{"id":2235,"date":"2022-11-01T08:47:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T08:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/?p=2235"},"modified":"2026-01-12T21:33:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T21:33:59","slug":"mundelein-responds-to-world-war-ii-1937-1941","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/2022\/11\/01\/mundelein-responds-to-world-war-ii-1937-1941\/","title":{"rendered":"Mundelein Responds to World War II: 1937-1941 "},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is part one of a two-part post in which graduate students examined how Mundelein College students wrote about World War II in <\/em>The Skyscraper student newspaper. This post spans the years 1937-1941, covering the time leading up to the U.S. entering the war following the attack on Pearl Harbor.<\/em> Read part two of the series HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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China and Japan are fiercely waging a bewildering undeclared war; Spain is blood-drenched in a civil strife; Austria has been absorbed by Nazi Germany; hostile Arabs and exiled Jews struggle for supremacy in the Holy Land, and the press in all the world records strife, unrest, outrage, and terror.<\/em><\/p>The Skyscraper<\/em>, April 5, 1938<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Mundelein delegates at the Catholic Association for International Peace, held at Mundelein on November 1, 1941. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The period in the late thirties leading up to World War II, the United States was marked by the stirrings of conflict abroad. While still reflecting upon a world changed by World War I, students became increasingly aware and concerned about the trouble brewing in Europe and particularly with Japan and China. The January 22 edition of The Skyscraper<\/em> in 1937 urged students to \u201cre-arm [their] soul[s] for another year in conflict.\u201d Many of the articles written around this time placed much of their emphasis and message on spiritual resilience, and the duties of Catholics to uphold and promote peace. Students participated in peace marches and attended lectures on how peace could be obtained through social reform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Mundelein and Loyola students prepare to lead the discussion at the Mundelein-Loyola forum on the Ethics of War. October 20, 1939 <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Japan\u2019s invasion of China was recognized by Mundelein with lectures on the geopolitical history of the area, and discussions on the current conflict. Over the summer break between terms in 1938, Miss Eileen Scanlon, director of physical education, took a \u201cworld tour\u201d where, among other places, she visited worn torn China without incident.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThough right in the midst of it all, we saw no actual fighting,\u201d Miss Scanlon reported. \u201cWe did however observe the ruins. Whole towns and villages wiped away. The people in Shanghai were living on the streets, and in Singapore, which is considered one of the crossroads of the world, it was strange to note that desolation and destruction had affected only the Chinese section of the city.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The students of Mundelein were able to experience the impact of the war in China from a safe distance thanks to these firsthand accounts. While the students were generally unaffected in their daily lives by the stirring of trouble in Europe and East Asia, they did take note. In March of 1938, Junior Edythe Williams wrote for the Skyline about her experience traveling the German countryside the summer prior. She wrote on the manifestation of Nazi propaganda in these less urban parts of Germany, and how the current political atmosphere was apparently affecting the general populace.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There is a friendly atmosphere among the people who still come to market \u2026 They seem singularly untouched by the advent of modern theories of government and regimentation of citizens\u2026 Outwardly, however, I found them happy and contented, giving no evidence of oppression. <\/p>\nThe Skyscraper<\/em>, March 8, 1938<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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While taking the role of observer, she acutely observes how prevalent Nazi propaganda was, even in the more remote parts of Germany, and how the daily lives of the average citizen were seemingly unaffected by the increasingly authoritarian regime. Alumna Wanda Pater, who had been studying in Warsaw, wrote to The Skyscraper<\/em> of her experiences fleeing war-torn Poland in 1939. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is around this time that the Skyline starts to show an increase in lectures and discussions on \u201cthe European crisis,\u201d though figures like Hitler are still addressed respectfully as \u201cworld leaders,\u201d as evidenced by an article in October of 1938. \u201c\u2026 Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Eduard Benes, and other world figures conferred in Munich on day last month about the possibility of avoiding World War\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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Raymond J Kelly, National Commander of the American Legion, talks with his freshman daughter Winifred (seated), and leaders of the Student Activity Council. October 5, 1939<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The threat of war crept ever closer to the students of Mundelein, physically as military activity increased in Europe, as well as emotionally and spiritually. An article from March of 1938 reflected upon the tragedy of World War I how war again seemed imminent \u201cthe pendulum swings back again towards war.\u201d The article also emphasizes again the role that Catholic women play in preventing war and promoting peace and urges the students to \u201cpray for the triumph of peace.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, Mundelein students and faculty were strongly opposed to any sort of involvement in war. While they observed the growing conflict in Europe with concern, and advocated strongly for peaceful resolutions, they did not want the United States to enter the conflict officially. A poll taken among Catholic College students in 1939 shows that the majority of students were firmly opposed to any sort of military involvement in Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students at the Home Economics Symposium speculate on where the world\u2019s pepper will come from, now that Norway is caught up in \u201cthe European conflict.\u201d April 26, 1940 <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As tensions in Europe continued to rise, discussions and lectures at Mundelein started to turn from solely advocating peace and expressing the need to avoid war, to a grimmer outlook. In October of 1940, the foreign editor for the Chicago Daily News spoke to the students about the likelihood of Nazi Germany trying to extend its grasp beyond western Europe and into the Americas. With each passing day, it became more and more apparent that the United States would have to get involved in the World-wide war, but to what degree was still up for discussion. In November of 1940 The Skyscraper<\/em> published a guide to different forms of government, covering totalitarianism, communism, fascism, and democracy.  Students were paying close attention to the conflict, now at less of a distance, as alumnae and others close to the school were returning from Europe with firsthand accounts. Faculty also started to show more involvement \u2013 in 1941 two professors decided to leave their positions to go aid in the national defense. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Cakes are loaded onto Railway Express trucks to be delivered all over the country. December 5, 1941.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

As 1941 came to a close, Mundelein students became more and more involved in America\u2019s war efforts, even before the December 7th<\/sup> attack on Pearl Harbor. While not abandoning the pursuit of peace, they hosted the Catholic Associate for International Peace conference in November. In December, students baked and shipped cakes off to military camps across the USA. In the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor, students were prepared to help in the war effort in any way they could. Several articles from the last edition of the year instruct students on how they can help, whether it be more direct action, or indirect, as one article tells students to \u201cKeep Smiling\u201d and \u201cKeep Praying.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Mundelein looked ahead to 1942 and to America entering a World War, they were steadfast in spirit, eager to help in any way they could, and hopeful in their outlook for the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue the story in part two of the series, Mundelein Responds to World War II: 1842-1946<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eliora is a graduate fellow with the Computer Science department, in her second year pursuing cybersecurity.\u00a0 In her spare time, Eliora paints, reads, and is involved in craft projects of all sizes and shapes.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loyola University Chicago’s Women and Leadership Archives Blog is designed to provide a positive environment for the Loyola community to discuss important issues and ideas. Differences of opinion are encouraged. We invite comments in response to posts and ask that you write in a civil and respectful manner. All comments will be screened for tone and content and must include the first and last name of the author and a valid email address. The appearance of comments on the blog does not imply the University’s endorsement or acceptance of views expressed. Questions? Please contact the WLA at wlarchives@LUC.edu<\/a>. <\/em><\/span>
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