Collection Guide
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Inventory of the Western Signal Corps School Collection
AR-185
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Table of contents
Creator:
University of California, Davis. Library
Title: Western Signal Corps School Collection
Date (inclusive): 1943-1944
Extent:
1.2 linear feet
Abstract: From 1943-1944, in the midst of World War II, the UC College of Agriculture at Davis
(now the University of California, Davis) was closed and converted to a training facility for the Western Signal
Corps School (WSCS). The collection contains school newsletters, a student guide, commemorative album, farewell
menu, as well as several photographs.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many
are stored offsite.
Repository:
University of California, Davis. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Davis, California 95616-5292
Collection number: AR-185
Language of Material: Collection materials in English.
During the fall of 1942 the U.S. Army negotiated with university President Robert Sproul for the use of the
Davis campus as a military training school. On January 1, 1943 the entire Davis campus was officially converted
into a training facility for the Western Signal Corps School (WSCS).
The WSCS, administered as a subunit of Camp Kohler by Lt. Col. E.A. Allen, took over the dormitories, the
gymnasium and swimming pool, the judging pavilions and most of the academic buildings. The library became the
radio school. Soldiers generally stayed one to six months for training in communications installation,
maintenance, and repair, along with other military skills.
In October 1944 the WSCS closed, having trained a total of about 1,800 men for active duty during the 22 months
that the campus was under the jurisdiction of the Army.
Source:
Scheuring, Ann.
Abundant Harvest: The History of the University of California, Davis. Davis: The
Regents of the University of California, 2001.
The collection contains school newsletters, a student guide, commemorative album, farewell menu, as well as several
photographs.
The collection is arranged in two series: Printed Material and Photographs.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public
access catalog.
United States. Army. Signal Corps. Western Signal
Corps School
University of California (1868-1952). College of
Agriculture--History
University of California, Davis--History
World War, 1939-1945
Collection is open for research.
Sara Gunasekara processed this collection.
[Identification of item], AR-185, Western Signal Corps School Collection, Department of Special Collections,
General Library, University of California, Davis.
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to
publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of
California, Davis as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the
copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.