In 1919 the Student Senate at Albion College proposed a bronze plaque as a “fitting memorial” to all Albion College students who had served during World War I.  In the words of the Pleiad, “this was not to be an ordinary bronze tablet but rather a super structure of imposing dimensions having about 500 names upon it and constructed to last through the ages.” (December 10, 1919)  Such a total required a plaque measuring 4 x 4 ½ feet, framed in oak, and designed to be portable.  Its home was to be the College Library.  The original estimate for the tablet was $600.

The bulk of the money for the memorial was raised at an unusual chapel service on March 17, 1920.  When the students entered the auditorium that day, they saw the service flag, with 12 gold stars for war victims and 450 blue stars for veterans, stretched upon a tall easel on the stage.  Placed over each star was a piece of paper bearing a number.  During the hour each piece of paper was sold to students and faculty alike, $5 for the gold and $1 for the blue.  In all, $720 was subscribed that hour to add to earlier donations and complete the $825 final cost for the memorial.

The memorial was unveiled on Class Day, June 15, 1920 in the chapel, draped with an American flag.  It was placed on temporary display in the lobby of Robinson Hall in time for Commencement.  Each Albion student who was in any branch of the service, whether it be army, navy, marine corps, S.A.T.C., or Y.M. or Y.W.C.A. had his or her name engraved upon this Honor Roll.  Names of the 12 Albion men who made the ultimate sacrifice are found in larger letters across the top of the tablet.

After the disastrous 1922 fire in Robinson Hall, the memorial was placed in storage in the Observatory.  While researching the effects of war on Albion for an Archives exhibit, reference to the tablet was found in a Pleiad article.  From there a search began for the memorial, and it was located exactly where it had been left 80 years before - in a closet in the Observatory.  It is now, as of February 2002, on exhibit again in the Library as originally intended.  Archivist, Jennifer Thomas, and Rachel Maloney, ’03, completed restoration of the memorial.
 

Articles

• Albion College. (1919, December 12).  "Campaign Now on to Erect Bronze Tablet in Honor of Albion Heroes." Pleiad.*

• Class of 1919. "Dedication," Albionian, Vol.VI. Albion College. 

• Albion College.  (1920, March 17).  "Memorial Now a Certainty." Pleaid.

• Albion College.  (1920, May 26).  "Memorial Day."  Pleiad.

• Albion College.  (1920, October 21).  "Bronze War Memorial in Class Hall."  Pleiad.

• Transcription of Names.

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