Massachusetts State College–Fort Devens (also referred to as 'Devens State College' or 'Fort Devens State') was a public university located in Ayer, Massachusetts, United States.
After the end of World War II, the G.I. Bill helped swell the ranks of colleges in Massachusetts. As a result, Fort Devens, which had served as a mustering ground and internment camp during the war,[2] was converted into a college by the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees in 1946.[1] The school was only open to veterans of the war who were Massachusetts residents. The campus was placed under the supervision of Massachusetts State College–Amherst.
The initial plan was to have the campus open for two years while the wave of returning servicemen filtered through the college system. Those plans were later changed to allow Devens State to remain open for as long as it took all veterans to receive 4-year degrees. That fall the school opened with 1,310 enrolled students and saw its attendance increase to 1,700 for the spring semester. Unfortunately, most of the student body was unhappy with their accommodations; the former military barracks had been converted into housing and caused many students to transfer out as quickly as possible. Enrollment declined sharply each year and eventually forced the closure of the college following the 1948–49 academic year.
Shortly after opening, students organized ice hockey and basketball teams. In the spring, baseball, track and field, golf and tennis clubs were also started. A football team was put together for the school's second year. The school's teams used the moniker 'Chiefs' for the duration of their existences.[1]Vic Stout, a former Boston sportswriter and public relations and athletic officer at Fort Devens, was the school's director of athletics and physical education.[3][4]
Referencesedit
^ abcd"Massachusetts State College-Fort Devens". Lost Colleges. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
^"Concentration Camp Located at Ft. Devens". North Adams Transcript. North Adams, MA. February 7, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
^"4 Devens Officers Given New Posts". The Boston Globe. January 20, 1945.
^"Vic Stout to Be Honored At Testimonial Tonight". The Boston Globe. December 5, 1968.
External linksedit
This article about a university or college in Massachusetts is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
massachusetts, state, college, fort, devens, also, referred, devens, state, college, fort, devens, state, public, university, located, ayer, massachusetts, united, states, typepublicactive1946, 1949students1, locationayer, massachusetts, uscampusurbancolorscri. Massachusetts State College Fort Devens also referred to as Devens State College or Fort Devens State was a public university located in Ayer Massachusetts United States Massachusetts State College Fort DevensTypePublicActive1946 1949Students1 700 1 LocationAyer Massachusetts USCampusUrbanColorsCrimson and White NicknameChiefs Contents 1 History 2 Education 3 Athletics 4 References 5 External linksHistory editAfter the end of World War II the G I Bill helped swell the ranks of colleges in Massachusetts As a result Fort Devens which had served as a mustering ground and internment camp during the war 2 was converted into a college by the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees in 1946 1 The school was only open to veterans of the war who were Massachusetts residents The campus was placed under the supervision of Massachusetts State College Amherst The initial plan was to have the campus open for two years while the wave of returning servicemen filtered through the college system Those plans were later changed to allow Devens State to remain open for as long as it took all veterans to receive 4 year degrees That fall the school opened with 1 310 enrolled students and saw its attendance increase to 1 700 for the spring semester Unfortunately most of the student body was unhappy with their accommodations the former military barracks had been converted into housing and caused many students to transfer out as quickly as possible Enrollment declined sharply each year and eventually forced the closure of the college following the 1948 49 academic year Education editWhile it was active Devens State offered courses in language arts science agriculture engineering and business administration 1 Athletics editShortly after opening students organized ice hockey and basketball teams In the spring baseball track and field golf and tennis clubs were also started A football team was put together for the school s second year The school s teams used the moniker Chiefs for the duration of their existences 1 Vic Stout a former Boston sportswriter and public relations and athletic officer at Fort Devens was the school s director of athletics and physical education 3 4 References edit a b c d Massachusetts State College Fort Devens Lost Colleges Retrieved January 12 2023 Concentration Camp Located at Ft Devens North Adams Transcript North Adams MA February 7 1942 p 1 Retrieved October 18 2014 4 Devens Officers Given New Posts The Boston Globe January 20 1945 Vic Stout to Be Honored At Testimonial Tonight The Boston Globe December 5 1968 External links edit nbsp This article about a university or college in Massachusetts is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Massachusetts State College Fort Devens amp oldid 1184256122, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
