November 11, 1918: End of World War I

On November 11, 1918, Germany signed an armistice that effectively ended World War I. Little is known about how students at the College of William and Mary marked the event from the personal papers of students in the Special Collections Research Center. A calendar of events in The Colonial Echo yearbook from 1919 only states, "Peace declared, and a celebration at the gym." However, the day was recalled differently by the members of the Students' Army Training Corps (SATC). The SATC booklet "Taps" described the moment the news came that war was over:

The sun had long since set behind the western hills and all the world was hushed. The silence seemed to foretell of some momentous event. The atmosphere, even in the deadly silence, seemed to ring with excitement. Suddenly there burst forth a blasting of horns, blowing of whistles, ringing of bells, firing of guns, beating of drums, and on every hand torches leaped into flame.

A makeshift parade full of joy and national symbolism reportedly then marched through the streets of Williamsburg, culminating in a bonfire on campus.

The end of the war meant more changes were on the way for William and Mary. The SATC would soon disband and the campus would have to cope with the outcome of the conflict along with the rest of the country.

Editions of The Colonial Echo are available in the Special Collections Research Center and Swem Library. Taps may be viewed online. Of note, page 14 is dedicated to "The Co-Ed" and her influence on the SATC.

This post was composed by Kate Hill.

For additional information about the first women students at the College of William and Mary see: When Mary Entered with her Brother William: Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945 by Laura F. Parrish; "The Petticoat Invasion": Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945; The Martha Barksdale Papers; and the Women at the College of William and Mary page on the Special Collections Research Center Wiki.