Reflections on the Global Pandemic of 1918

Collection

Identifier: Coll 856

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of a five-page history by Karen Kullberg Faw of life at Camp Lewis, Washington (later Fort Lewis, and then Joint Base Lewis-McChord), during the 1918 influenza pandemic, combined with biographical information about Herbert Merton Greene and Jenny Todd Booth. The history describes the founding of Camp Lewis, the operation of the camp's base hospital, and how the 1918 influenza pandemic affected hospital operations. It also discusses Greene and Booth's roles at the camp. The last section describes Greene and Booth's marriage, how Booth changed her first name to Jeanne, and their life after World War I. It includes a bibliography of cited sources.

Dates

Creation: 2020

Creator

Faw, Karen Kullberg (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Biographical Note

Karen Kullberg Faw is the granddaughter of Herbert Merton Greene and Jeanne Todd Greene. Herbert Merton Greene was chief surgeon at Camp Lewis, Washington, in 1917, and later the acting base hospital commander. Jeanne Todd Greene, known as Jenny Todd Booth before marrying and later changing her first name, was chief of nurses at the camp.

Historical Note

The 1918 influenza epidemic was an H1N1 influenza virus that spread world-wide from 1918-1920. The disease, called "Spanish flu" due to false claims that the disease had originated in Spain, killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide.

Administrative History

Camp Lewis was established in 1917 south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington, after Pierce County passed a bond measure to purchase 70,000 acres to donate to the United States government for use as a permanent military installation. A portion of this land was taken from the Nisqually tribe's reservation; the Nisqually people would later unsuccessfully petition for the return of that land. The camp was used as a training base for U.S. soldiers in World War I. In 1927, the camp was renamed Fort Lewis. In 2010, Fort Lewis was merged with McChord Air Force Base, and the two were renamed Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder in shared box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Short history about life at Camp Lewis, Washington, during the 1918 influenza epidemic, with a focus on Major Herbert Merton Greene and Jenny Todd Booth, who served at the base hospital as acting base hospital commander and chief of nurses, respectively. Also includes biographical details about Greene and Booth, who married in October 1918. Jenny Greene later changed her first name to Jeanne.