Description
The bulk of the collection centers on the work with the Council of National Defense of James A.B. Scherer (1870-1944),
president of the California Institute of Technology,
during the First World War.
Subjects in the collection include: African-Americans; Americanization; American Red Cross; liberty bonds; military training
camps; Newton Baker;
patriotism; rationing; sedition; preventive medicine, U.S. Department of Agriculture; World War I propaganda; war risk insurance;
and William Randolph Hearst.
Background
James Augustin Brown Scherer (1870-1944) (aka James A.B. Scherer) was born in
Salisbury, North Carolina, on May 22, 1870, to the Rev. Simeon and Harriet Isabella
(née Brown) Scherer. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College,
Scherer accepted a position teaching English at the Japanese Imperial Government
school in Saga, Japan. While serving in this post, he met Bessie Brown, a native of
Yamaguchi, Japan, whom he wed on July 5, 1894. He also began a lifelong interest in
the Japanese people and culture. Scherer returned to the United States with his new
wife the following year, and went on to complete both his master’s and doctoral
diplomas at Pennsylvania College in 1897.
Extent
452 items in 4 boxes
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Availability
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.