HIS301: Historical Writing: UB & WWII
Navigating the University Archives for students in HIS301
Last Updated: Nov 8, 2023 3:57 PM
UB & World War II - An Introduction
During World War II, the University at Buffalo (then a private school known as the "University of Buffalo") participated in the war effort like many other colleges and universities across the United States. Material in the University Archives can reveal insight into UB's culture, and the issues faced by UB, at the time of the Second World War.
Images

Four members of the 3215th Service Command Unit of the Army Specialized Training Program standing outside the School of Medicine Building at 24 High Street, circa 1944. #UA_80B_13

War publication, circa 1944. #RG5-3-30_5_8_002

A tribute in the Buffalonian yearbook to UB students who joined the armed forces, 1943. #RG9-6-00-2_1943_067

Army Air Cadets of the 23rd College Detachment in line in the Norton Union (now Harriman Hall) cafeteria, July 1943. #UA_80B_7

Buffalonian yearbook images, including "Wedding a la Militaire" newlyweds leaving Norton Union (now Harriman Hall), circa 1944. #RG9-0-00-2_1944_092

"War production training for the high school graduate at the University of Buffalo's School of Business Administration" publication. #RG5-3-30_6_3_006
Online Resources
Use the following resources to supplement your primary source research.
- UB and World War II guide - Information on military programs at UB
- UB Digital Collections
- Buffalonian yearbooks - Click on yearbooks 1941-1945 to get a glimpse into student life during this time
- Finding Aids database
- Finding aids are documents that describe/list the items in archival collections
- Navigate to the link to conduct a search for a subject or topic to reveal relevant collections in the University Archives
- If you see the description of an item you would like to view, contact lib-archives@buffalo.edu
- UB Bee (1921-1950) via NYS Historic Newspapers
- Full-text searchable database, allowing you browse issues of the Bee, 1921-1950
- Navigate to the search bar to conduct an advanced search
Recommended Collections
Please use these recommend resources to identify a collection or primary source of interest for your project. You can also conduct your own keyword search via our Finding Aids Database. If you see the description of an item you would like to view, contact lib-archives@buffalo.edu.
- 5/3/30: University at Buffalo and World War II collection, 1940-1946
- 6/4/42: Armed Forces Contracts, 1943-1945
- 22/8F/232: Henry Lee Smith papers, 1935-1972
- Box 9: U.S. Army Language Manuals
- Box 10: German POW material
- 22/9F/422: Marian E. White papers, 1934-1979
- Box 12: World War II Victory and Good Conduct Medals, and identification bracelet
- [World War I] MS-0243: J. Howard Smith (Schmidt) scrapbook and student notebook, 1915-1917
- Includes European ration coupons, handwritten notes on types of weapons used during the First World War and procedures to follow in the event of a weapons attack.
- 36/5/452: School of Pharmacy Alumni Association records, 1889-1989
- Box/folder 7.12: Alumni in WWII, 1942-1945
- Box/folder 8.10: "V-News" alumni bulletin for veterans, includes photographs