Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
UM alumna Patty Cornishas recalls college life in wartime Missoula
Summary
Patty Cornishas, who attended the University of Montana from 1944 to 1948, described subdued campus life during World War II: limited social events, a strong ROTC presence, shifting gender ratios, a student prank involving a moose head, and tuition about $120 a year.
Patty Cornishas, a University of Montana student from 1944 to 1948, recalled on the Tales of Our Elders TV show that campus life during World War II was subdued, with small dances, a dominant ROTC presence and rapidly changing enrollment ratios.
Her recollections offer a firsthand view of daily life on the Missoula campus during the war years, including costs, student pranks and how the return of servicemen changed campus spirit after 1945.
Cornishas said the campus social scene was “pretty dull” during the war and that “spirit was gone.” She described ROTC cadets who came from California — “a lot of them from San…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
