: Sepia Saturday.
I shared a photo of my grandmother Eveline Coates’ high school graduating class in Mystic, Iowa a few weeks (now months!) ago. Along with the photo and her diploma, a couple of other mementos were saved. One is the program for the Junior-Senior Banquet in honor of the graduating Seniors. It was interesting to see how World War I seemed to be the overarching theme of the festivities. I decided to take a deeper look at what her life may have been like during the 1917-1918 school year. There was a lot going on, a war and the beginning of an influenza pandemic to name the two biggies. The list of related posts is getting long, so I’ll link them at the bottom.
The prompt photo of a smiling man in a hospital bed seems the perfect time to mention the influence of the Red Cross during the time Eveline was a senior in high school. I keep trying to imagine why this young man has such a big smile. Maybe he was trying to impress a Red Cross nurse.
Sepia Saturday 632 Prompt : Unknown Man In Hospital Bed Third Party Prints
Once again, I have a bunch of newspaper clippings from Appanoose County saved. As I searched the internet for additional information, I came across a digitized book, The Red Cross in Iowa, which helps to put the newspaper articles I found in context. Since I’m not doing a research paper on the Red Cross in Iowa, I just skimmed for what looked relevant. My interest is simply to imagine my grandmother’s community and her life.
According to The Red Cross in Iowa, “No sooner had the United States declared that a state of war existed than persons in all parts of Iowa became inspired with a desire to have a Red Cross chapter established in their particular county, city, town, or village.” In Iowa, twenty-four Red Cross chapters were in operation the first of May. That number increased over two hundred per cent during the next two weeks. Iowa led all the states in the nation in the number of chapters formed during June 1917. At the end of the month, Iowa, with one hundred and twelve active chapters, had more than any other state, with New York second and Pennsylvania third. The national organization preferred that each county have one chapter headquartered in the county seat with jurisdiction over the entire county.
At the time of this big push to join the Red Cross, Eveline had just completed her Junior year of high school. I expected that the newspaper clippings I had saved would reflect this membership drive in June 1917. Instead, I found mostly news items about a national fund raising drive. Appanoose County was tasked with raising $7100 as their portion of the national campaign.
An individual membership was one dollar. Canvassers were identified by an “I Serve” Red Cross pin and gave a pin to each new member.
My best guess is that the undated pins may have been given in 1917.
Mystic’s portion of the $7100 was $626.37.
1917 Jun 21 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
Shortly after the planning meeting in Centerville, Mystic announced that a patriotic Red Cross meeting would be held Sunday, June 25th. The committee also met with mine operators and foremen. When Eveline’s father and brothers went to work the following week, they were likely handed a pledge card and encouraged to donate.
1917 Jun 22 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
The program of the meeting is reported below.
1917 Jun 25 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
Most of the commenters in a Facebook group devoted to memories of Centerville and Appanoose County believe this photo was taken around 1930 inside the Strand Theater in Mystic. Rather than the many children and the tiger above the stage, imagine stars and stripes, red crosses, ministers, old soldiers, and a choir of 50 voices along with the speakers. One of the articles above places the Centerville Band playing outside the theater.
Probably the Strand Theater, Mystic, Iowa about 1930-1931, accessed from Facebook
This photo of the Strand Theater was taken in the early 1970s, well past its prime, probably not long before it was torn down.
Strand Theater, Mystic, Iowa about 1972, accessed from Facebook
Mystic went above and beyond in giving to the Red Cross.
1917 Jun 25, Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
A follow-up article detailed the amounts raised by the coal companies in addition to personal subscriptions.
By early July, Mystic organized its own branch of the Red Cross, the third town in the county to do so. The county chairman is quoted as saying:
“The money for the work has been raised and the need now is that these societies keep up the interest and send to the national organization their contributions of bandages and other necessities.”
Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, July 6, 1917
I have no way of knowing if Eveline’s family attended any of these events, joined the Red Cross, or participated in activities related to the Red Cross. I can say that they were certainly exposed to information and heartily encouraged to join. It would have been difficult to avoid.
The Mystic branch had a social affair in early August and the ladies of the society offered thanks and appreciation in the newspaper.
1917 Aug 16 Semi Weekly Iowegian, Centerville, Iowa
About twenty women gathered to make bandages in August. My understanding is that bandages were made by cutting large bolts of gauze into strips and lengths and rolling them.
1917 Aug 23 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
Perhaps a work session looked a little like this one in Connecticut.
Dudley, William G. , “Red Cross workers rolling bandages,” Digital History 511: Theory & Practice, accessed August 6, 2022, https://library.ccsu.edu/dighistFall16/items/show/179.
Around the time school started in the fall, the newspaper printed instructions for Red Cross knitting that included two kinds of wristlets, a muffler, and a sleeveless sweater. Below is a scan from one of the Red Cross booklets, showing completed items.
https://hdl.handle.net/2027/iau.31858046092270 The Delineator. V.91 1917
In addition to the instructions in the newspaper, one might have seen posters around town promoting knitting for the Red Cross.
I didn’t find anything about a Junior Red Cross for school children in Mystic, but a group of unidentified high school girls prepared Christmas comfort kits for solders. The kits were displayed in a local store. I don’t know if Eveline participated, but she knew her brother would likely be called up soon and might have wanted to do her part to support the soldiers.
1917 Oct 22 Semi Weekly Iowegian, Centerville, Iowa
The next big membership drive was planned for the week before Christmas. President Woodrow Wilson, who was also President of the Red Cross, put out a proclamation announcing the Christmas membership drive.
1917 Dec 13 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
The national committee of the Red Cross made extensive plans to bring the campaign to the general public. Posters, pamphlets, cards, and other forms of publicity were forwarded to the chapters. Many magazines with a national circulation agreed to give free advertising space to the Red Cross for the Christmas Campaign.
A publicity campaign was also outlined for the chapter publicity committees. Arrangements were to be made with local merchants for window displays showing articles produced by the Red Cross. Proofs of several advertisements were prepared by the national committee and were sent to the chapters, which were urged to have local advertisers donate their space on certain days. The mayor was to be asked to issue a proclamation on the opening day of the drive and to raise the Red Cross flag over the municipal building. Local speakers’ bureaus were asked to secure a record of all public meetings, benefits, and theatrical performances, and make arrangements to have them addressed by Red Cross speakers. The bureaus were also to arrange for a Red Cross sermon in every church on December 23rd.
The Centerville papers ran business advertisements during the designated week that promoted the Red Cross, as well as articles as mentioned above.
1917 Dec 17 Semi Weekly Iowegian, Centerville, Iowa
The national committee suggested a schedule of events, covering the days from December 17th until Christmas:
Monday, December 17 – Publication of Governor’s Proclamation arranged by Division Offices. Public statement by the Chapter Chairman and by the Commanding Officer of any arm or navy post within the district.
1917 Dec 17 Semi Weekly Iowegian, Centerville Iowa
In addition to the articles and advertisements provided by the Red Cross, the papers also ran some more dramatic pieces like the one below to encourage/appeal to/shame? readers to join the Red Cross.
1917 Dec 18 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
Tuesday, December 18 – Civil Employees’ Day. Proclamation by the mayor. Raising of Red Cross Flag on the principal municipal building – to be displayed throughout the campaign.
Wednesday, December 19 – Women’s Day, on which special tribute should be paid to the work which women are doing in the Red Cross. Meetings of local women’s organizations. Special exercise in workroom, etc. Peak of the House to House Canvass.
Thursday, December 20 – School Day, on which every teacher will speak on the significance of the Red Cross and upon the significance of the Christmas ceremony.
I imagine, then, that Eveline and her classmates heard their teachers speak about the Red Cross and the upcoming Christmas ceremony. It was not enough that each family had a member of the Red Cross, it was hoped that everyone in a household would join and participate in the activities of the Red Cross.
Friday, December 21 – Employees’ Day, on which special tribute should be paid to the support which the laboring man is giving to the Red Cross. Concentrate on certain large factories on this day with speeches, solicitations, etc.
Saturday, December 22 – Boy Scouts’ Day, on which Boy Scouts will be organized for canvass for membership.
Sunday, December 23 – Church Day, on which Christmas sermons on the Red Cross will be preached in every church.
Monday, December 24 – Red Cross Christmas Ceremony Day.
The Red Cross Christmas ceremony was planned to close out the Christmas Membership Campaign. During the campaign each member was to be given a Red Cross service flag to be placed in the window. On Christmas Eve at 7:30 a candle was to be placed behind each of these service flags so that expression might be given to “the universal aspect of the Red Cross.” In addition it was suggested that local committees arrange with the churches to chime their bells at 7:30 and at half-hour intervals until 9:00 o’clock, the time set for the end of the ceremony. It was also planned that in each community Red Cross workers should be organized into groups to walk each neighborhood singing Christmas carols.
Pennsylvania State University. Special Collections Library
Due to the fire hazard involved in placing candles behind the Red Cross service flags, directions were later sent out from headquarters for chapters to discourage the use of candles. Oops!
1917 Dec 22 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
Besides the candle decision, there were some other hiccups along the way in the form of rumors that discouraged people from joining. Could it have been “enemy propaganda”?
1917 Dec 24 Semi Weekly Iowegian, Centerville, Iowa
I couldn’t verify that Mystic followed the calendar and other plans to the letter, but the amount of enthusiasm shown in the newspaper leads me to believe that Mystic and the entire county, followed the plan in spirit, if not in every detail.
Along with the articles promoting one’s patriotic and moral duty to join the Red Cross, I found some articles that might have spurred someone to join in order to protect their place in the community. During the week of the Christmas drive, a “Vigilance Corps” was formed in Centerville. One might hope to prove their loyalty by joining the Red Cross, contribute to the Y.M.C.A, or buy liberty bonds.
1917 Dec 21 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
The mayor of Marshalltown (not in Appanoose County) lost his job because he wasn’t deemed patriotic enough.
1917 Dec 27 Semi Weekly Iowegian, Centerville, Iowa
One town in Iowa chided residents for the low percentage of membership and praised a nearby German community for having 100% participation. Well … it seems pretty obvious that immigrants from particular countries, especially Germany, were eyed with suspicion, so of course they might have decided to band together and demonstrate their loyalty to the U. S. by joining the Red Cross. A couple of German immigrants in the state made the papers in January – one was found guilty of giving unpatriotic advice.
1917 Jan 05 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
And another escaped lynching – twice.
1918 Jan 05 Centerville Daily Iowegian and Citizen, Centerville, Iowa
I don’t know where Eveline and her family stood in all of this, but I’m guessing that they joined the Red Cross. Whether out of a sense of supporting the charitable work or a feeling of duress, who knows? Maybe both. Surely anyone who did not join the Red Cross was subject to glaring side eyes at the very least.
Please visit other Sepia Saturday participants here: Sepia Saturday. You may have noticed that I used last week’s prompt photo. That’s because I didn’t finish last week’s post until today!
