The Boomerang: Archaeological and Historical Investigations of a Missouri CCC Camp

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Exploring the Recent Past" session, at the 2019 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The Civilian Conservation Corps was a major federal program during the Great Depression, employing over one million men, trying to rebuild their lives. One company of older military veterans, 1771-V, occupied a camp near Warrensburg, Missouri from 1934-1939. Archaeological and historical research based at the University of Central Missouri has revealed details of their lives. UCM students and volunteers have located most of the camp’s buildings and facilities, including possible barracks, storage sheds, garages, as well as the camp latrine, bathhouse, mess hall, classroom, recreational hall, and baseball field. Most of the artifacts are constructional debris, such as electrical insulators, but also include the mess-hall ironstone dinnerware and a surprising number of phone parts. A scatter of 1934-1939 alcohol bottles around the camp suggests aspects of social activities invisible in government documents.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2019   •
• Exploring the Recent Past

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 122