Special Faculty Committee Serves Wartime Personnel

Information, entertainment, housing possibilities and other special services for members of the armed forces stationed at Harvard is being provided daily by the Committee on Relations with Wartime Personnel, with its offices in Phillips Brooks House.

Largest problem for the many officers who do not live in the College dormitories is finding a house or apartment. Consequently one of the main functions of the Committee is to provide housing information of all places suitable for the officers and their wives. For the benefit of following groups, men vacating rooms notify the Committee of the vacancies.

Harvard Hospitality

In order to make servicemen feel more at home here the Committee has provided "identity cards" bearing the affixed stamp of the University. These cards entitle the officers or their wives to use of the libraries and to special H. A. A. rates, in line with this policy a lounge on the first floor of Phillips Brooks House has been stocked with magazines and newspapers for the men and their families.

In order to provide a permanent mailing address for officers, and in order to plan activities for their wives, every man coming here for training or research is required to fill out an information card, answering such questions as his marriage status, his occupation and his branch of the service. These are kept on file in the committee office. The office secretary, in charge of the files, is always available to answer any questions for bewildered newcomers.

Considering the affairs and problems of the wives almost as important as those of the men, a special ladies' committee has been recruited from the ranks of the Faculty wives. Associated with the various groups, and chairman of the committee is Mrs. James B. Conant. This group arranges frequent get-togethers, and all wives who have spare time may inquire at the office about Red Cross and other volunteer work. The office also provides information on the opportunities for organized care of children.

Open House Held

Phillips Brooks has been generously applying much of its funds to the entertainment of Army, Navy, and research personnel. Every Sunday afternoon open house is held to give the members of the various groups an opportunity to intermingle and to meet members of the Harvard Faculty.

Chairman of the Relations Committee as appointed by President James B. Conant, and voted by the Corporation last May is Emery L. Chaffee '07, professor of Physics. Other members are Raymond Dennett '35, graduate secretary of Phillips Brooks, Mason Hammond '25, associate professor of Greek, Latin and History, Myles L. Mace, assistant professor of Business and Government, and Edwin C. Kemble, chairman of the Physics Department.