Berea College and the Spanish Influenza of 1918: Home

1918 is the year of one of the most severe pandemics in history, certainly the most severe in recent history.  Known more popularly as the “Spanish Flu,” the 1918 strain of influenza was caused by an H1N1 virus of Avian origins. Scholars have yet to agree on the location of origin, but we do know that, in the United States at least, the first diagnoses of influenza were in military personnel in the Spring of 1918.

H1N1 was deadly and widespread, with approximately one-third of the world infected (500 million), and 50 million dead. There was no vaccine and no antibiotics to control infections, and as a result, communities focused on the isolation of sick and infected individuals, quarantine, good hygiene, disinfectants, and social distancing. At the same time, the world was ravaged by “The War to End All Wars,” the First World War that would not end until Nov 11, 1918. Military personnel were especially hit by this pandemic.

In 1918, the Berea community was faced with both H1N1 influenza and also an outbreak of spinal meningitis. Thanks to the Hutchins Library Special Collections, we have three avenues through which we can explore Berea College’s response and relationship to the global pandemic: a student publication, donor letters written by family members, and official notes.

Twice a month for several months in the year 1918, a group of students published The Alert: A Junior Journal of Judicious Jottings. For just 10 cents, a person could read all about the happenings in the college, from school and hospital notes to calls to action and encouragements, these students documented what they considered to be of the utmost importance. The paper followed the cases of meningitis in the hospital and also the college’s efforts to maintain sanitary standards:

“The Board of Health ordered that all dormitories be scoured and disinfected, and this was well carried out by the students. No attempt toward evasion of the work by the students was witnessed. Every room was thoroughly disinfected and all clothing was sunned. Each student worked with a will and soon the task was finished.” -The Alert, Vol I. No. 2, Feb 22, 1918

Like with responses to the 2020 pandemic, Berea College was ahead of the disease, practicing social distancing and taking sanitation precautions before disease could take hold. At the time the college had a larger medical facility, and students were urged to stay in Berea near competent medical care rather than to travel home. 

Students’ families supported their staying at Berea, which we can see in letters written to the college along with donations:
“I will say that I am proud to have the opportunity to help pay the Berea College(‘s) Hospital Expenses as I have a Boy up there with you all.” -A letter sent to Thomas J. Osborne, Treasurer Nov 29, 1918

Families tried to help where they could, the entire community came together to combat a global threat. Students were called on to isolate, keep things clean, persevere in their studies, and in the meantime to trust that the Berea College administration was doing everything in their power to keep the campus community safe.

William G. Frost, President of Berea College in 1918, wrote a letter to the campus on October 19, 1918 titled “Dayes of Prayer.” Similar to President Roelofs’ email updates in 2020, President Frost opens his letter with news on influenza cases and closes with college happenings.

“In common with schools and communities throughout our entire land, Berea with its allied schools is suffering from Influenza. We had made very unusual preparations for the care of health and have been wonderfully spared. With more than 400 cases there has not been a single death.” -William G. Frost, President of Berea College

It’s incredible that, in a time of widespread death from the Influenza virus, Berea College did not lose a single person to the virus. The President goes on to mention the suspended religious assemblages and calls on the community to give thanks and pray in isolation yet united with the rest of the campus community. This idea of thanksgiving and prayer was not uncommon at the time. In a note presumably distributed to those recovering from Influenza, the first instruction given is to be thankful to donors, hospital staff & volunteers, and to “our Heavenly Father.”  

The time of pandemic was a time for community in isolation and responsibility. For caring for your fellow man and giving grace to those responsible for the entire college community, responsible for making sure all their students made it through the year and made it home healthy and in one piece.