East Texas State Teachers College in World War II

Education at East Texas State Teachers College

During World War II, the Texas State Teachers College System put together an educational system to help and ensure victory in the war. New classes were created to allow students training and certification in certain and necessary areas, such as the Red Cross First Aid program, Civilian Pilot Training, Defense Production Accounting, and other math, science, engineering, and job-training skills classes. Students at East Texas State Teachers College signed up to help with the war effort at home, and had the opportunity to enlist in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps upon completion of classes.

This display features items put out by the college and geared toward people, including high school students, who were planning on attending college. Documents issued by the President and Deans of the university advertising classes appear in this display as well as a few newspaper articles coming from the student-run college paper, The East Texan, and The Dallas Morning News.

East Texas State Teachers College implemented post-war programs created to serve veterans as well as other students in the immediate years after the end of World War II. These programs include the G.I. Bill and the Victors’ Club, both of which served veterans and helped them adapt to changing times while being able to receive the best education possible.