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Purdue University. Army ROTC

 Organization

biographical statement

As a land grant university, Purdue has been required to teach military tactics since its founding. Purdue’s first Professor of Military Science and Tactics, Civil War veteran Dr. Harvard Wiley, was appointed in 1876. Despite offering classes on military tactics, Purdue didn’t have an organized military structure until 1888, when 1st Lieutenant Pickering was appointed by the Army as Professor of Military Science at Purdue. Under Pickering, the first Corps of Cadets was formed at Purdue, consisting of 76 infantrymen and 16 artillerymen. The Corps’ equipment at the time consisted of 100 Springfield rifles and 2 cannons.

Beginning in 1891, Purdue required all male underclassmen to undergo mandatory military training, as had been stipulated in the Land Grant College Act (Morrill Act). In 1902, Captain Ira Reeves was Professor of Military Science at Purdue, and began reorganizing the then 419-man Corps. His final structure included two battalions of infantry, one battery of artillery, a company of engineers, a signal corps detachment, a hospital corps detachment, and a 40-piece band. It was also around this time that the Purdue artillery became part of the Indiana Militia.

In June 1916, Battery B of the Indiana Field Artillery, which included the Purdue artillery battery, was called up for service in the Mexican Border War by president Woodrow Wilson. They were stationed in Llano Grande, Texas until September 28, 1916, when they were recalled to Indiana and left federal service.

In 1919, following standards set by the 1916 National Defense Act, Purdue reorganized its Corps of Cadets into a Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) specializing in Field Artillery. The 1541 cadets that were part of the program at the time were reorganized into five artillery regiments and a 25-piece band.

By 1924, Purdue had 1214 cadets, twelve French 75mm cannons, and three 155mm howitzers. Enrollment peaked in 1941, when there were 2354 cadets at Purdue. Between World War One and World War Two, 1/8 of all Reserve Artillery officers were trained at Purdue ROTC.

From 1946 to 1949, Purdue ROTC added additional course offerings to Field Artillery, including Ordinance, Air Corps, Transportation, Engineering, Signal, and Chemical branches. The Air Corps program would later develop into Purdue’s Air Force ROTC program.

In 1966, enrollment in the Purdue ROTC became optional for underclassmen. Women were allowed to enroll in the ROTC beginning in 1973. Purdue won the MacArthur Award for best ROTC unit in the nation in 1989 and 1997.

Citation

"Purdue University Army ROTC History," Purdue Army ROTC website, accessed February 6, 2024. https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/armyrotc/about/history

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Purdue Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (AROTC) collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 55
Scope and Contents The Purdue Army Reserve Officers Training Corps collection documents the history of the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (AROTC) at Purdue University. The collection contains many photographs of the Purdue Army ROTC, focusing on the various commissioning classes and their activities. There are also valuable historical documents, military awards and trophies. Other types of materials include: books, clippings, correspondence, handbooks, manuals, printed material, programs, records and slides.
Dates: 1876 - 2001; Other: Majority of material found within 1970 - 1990

Donald A. Bloodgood papers

 Collection — Box: 1 flat box, 1 small mss. box
Identifier: MSA 314
Scope and Contents The Donald A. Bloodgood papers (1946-1949; 1 cubic foot) documents the student life and fraternal pledging of former Purdue student Donald A. Bloodgood. The collection consists primarily of artifacts, with limited documentation concerning their use and function by the alumnus. These objects may be useful for researchers interested in the material culture of Purdue’s ROTC and fraternity organizations during the late 1940s. Types of materials include: pledge sashes, pledge boards, letters, and...
Dates: 1946 - 1949; Other: Date acquired: 09/06/2011

Purdue University Drill Team collection

 Collection — Box: Communal Collections 66, Placement: 15
Identifier: UA 79
Scope and Contents Purdue University Drill Team collection (2017; 1 folder) documents Purdue University President Mitch Daniels' acknowledgement of the Purdue ROTC Drill Team's accomplishments during the 2016-2017 academic year. Types of materials include: letters, proclamations.
Dates: 2017

Land Grant Centennial Review invitation

 Unprocessed — Box: Communal Accessions 51
Identifier: 2023-004