GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College students presented their research on the College’s connection to Camp Reynolds and World War II, at Reynolds VFW and Greenville Area Public Library recently.
After being awarded a $10,000 Humanities Research for the Public Good Grant by The Council for Independent Colleges in 2020, Professor of History David Buck, Ph.D., and Reference Librarian for Information Services Tressa Snyder worked with students to research “The Role of Thiel College and Camp Reynolds in World War II.” This research project built on the Thiel College Veterans Project, in which Buck and students in his research methods class have worked to document every veteran with a connection to the College.
Samantha Walker ’21 M.A.’23, Juila Langietti ’22, and Nathaniel Meth ’23 were among the students who presented on the project on May 9 at VFW. The research was also displayed at the Greenville library on May 19.
Additional student researchers worked on the project looking for information on the conection between the College and Camp Reynolds. Limited findings on the connection altered the scope of the project and research to include World War II veterans from the area. The student researchers uncovered lists of World War II veterans and life at the base. Camp Reynolds, formerly Camp Shenango, was a 3,300-acre personnel replacement depot that opened in 1942. Aside from the thousands of troops coming in and out, in 1941, 800 German prisoners were housed at Camp Reynolds. In July 1943, the base was also the site of a race riot between black and white soldiers, where gunfire was exchanged.
Buck, Snyder, Frombgen, and Walker attended the CIC “Humanities Research for the Public Good Workshop,” where Walker presented about the project and the group’s research methods.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.