Hillsdale College During World War I

       In 1918, Hillsdale College participated in the U.S. effort to train skilled technicians for World War I through the Student Army Training Corps (SATC). The army officer in charge of the program was Lt. Arthur S. Bell. When Fred Hayes, a “colored” student, wanted to join the SATC, the college and the government found themselves on opposite sides. The standard military practice was that the troops would be segregated. The college, from its establishment, was committed to accepting everyone, regardless of race. The US government resolved the matter by deciding that the Hillsdale College SATC program would respect the college’s right to set its own integration policy.

       As it turned out, in the fall of 1918, during the midst of this negotiation between Hillsdale College and the US government, Fred Hayes was drafted and left the college for the army.  World War I ended on November 11, Hayes returned to the college and graduated in 1919.

       Following the war Hillsdale College president, Joseph Mauck, wanted a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) unit on campus, a plan that never materialized. A response from the War Department to Pres. Mauck indicated that if a unit was established at the college, Lt. Arthur S. Bell, at Mauck’s request, would be recommended as its commanding officer. It may very well have been an observation by Mauck that while the US military had racist policies, Bell saw only the young men he was sent to train.

       These pictures were sent to us by Susan Kast DeMinico, whose great-grandfather, Robert Saettel, probably took them. He was married to Florence Emery Saettel, who was born and raised in Hillsdale County. 

       Markie Repp, Hillsdale College archivist, provided the information about the SATC at Hillsdale College during WW I.