Description
The collection primarily documents Amsden's work with the American Red Cross and the Federal Department of Vocational Education
in France between 1918 and 1919, as well as her later work at the San Diego State College of Business teaching stenography
and shorthand. The collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, resumes, work reports, speeches, photographs,
a scrapbook, and various artifacts including patches, pins, buttons and a bracelet, and souvenir and guide books. Highlights
include detailed correspondence about Amsden's experience in war-torn France. Of particular interest is a letter detailing
Armistice Day in Paris.
Background
Born in Ypsilanti, Michigan on June 4, 1883, Georgia Amsden arrived in San Diego in 1909 as a stenography teacher at San Diego
High School. The majority of the collection concerns her volunteer work in France for the American Red Cross in 1918-1919
during World War I. While in France, the Red Cross "loaned" her to the Federal Department of Vocational Education. As the
only female vocational education representative, Amsden travelled to various military camps and hospitals in France. Her
job was to distribute vocational propaganda, and interview wounded soldiers about potential job prospects back in the United
States. She then returned to San Diego and became an associate professor of business education at San Diego State College
in 1925. She retired from the College in 1957. Ms. Amsden died in 1968.
Restrictions
The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with
the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections
is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be
submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission
is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available
for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including
but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
Availability
This collection is open for research.