Inventory of the Western Signal Corps School Collection
Sara Gunasekara
Department of Special Collections
General Library
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Phone: (530) 752-1621
Fax: (530) 754-5758
Email: speccoll@lib.ucdavis.edu
© 2013
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
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.
Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content
The collection contains school newsletters, a student guide, commemorative album, farewell menu, as well as several
photographs.
Arrangement of the Collection
The collection is arranged in two series: Printed Material and Photographs.
Indexing Terms
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
Access
Collection is open for research.
Processing Information
Sara Gunasekara processed this collection.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], AR-185, Western Signal Corps School Collection, Department of Special Collections,
General Library, University of California, Davis.
Publication Rights
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.
Series 1.
Printed Material
1943-1944
Scope and Content Note
Contains school newsletters, student guide, commemorative album, and a farewell menu. Arranged
chronologically.
Box 1:1
Western School Signaleer
1943 May-June
Box 1:2
Davis News in The Western Signal Corps Message
1943 June 10-24
Box 1:3
Western School Signaleer
1944 March 13-29
Box 1:4
Corrections and Additions to Davis Section of Telephone Directory
1944 August
Box 1:5
Farewell menu
1944 September 2
Box 2
Commemorative album
1944
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs.
Series 2.
Photographs
1943-1944
Scope and Content Note
Contains several images of the WSCS on campus including the radio school students in the Reading Room of
the Library.
Box 1:7
WSCS officer gives instruction in weapons maintenance to a new group of soldiers
circa 1943-1944
Physical Description:
2 prints
Box 1:8
Military exercises included transporting and testing explosives in the Putah Creek
waterway
circa 1943-1944
Physical Description:
1 print and 1 negative
Box 1:9-10
Military exercises on parade grounds
circa 1943-1944
Physical Description:
2 prints
Box 1:11
Controller Ira Smith, chief acting university officer, with officers
circa 1943-1944
Physical Description:
1 print
Box 3:1-3
Radio school students in the Reading Room of the Library
circa 1943-1944
Physical Description:
3 prints
Box 3:4
At the end of the WSCS activities, the Army returned the keys of the campus to Controller Ira
Smith (right), chief acting university officer
1944 October 31
Physical Description:
1 print and 1 negative
Box 3:5-10
Mounted photographs
circa 1943-1944
Physical Description:
6 photographs
Scope and Content Note
These photographs bear the logo of the US Army Signal Corps. They do not appear to have been taken in
Davis.
