The JPHS will conclude its 2019 series of public programs with a presentation by Professor Alice-Catherine Carls on “West Tennessee Returns to Peace – 1919.” A brief business meeting will precede the program, beginning at 10:30 am at Weldon Public Library, 100 Main Street, Martin, Tennessee on Saturday, November 2nd.
“We are excited to have Dr. Carls share her extensive research on the First World War in Jackson, Tennessee, especially the involvement of white and black women on the home front. There remains so much to be uncovered about the history our our region. Too often, the work and sacrifices of those who remained behind on the home front when the nation went to war have been neglected when we study and write about warfare. Dr. Carls’ work helps redress that imbalance,” said JPHS President Bill Mulligan.
Dr. Carls is Tom Elam Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Tennessee – Martin. She has her doctorate from the Universite de Paris I – Sorbonne and has published extensively and translated a number of books in a broad range of areas. Her book, Europe from War to War, 1914-1945, co-authored with her husband Steven Carls, University Professor at Union University, appeared in 2018 from Routledge. A French-language edition of the book is in development. She was a member of the Tennessee Great War Commission from 2014-2018, among a large number of professional and community activities.
Jackson, Tennessee
According to West Tennessee reporter and local historian Shannon McFarlin, Dr. Carls has been doing research to support the restoration of Jackson, Tennessee’s World War I Memorial Fountain. The Surgical Dressings Workers of Jackson built it after the end of the war. The American Red Cross trained the women to sew surgical dressings and other medical bandages. According to Carl’s research, the Jackson chapter may have been alone in training an entire class of African American women to make surgical dressings. Almost 13,000 surgical dressings were produced in Jackson during the war. “The purpose of this restoration is to remember all parts of that story and to honor every one of whom we are aware and who deserve to be named or mentioned,” said Carls. She continues to research local Jackson people’s involvement in the First World War. Currently, she is working on an article on Pvt. William Rushing, who served “over there” in 1918, suffered sneezing gas attacks, and was part of the Battle of St. Quentin Canal in early October. His diary of his time in France is very dramatic. Rushing operated the presses for the Jackson Sun for fifty-one years after his return to Jackson.
The public is invited to attend any JPHS program. Make plans to attend this interesting program by Dr. Carls!
