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Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Historical Note
Scope and Content
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Title: Engineering, Science, and Management War Training (ESMWT). Announcement and brochures.
Identifier/Call Number: University Archives Record Series 587
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.4 linear ft.
(1 box)
Date: 1942-1944
Abstract: Record Series 587 contains brochures and course announcements describing specialized defense industry training offered by
UCLA during World War II, including approximately 286 course announcements, 79 brochures, and 4 publications created by the
Engineering, Science, and Management War Training (ESMWT) program.
Creator:
Engineering, Science, and Management War Training.
Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Publication Rights
Copyright of portions of this collection is held by The Regents of the University of California. The UCLA University Archives
can grant permission to publish for materials to which it holds the copyright. All requests for permission to publish or quote
must be submitted in writing to the UCLA University Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Engineering, Science, and Management War Training (ESMWT). Announcement and brochures (University
Archives Record Series 587). UCLA Library Special Collections, University Archives.
Historical Note
In January 1941, University of California President Robert Gordon Sproul established a University War Council (consisting
of faculty members and administrators from most campuses) to survey the resources of the University of California and to reorganize
them in anticipation of WWII. Already started at UCLA was a federally-financed program in tool engineering, supervised by
Thomas A. Watson, Assistant Professor of Mechanic Arts. In August 1941, the UCLA effort was absorbed into a nationwide program
to teach and upgrade production skills.
Established under the aegis of the U.S. Office of Education and administered by University of California University Extension,
the program at UCLA was first called "Engineering, Science and Management Defense Training" in 1941. Later in 1942 the name
was changed slightly to "Engineering, Science and Management War Training" (ESMWT). Both UCLA and Berkeley Extension programs
were administered by the Berkeley campus.
On January 5, 1941, UCLA first offered Engineering, Science and Management Defense Training classes for Southern California
defense industry workers. In 1942-43 the classes became available to college students. ESMWT instruction was offered at following
centers: UCLA Campus, Burbank, Downey, El Segundo, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Long Beach, and Wilmington. Later, classes
were conducted at defense companies: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Douglas Aircraft Company, and North American Aviation.
The instruction was designed to provide short college courses to meet the demand for chemists, physicists, engineers, tool
engineers, and management personnel in the aircraft and other defense industries. In 1944, the University of California added
courses for men and women who were high school graduates and for people who were employed or employable in war industries.
Although a nationwide program, ESMWT was locally known as the University of California War Training Program. The program was
tuition free; students did not receive university credit. In addition to the UCLA and Berkeley, the University of California
held classes for the program at the San Francisco and San Diego campuses.
The University's statewide ESMWT program was under the direction of Morrough P. O'Brien, chairman of the department of mechanical
engineering at Berkeley. UCLA campus supervisors included William Whyburn, mathematics; Joseph Kaplan, physics; Thomas A.
Watson, mechanic arts; William R. Crowell, chemistry; Professor George Robbins, management; and Albert W. Bellany, radio and
engineering. During the course of the program, hundreds of UCLA professors and off-campus instructors participated.
The University of California's ESMWT program offered over 200 courses, enrolling more than 6,500 men and women. Approximately
50 per cent of ESMWT's courses were in the field of engineering, 25 per cent in industrial management, 15 per cent in physics
and chemistry, and 10 per cent in mathematics (UCLA On the Move, pg. 102).
As male draftsmen and engineers entered military service, job vacancies were filled by women who had taken classes in the
Engineering, Science and Management War Training program.
The University of California was described by President Sproul as a "humming war plant - the largest in the nation (UCLA On
the Move, pg. 102)." The red, white and blue design of the ESMWT announcements and brochures reflect the level of patriotism
prevalent during this time.
Scope and Content
Record Series 587 contains brochures and course announcements describing specialized defense industry training offered by
UCLA during World War II, including approximately 286 course announcements, 79 brochures, and 4 publications created by the
Engineering, Science, and Management War Training (ESMWT) program.
This is an inactive record series; no additional University records are expected to be added.
UCLA Catalog Record ID