Research: Military: Records Relating to World War I
Records Relating to World War I
Additional State Agency Records
Education Department
Division of Agricultural and Industrial Education
A3112. Enlistment Papers and Reports of the New York State Boys' Working Reserve (Farm Cadet Program), 1918. 3 cubic feet
To alleviate a shortage of farm labor caused by mobilization during World War I, the Board of Regents authorized the release of certain high school students (boys and girls) from school in 1917 and 1918 to serve as farm laborers in a program sponsored by the New York State Food Supply Commission. In 1918 the Education department allowed school credit for some time spent working, requiring weekly and final reports of all participants, and provided for on-site supervision by district superintendents of schools.
The series consists mostly of narrative final reports of participants in the State Boys' Working Reserve, also known as the Farm Cadets. Also included are occasional daily logs of cadets' activities, a few enlistment forms by which high school students joined the cadets, and correspondence by district superintendents transmitting reports to the department.
The final reports submitted by the cadets give:
- period of service
- location of service
- number of hours per day worked
- general type of work completed
- statement of cadets' impressions of the value and usefulness of the work
The occasional daily logs usually describe in detail the type of work and hours spent by a cadet. The enlistment forms provide:
- cadet's name
- address
- height and weight
- age
- religious preference
- prior farming and mechanical experience
- a personal reference
- location and type of work preference
- signed approval of parent or guardian
