From the Archives

1918 Influenza Pandemic

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the 1918 influenza pandemic, which was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin, spread worldwide during 1918-1919, with about one-third of the global population becoming infected with the virus. The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide and about 675,000 occurring in the U.S.

The presence of the pandemic was felt on the Westminster School campus as recorded by the school’s founder, William Cushing, in his fall term 1918 daybook. The daybook was a place where he made daily entries about campus arrivals and departures, chapel services, health events, meetings and even the weather. Some of his entries related to the pandemic included:

Sept. 27, 1918: “Spraying of all boys and household against Spanish Influenza.“

Oct. 4, 1918 (entered as Sept. 4): “The Hill in quarantine. No one allowed to go to village or to receive visitors from outside.”

Oct. 12, 1918: “Mr. and Mrs. Holder arrived at noon. Quarantine rules kept them out of the school buildings.”

Oct.13, 1918: “Prof. Tweedy’s engagement (for chapel) cancelled. Quarantine.” Above, William Cushing and his 1918 daybook

Oct. 28, 1918: “O’Donnell boys with mother arrived. Boys in infirmary for quarantine.”

Nov. 3, 1918: “11’o’clock chapel. Rev. H.E. Adrian’s engagement cancelled. Quarantine.”

Above, The Westminster Review of Feb. 25, 1920, included an editorial about the pandemic. In that same issue, a Jan. 28 entry states: “In chapel, Mr. Cushing announced that on account of the flu, no more village permits would be granted.”

The following images of students and faculty appeared in the 1917 Westminster Annual. No annual was published in 1918.