Chevy Chase Girls Volunteer for the War Effort
With the United States' declaration of war against Japan, Germany, and Italy, every American was expected to do their part to contribute to the war effort. Young women at Chevy Chase Junior College were no exception. In 1942, a new policy instituted by President Carrie Sutherlin and Dean Harriet Howey allowed students to take time away from their studies to volunteer their services in the national emergency.
The war was not taken lightly by any girl attending Chevy Chase, for almost all had a relative or friend serving in the military. They understood what a privilege it was to attend college during war time, and it was emphasized throughout the school that each girl should contribute some time or money to the cause.
Buying War Bonds and Doing Volunteer Work
At the beginning of the 1943-1944 school year, the new Student's Handbook contained a message from the Dean, Harriet M. Howey, who informed Chevy students that some adjustments and restrictions would be made over the course of the year in an "effort to develop and practice habits of economy in all aspects of school life." Dean Howey believed that those who had the opportunity to attend college must develop a sense of responsibility in order to be leaders of the future. This goal worked well with the new policy of saving money and doing volunteer work. She called on Chevy students to buy war bonds and enroll in defense training. It was not easy, however, to give up the privileges of college life. Addressing this concern in her annual message the Dean said,
The Chaser 1943-1944, CCHS 500.03.03
In 1944, the Senior class of Chevy Chase Junior College was very involved in the war effort. One of their main projects was to sell war stamps twice a week in the front hall of the school. Offering the stamps in all denominations, the girls would fill up as many stamp books as possible in order to exchange them for war bonds.
The caption accompanying this picture in the Chaser Yearbook reads:
