Predictions:
- How many different groups contributed to World War I from CT?
- Were there many ‘unsung heroes’ from CT?
- Efforts made by CT during WWI.
The Museum of Connecticut History provides the state of Connecticut’s “military, industrial, and government history through exhibits and extensive collections”. These collections, while telling more specific stories from Connecticut history, help place the role that the state took in the development of the United States. As you enter the building one of the most noticeable things in the room is the model ship of the U.S.S. Connecticut and the displays containing items and letters related to World War I, which is what this post will be focusing on. The battleship represented in the large glass display case was the flagship for the Atlantic fleet, part of a two-year journey around the world, prior to World War I, but was kept in “home waters” during the war. The cases extended all of the ways to the back of the room behind the ship, however, show a fair deal of Connecticut’s history throughout the war. A few of the displays showed equipment used during the war but the majority were presenting the smaller efforts made by individual groups during the war, somewhat holding a torch to Connecticut’s unsung World War I heroes (museumofconnecticuthistory.org)
Plaques inform visitors of those who fought in the war, like Sergeant Stubby, the “most decorated war dog in American history,” and Joseph Dighello, a simple man assigned to medical supply units, displaying their medals and equipment. Displaying a range of people, from soldiers to sergeants, involved in World War I brings back the appreciation felt for all of those who contributed to the war as well as the value of being able to fight for a better future. With this value, the following question is then raised: Did Connecticut’s efforts make a significant enough difference in the World War I effort? Like other states at the time Connecticut (for the most part) contributed an equal effort, the way the war was fought not being possible without any of the states, however, did significantly well in some aspects, such as funding the Allied cause by “raising the greatest percentage of over-subscriptions” by purchasing Liberty Loans (Plaque at museum).
As well as men fighting for their country, the work women contributed are also put on display, the Connecticut Navy League and Food Conservation efforts exemplifying these cases. If there were a diverse amount of groups helping the war effort, then were all of them needed? The Navy League, playing a “vital role” in making clothes to support sea services and other areas, was a crucial role performed by women in the war, again is another example of a crucial part of the war effort. Because the physical fighting was restricted to men women were able to help in these important ways that unified the citizens of the U.S. between gender, at least, every groups’ effort being needed equally (Plaque at museum).
*It may look like it, but no, I am not leaning on the glass of the display case. Just posing. Photo Creds – Maya Guyton*
LC Public History Blog 