Camp Crane ultimately proved not to be an escape community, and for this reason we chose not to include it in our final report. The experience of the camp during the 1918–1920 influenza epidemic was still rather remarkable, however, given that the camp was located on a very small parcel of land in the middle of busy downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania. We therefore decided to present the research materials here.
At a Glance
- Type of Site: Army Camp.
- Population: Variable, but as high as 10,000; average population of 2,119 during second wave of epidemic.
- Pop. Density: 27,166 ppl./sq. mi on average during second wave of epidemic.
- Geographical Considerations: Camp Crane occupied a 50-acre area in the middle of Allentown, PA, a city of 73,500 people at the time.
- Influenza Cases: 355
- Influenza Deaths: 13
- First Reported Case: Sept. 26, 1918
- NPI Implemented: random inspection of men; isolation of cases; ventilation of barracks; cots places in same direction with canopies used; throat and nose swabs taken to identify cases; men prohibited from entering places of public amusement in Allentown; civilians prohibited from entering camp.
Case Study
Historical Background
Unlike most other military camps, which were located nearby but outside of towns and cities, Camp Crane was in the middle of downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania, the county seat of Lehigh County and a prosperous and populous industrial city. The camp initially served as the headquarters and training facility for the United States Army Ambulance Service and then as a station for the Army Medical Corps during World War I.
Occupying a space in the middle of a small city, Camp Crane was small, covering approximately fifty acres and bounded on all sides by city roads and buildings. Despite its rather small size, Camp Crane was home to a sizable population of men. Accurate numbers are difficult to ascertain, in part because constant deployments and new arrivals caused fluctuations in camp strength. According to the camp’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Slee, the camp was originally only intended to house approximately 2,500 men. Before the camp was brought up to full speed, however, that number had increased to 4,500 and then to 7,500. Slee wrote that the population eventually reached as high as 10,000 men. Once deployments began, those numbers dropped, and by November 1918 the mean strength of the command was listed as 2,119. As a result of the large numbers of men occupying such a small space, housing was an acute problem.
Camp Crane and the Influenza Epidemic
On September 23, 1918, well aware of the influenza epidemic sweeping through military installations and civilian populations across the nation, the camp surgeon and sanitary officer met to draft a plan for the early detection and prevention of influenza in the camp. The memo they drafted listed several suggestions and called for the camp’s commanding officer, Slee, to take several actions. It recommended that all men presenting with any symptoms be sent to the infirmary for isolation if necessary, that random inspections be held to determine who was sick, that advised that the barracks be properly ventilated, and that cots be placed in the same direction with a canopy used overhead. The next day, September 24, Slee put these recommendations into general orders.
These orders came in the nick of time. Only two days later, on September 26, the first cases appeared in the camp: three officers and a private who lived at home outside of camp. Other cases appeared the following day, all among new arrivals. As a result of the appearance of cases, the camp command quickly went into action. On September 27, a series of preventive measures were instituted. Because camp strength was still low at this time, each man was afforded 100 square feet of space in the barracks. In the hospital isolation annex, the same space was given patients and cubicles were used. In the mess hall, men sat on one side of the tables only. Mess kits were washed in running hot water; hospital dishes were boiled. All suspected cases of influenza (those with temperatures over 100 degrees F) and all confirmed cases of the flu were taken to the isolation annex at the city hospital.
In addition to the above measures, on September 27, Captain J. H. Owens of the Sanitary Corps, acting under Slee’s authority, declared that all officers and enlisted men were hereby prohibited from entering places of amusement or participating in public gatherings, and warned all to avoid public transportation and to reduce visits to stores. Civilians were prohibited from entering the camp except for official business. All new arrivals were placed in quarantine for 72 hours, under guard. In early October, in an attempt to bring a further measure of protection to his troops, Slee ordered masks for the camp, specifically for soldiers responsible for sweeping the barracks as well as medical officers who had contact with patients wear the masks.
The protective confinement was imperfect, however. For one, the order to avoid public places applied to those officers and enlistees living on the grounds of the camp; Slee’s jurisdiction did not extend to the homes of officers who lived off-base. Those officers were merely advised to follow the same precautions being urged upon the enlisted men. In addition, in the second week of October, 18 doctors from the camp were ordered to the state’s anthracite coal mines to fight the epidemic there. In the coming days, more Camp Crane physicians were sent to various Pennsylvania towns to help with their influenza outbreaks. Civilians frequently came onto the camp grounds to play sporting events and to perform in vaudeville shows. The camp’s jazz band and wrestlers also traveled to nearby Pennsylvania towns. The protective confinement, therefore, was hardly airtight.
These measures may have helped, but they certainly did not prevent new influenza cases from developing in camp. By October 9, Camp Crane had over 80 sick soldiers, 13 of those cases appearing the previous day. Slee reported that all of the cases were mild. As yet there was only one case of pneumonia, Willard A. Babcock, but that patient died ten days after coming down with influenza. A few days later, on October 16, two more soldiers died at the Allentown Hospital isolation annex, with one additional death occurring the next day. The number of cases increased over the next two weeks before unexpectedly and drastically slowing in the final days of October, just as the number of civilian cases in Allentown was on the rise. As was the case in many other military facilities, the vast majority of Camp Crane’s influenza cases developed in a short, approximately eight-week window. Some 348 cases were reported between September 26 and November 4, 1918, with 51 cases of pneumonia and 12 resulting deaths. A few more cases developed throughout November and into December 1918. In the end, 355 cases of influenza broke out at Camp Crane. Of this number, 62 developed into pneumonia, and only 13 of these cases died.
Research Materials
The bulk of the primary source materials on Camp Crane during the 1918–1920 influenza epidemic come from Army records in RG 112 at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. Because of its location in the heart of Allentown, the local newspaper was consulted as well. In addition, a site visit was made to view the old location of Camp Crane, now operating as a flea market. Digitized sources include:
Newspapers:
Archival Material:
- Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), Camp Crane, Entry 31-C (Camps), SGO 1917–1927, RG 112, NARA, College Park, MD
- Camp Crane History, Lehigh County Historical Society, Allentown, PA
The Allentown Morning Call
| Date | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| 9/27/1918 | Influenza Spread Keeps on Unabated; Draft Call Cancelled | amc01 |
| 9/28/1918 | Keeping Influenza From Lehigh Valley | amc02 |
| 9/29/1918 | Allentown Takes Steps to Nip Influenza | amc03 |
| 10/2/1918 | May Take Drastic Action to Combat Spanish Influenza | amc04 |
| 10/3/1918 | Slight Abatement in Number of Influenza Cases | amc05 |
| 10/3/1918 | Liberty Loan Rally | amc06 |
| 10/4/1918 | Drastic Health Board Order Closes Places of Amusement and Saloons in Pennsylvania | amc07 |
| 10/4/1918 | All Places of Amusements and Saloons Must Be Closed | amc08 |
| 10/5/1918 | Compliance With Closing Order All Over State Reported By Officials to Headquarters | amc09 |
| 10/5/1918 | Rotarians Keep Liberty Loan Drive on Centre Square | amc10 |
| 10/5/1918 | State of Pennsylvania, Office of the Commissioner of Health | amc10 |
| 10/5/1918 | Keeping Liberty Loan Fires Burning Despite Quarantine | amc11 |
| 10/5/1918 | Quarantine In Allentown In Effect At Midnight | amc12 |
| 10/5/1918 | Dozen Good Rules to Prevent Influenza | amc13 |
| 10/5/1918 | Official Cautions as to Influenza | amc14 |
| 10/7/1918 | Influenza Situation In State Reported Exceedingly Serious by the Health Authorities | amc15 |
| 10/7/1918 | State Quarantine On Tight to Guard Against Influenza | amc16 |
| 10/8/1918 | Penna. Has 200,000 Influenza Cases; 19 Districts For Nurses | amc17 |
| 10/8/1918 | Serious Inroads On Liberty Loan Drive by Spanish Influenza | amc17 |
| 10/8/1918 | Quarantine Orders in Full Effect in Allentown | amc18 |
| 10/8/1918 | Influenza and the Local Public Schools | amc19 |
| 10/9/1918 | Quarantine Probers Well Pleased Here | amc20 |
| 10/9/1918 | Influenza Situation Bad In and Near Easton | amc21 |
| 10/9/1918 | Schools of City Closed on Account of Influenza Menace | amc22 |
| 10/10/1918 | Influenza Conditions in State Continues Very Serious | amc23 |
| 10/10/1918 | Theatrical and Liquor People Seek Relief From Quarantine | amc24 |
| 10/10/1918 | First Camp Crane Soldier Victim of Influenza | amc25 |
| 10/11/1918 | Army Doctors From Camp Crane Ordered to Hard Coal Fields to Fight Influenza Plague | amc26 |
| 10/11/1918 | Stroudsburg Suffers From Influenza | amc27 |
| 10/11/1918 | Churches Continue Open; Some Will Be Closed | amc27 |
| 10/11/1918 | Local Conditions With Reference to Influenza | amc27 |
| 10/11/1918 | Camp Crane To Send Doctors Where Needed | amc27 |
| 10/12/1918 | Influenza Epidemic Shows No Signs of Abating in Such Places That Are Affected | amc28 |
| 10/12/1918 | Church and Sunday School Services Dispensed With | amc29 |
| 10/12/1918 | Open Air Catholic Services of Two Local Churches | amc29 |
| 10/14/1918 | Gauze Masks to Check Influenza | amc30 |
| 10/14/1918 | With Churches Closed, Open Air Service Ruled | amc31 |
| 10/14/1918 | How to Avoid Influenza; Care For Those Having It | amc32 |
| 10/15/1918 | Contagious Ward Masks for Sale In City | amc33 |
| 10/15/1918 | Many Camp Crane Doctors Fighting Epidemic | amc33 |
| 10/15/1918 | No Abatement in Influenza Situation | amc34 |
| 10/16/1918 | No Modification of Closing Order By State Health Dept. | amc35 |
| 10/16/1918 | Influenza Spreads to Other Parts of State | amc35 |
| 10/16/1918 | Epidemic Situation in Allentown | amc36 |
| 10/16/1918 | Camp Crane Loses Two Soldiers, Due to Influenza | amc36 |
| 10/16/1918 | Camp Crane Doctor Working at Harrisburg | amc37 |
| 10/16/1918 | 52 Camp Crane Doctors in the Coal Regions | amc38 |
| 10/17/1918 | Tuesday Evening Event at Camp Crane | amc39 |
| 10/17/1918 | Two Solders Victims of Spanish Influenza | amc39 |
| 10/18/1918 | Thirty States Now Under Blight of Spanish Influenza | amc40 |
| 10/19/1918 | Influenza Continues to Cut Wide Swath in Country | amc41 |
| 10/19/1918 | Health Board Rules as to Influenza Bodies | amc42 |
| 10/19/1918 | Good Entertainment for Camp Crane Soldiers | amc42 |
| 10/19/1918 | Twenty-Six More Doctors Sent to Schuykill Co. | amc43 |
| 10/21/1918 | Influenza Situation in Pennsylvania and New York | amc44 |
| 10/21/1918 | Allentown Hospital Woefully Overcrowded | amc45 |
| 10/21/1918 | Camp Crane Doctors Fight Disease at Scranton | amc46 |
| 10/21/1918 | Bethlehem Status on the Epidemic | amc46 |
| 10/22/1918 | Health Conditions in Camps and States Report to Government | amc47 |
| 10/22/1918 | Pennsylvania Gets Reports on Influenza Spread | amc47 |
| 10/22/1918 | Lively Game of Soccer at Camp Crane | amc48 |
| 10/22/1918 | Influenza Cases Here | amc49 |
| 10/22/1918 | Proper Care of Sick Soldiers From Camp Crane | amc49 |
| 10/23/1918 | State Reports on Influenza Epidemic | amc50 |
| 10/23/1918 | Improvement in Influenza Situation Throughout Country | amc50 |
| 10/23/1918 | Allentown in Bad Shape From Influenza | amc51 |
| 10/24/1918 | Epidemic on the Wane and Conditions Improved in Number of States | amc52 |
| 10/24/1918 | No Diminution in Influenza Cases | amc53 |
| 10/25/1918 | Rigorous Rules of Quarantine Continue in Force | amc54 |
| 10/25/1918 | City Still Continues in Throes of Influenza | amc55 |
| 10/26/1918 | A.G. Saeger Mansion As Emergency Hospital | amc56 |
| 10/26/1918 | Twelfth Ward’s Liberty Loan Jubilation This Afternoon | amc57 |
| 10/26/1918 | Nazareth Y.M.C.A. Opens Emergency Hospital | amc58 |
| 10/26/1918 | Nifluenza [sic] Epidemic Here Worse Than Ever | amc59 |
| 10/28/1918 | Procession and Public Exercises Mark 12th Ward’s Jubilation | amc60 |
| 10/28/1918 | Two Soldiers of Camp Crane Are Dead | amc61 |
| 10/29/1918 | Dr. Royer Opposes Early Lifting of Quarantine Ban | amc62 |
| 10/29/1918 | Health Boards Give Warning of Influenza Danger | amc63 |
| 10/29/1918 | Take Steps to Have Quarantine Lifted | amc64 |
| 10/30/1918 | Drastic Action By State Health Authorities If the Local Officials Disobey | amc65 |
| 10/30/1918 | Quarantine Ban Continues Indefinitely | amc66 |
| 10/30/1918 | Liquor Dealers Test Quarantine Ruling | amc66 |
| 10/30/1918 | Inspecting Homes In Influenza Zone | amc66 |
| 10/31/1918 | Lancaster Board of Health Defies State Authorities, Permitting Saloons to Open | amc67 |
| 10/31/1918 | Camp Crane Soldiers’ Interesting Evening | amc68 |
| 11/1/1918 | Vital Statistics of Pennsylvania In Influenza Plague | amc69 |
| 11/1/1918 | Quarantine Is Lifted, Effective Wednesday | amc70 |
| 11/2/1918 | Influenza Reports Show Improvement | amc71 |
| 11/2/1918 | Allentown Hospital | amc72 |
| 11/4/1918 | Quarantine At Lancaster to Be Made a Test Case | amc73 |
| 11/4/1918 | Pep Taken Out of Halloween by Quarantine | amc74 |
| 11/5/1918 | Schools Still Closed; No Opening Date Set | amc75 |
| 11/5/1918 | Slight Increase in Influenza Cases Here | amc76 |
| 11/5/1918 | Camp Crane Eleven Has Game Here Tomorrow | amc76 |
| 11/6/1918 | Dates For Reopening of Allentown Schools | amc77 |
| 11/7/1918 | No Health Improvement in Pittsburgh | amc78 |
| 11/7/1918 | Camp Crane Won Handily From Susquehanna | amc78 |
| 11/9/1918 | Camp Crane Vs. Dickinson on Muhlenberg Field | amc79 |
| 11/9/1918 | Palmerton in Throes of Influenza Plague | amc79 |
| 11/9/1918 | Influenza on the Decline | amc79 |
| 11/11/1918 | Camp Craners Given Auto Ride Thru Country | amc80 |
| 11/12/1918 | Departure From Camp Crane of 1800 Men | amc81 |
| 11/13/1918 | Steps For Entertainment of Camp Craners | amc82 |
| 11/14/1918 | Influenza Epidemic Not Yet Wiped Out in Pennsylvania | amc83 |
| 11/14/1918 | Camp Crane Eleven Plays Muhlenberg Saturday | amc84 |
| 11/15/1918 | Victory Pageant Tonight at A.H.S. | amc85 |
| 11/16/1918 | Prison Was Entirely Free of Influenza | amc86 |
| 11/16/1918 | Muhlenberg Plays Camp Crane This Afternoon | amc87 |
| 11/19/1918 | School Attendance Not Up to Par | amc88 |
| 11/20/1918 | Looks As If Influenza Were Coming Back | amc89 |
| 11/21/1918 | Fresh Outbreaks of Influenza in Pennsylvania Reported | amc90 |
| 11/21/1918 | Return of Influenza Imminent | amc91 |
| 11/22/1918 | Cool Clear Weather May Allay Influenza | amc92 |
| 11/23/1918 | Many Influenza Cases in the Perkiomen Valley | amc93 |
| 11/23/1918 | War on Influenza by Health Service | amc93 |
| 11/23/1918 | Propose Quarantine For Influenza Cases | amc94 |
| 11/26/1918 | No Action on Influenza Situation | amc95 |
| 11/27/1918 | City Will Quarantine For Influenza Cases | amc96 |
| 11/30/1918 | Notice to Physicians on Quarantine | amc97 |
| 12/2/1918 | Five Prison Inmates Ill With Influenza | amc98 |
| 12/4/1918 | Latest Influenza Reports From Penna. | amc99 |
| 12/4/1918 | Influenza Cases | amc100 |
| 12/6/1918 | Camp Funston Force Reach Allentown | amc101 |
| 12/6/1918 | Mustering Out Many Doctors At Camp Crane | amc102 |
| 12/12/1918 | Influenza Warning Issues by Surgeon General Blue, Urging Taking of Precautions | amc103 |
| 12/26/1918 | Allentown Work Hard for a Hospital Camp Here | amc104 |
| 12/30/1918 | Good Bye to Camp Crane; Its Abandonment Ordered | amc105 |
| 12/31/1918 | Bubonic Plague and Influenza Bacillus Identical | amc106 |
| 1/20/1919 | Camp Crane Loses Efficient Sanitarian | amc107 |
| 1/31/1919 | Dismantling Camp Crane Big Job | amc108 |
Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), Camp Crane, Entry 31-C (Camps), SGO 1917-1927, RG 112, NARA, College Park, MD
| Box/Folder | From/To | Date | Description or Title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box 17/F:710.1 “Influenza” | D. Martin to CO of Camp Crane | 9/23/1918 | “Spread of Respiratory Infections,” recommending measures to be taken to prevent spread of influenza in camp. | CraneNA01 |
| “ | E. Capers, by order to Lt. Col. R. Slee | 9/24/1918 | Memo: “The Early Detection and Treatment of Mild Illnesses Among the Men of Your Command”; Puts into orders D. Martin’s recommendations of 9/23/1918 (enclosed in D. Martin to CO of Camp Crane, 9/23/1918) | CraneNA02 |
| “ | K. Owens, by order of Lt. Col. R. Slee | 9/27/1918 | Memo on influenza, ordering men to avoid crowds in Allentown (enclosed in D. Martin to CO of Camp Crane, 9/23/1918) | CraneNA03 |
| “ | H. Garfield, US Fuel Administrator, to Secy. of War N. Baker | 10/23/1918 | Acknowledges receipt of Baker’s letter of 10/19/1918 regarding use of medical students to help with epidemic in Pennsylvania coal mining communities. | CraneNA04 |
| “ | Wm. Mayo to F. Lund | 11/9/1918 | Thanks him for Lund’s report on the Mozingo method of treating empyema. | CraneNA05 |
| “ | D. Martin to Dept. Surgeon, Eastern Dept. | 11/12/1918 | “Report on the Influenza and Pneumonia Epidemic”; table and chart of cases by date enclosed. | CraneNA06 |
| “ | Unknown | Unknown | “Bacteriological Findings in Cases of Influenza at Camp Crane, Allentown, Pa.” with charts. | CraneNA07 |
| “ | D. Martin to Surgeon Genl. | 11/22/1918 | “Report of Influenza Epidemic at this Camp from Sept. 26, 1918 to Nov. 4, 1918” | CraneNA08 |
| “ | C. Lynch to R. Slee | 5/13/1920 | Comments on low influenza rate at Camp Crane and asks for explanation. | CraneNA09 |
| “ | R. Slee to C. Lynch | 5/18/1920 | Reply to Lynch’s May 13, 1920 letter; Attributes low influenza rate at Camp Crane to several factors; table of cases by date enclosed. | CraneNA10 |
| “ | C. Lynch to R. Slee | 5/26/1920 | Acknowledgement of Slee’s letter of 5/13/1920; States that Slee’s report has been presented before the Advisory Committee on Respiratory Disease; Encourages Slee to write article on Camp Crane and the epidemic in Military Surgeon. | CraneNA11 |
Camp Crane History, Lehigh County Historical Society, Allentown, PA
| Box/Folder | Date | Description or Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Crane History/Brooks Folder, 2nd draft | N/A | “History of the Quartermaster Corps,” by Sgt. W.C. Becker | CraneLCHS01 |
| “ | N/A | “History of the Sanitary Department,” by Maj. F. Shute | CraneLCHS02 |
| “ | N/A | “Medical History of Camp Crane,” by Maj. D. Martin | CraneLCHS03 |
| “ | N/A | “The Detachment Medical Department,” by Hospital Sgt. S. Glass | CraneLCHS04 |
| “ | N/A | “The Guth’s Station Camp of the U.S.A.A.S.” | CraneLCHS05 |
| Camp Crane History/News Clippings | 1/15/1918 | “212 USAACS Sick in Local Camp” | CraneLCHS06 |
| “ | 1/30/1918 | “Guard Against Disease Spread” | CraneLCHS07 |
| “ | 8/12/1918 | “Greater Task Confronts City” | CraneLCHS08 |
| “ | 4/10/1919 | “Camp Crane Has Passed Into History” | CraneLCHS09 |
| “ | 4/11/1919 | “Camp Crane Now Only History; Colors Taken Down Yesterday” | CraneLCHS10 |
| “ | 4/18/1919 | “Mayor Regrets Passing Out of Ambulance Camp” | CraneLCHS11 |
| Camp Crane History/Slee Article | 2/1923 | Col. R. Slee, “An Old Report,” The Military Surgeon 52 (Feb. 1923):203-206 | CraneLCHS12 |
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