Rochester in World War 1

Since handing in our bibliographies I have done more research into Rochester's efforts in World War 1. From what I have found the original RIT campus, called The Mechanical Institute, trained soldiers and Red Cross members in technical skills that they were able to use in Europe. These included optical repairs that allowed them to replace and repair broken lenses on cameras and binoculars that were necessary for officers and recon pilots to view enemy positions. The University was not the only one helping to contribute to the war effort in Rochester, there were several local companies that went from manufacturing consumer goods to war time equipment. These companies included Kodak, and Bauch and Lomb, just to name a few of the more well known companies in the city Rochester.

There were also several Rochester natives who went off to war, many of which were Mechanics Institute students or alumni. Many of whom would go off to fight in many of the final key battles in the war. However just like in any war there are many who do not return home, there is a plack in the RIT Library of ten names of soldiers who went off to war and never came back. There are even more men from Rochester who died and their names can be found in the Rochester and Monroe County Service Record. The book is full of the names of those who served and died from a variety of different causes. These soldiers will make it into the thesis paper and their actions in war will be remembered by new generations.

I hope to gather more information on what the people of Rochester did during the war so I may learn, and show, people the actions of this city when America went to war.