SCSU Journalism Capstone


WWI Centennial

From left to right: Cindy Simoneau, Journalism Department chair; Jodie Gil, assistant professor of Journalism; John D. Monahan, member of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission; Robert S. Prezant, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; Christine Pittsley, project manager for Remembering World War 1; and students Michael Apotria, Chloe Gorman, Brokk Tollefson, Melanie Espinal, Chris Rzasa, Lynandro Simmons and journalism graduate Melissa Nunez | Vern Williams photo.

In Fall 2016, Fall 2017 and Fall 2018, students in the Journalism Capstone at Southern Connecticut State University reported stories about Connecticut’s connection to World War I as part of a collaboration with the Connecticut State Library, and project manager Christine Pittsley.

Led by professors Cindy Simoneau and Jodie Mozdzer Gil, the students researched monuments in Connecticut and trends. They also wrote in-depth stories about Connecticut residents who volunteered or served in some capacity during the war.

The reporting gained national recognition from the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission in April 2018.

The following stories have been published in the series:

Profiles

Lawrence Lee Arbuckle: CT Resident Recalls Great-Uncle’s WWI Battle

Vincent Atwood: Bloodiest Battle Left CT Soldier With Shell Shock

Hyman Block: WWI Pilot Detailed Adventures in Autobiography

George Boteler: Physician Treated Soldiers Post-Armistice on Hospital Train

Lucile Connett Boteler: WWI Nurse’s Assistant Battled Influenza Epidemic

Albert Iver Coleman: A Soldier and Musician

Reuben Drummond: WWI Soldier Sent Messages Through Carrier Pigeon

Emma Homola: Family Records and Stories Document WWI Service

Ricardo LaFontaine: Puerto Rican Soldier Overcame Discrimination in WWI

Walter Patrick Moran: Norwich Soldier Saved Friend From Body Bag

Paul Maynard: CT Soldier Died on the Last Day of WWI

Dominic Palermo: WWI Veteran Helped Create New Haven American Legion Post

Nicholas Palermo: Self-Sacrifice During Battle Saved Soldiers

Joseph M. Park: 102nd Infantry Regiment is a Family Tradition

Frank R. Rivers: New Haven Soldier Escaped Death Multiple Times in WWI

Pauline Sands Lee: American Woman Helped French Troops Before the United States Joined WWI 

Hanna Horgan Shea: WWI Nurse Met Husband on Transport Ship

William P. Shea: Cmdr. William P Shea’s Service Extended Beyond WWI 

James Dudley Skinner: CT Engineer Helped Design Mark VIII Tank

Carlton Stevens: CT Resident Delivered Terms of the Armistice

Thorton Chatfield Thayer: Chesire Resident Archives Family Contributions to WWI

Emil Weiss: Artist Documented World War I

Memorials

Ansonia Built Veterans Memorial Park in the 1990s to Honor All Veterans

Bethany Monuments Honor WWI Service

Bethel Saves Its Doughboy

The WWI Veteran Behind Bristol’s Soldiers’ Memorial

Chester’s World War I Monument Gifted by Local Businessman

Clinton’s War Memorial Honors Veterans

Danbury Honors Veterans at War Memorial

East Haven Teen 1 of 5 From Town Who Died in WWI

Easton Remembers the Great War

Fairfield’s Wall of Honor Recognizes Veterans from 7 Wars

Light Shines Through Hamden WWI Hero

War Hero Among Those Honored on Madison’s Monument

Manchester Memorial Hospital Honors WWI Veterans

Meriden WWI Monument’s Location Has Significance 

Milford Doughboy Honors WWI Service

Middletown Residents Helped Fund WWI Monument

Sgt. Stubby Enshrined in Veterans Memorial Park in Middletown

Monroe’s Mirrored Monuments Dedicated to WWI

Naugatuck’s Great War Monument Damaged, Restored

New Britain’s WWI Monument is City’s ‘Grandest’

Author Wants More Recognition for New Haven Monuments

Yale Fields Serve as Backdrop for 102nd Regiment Monument

Newtown’s World War I Monument Mistitled

Dual Monuments Honor North Branford’s War Dead

Norwalk Cannon Reunited With World War I Monument

Pawcatuck WWI Memorial Overlooks Two States

Seymour’s WWI Monument Includes All Wars

Southbury’s Evolving Monument

Stamford’s Soldiers & Sailors Monument Honors War Service

Stratford’s Mysterious Monument 

Waterbury Updates WWI Monument

Wallingford WWI Monument Honors French Flying Ace, Among Veterans

Westport Veterans Memorial Green Includes WWI Monument

Trend Stories

‘Balloonatics’ Photographed War From Above

Connecticut Filmmaker Guy Hedlund Preserved War History

Connecticut’s Italian Immigrants Fought With U.S. in World War I

Connecticut Nurses Earned Respect During WWI

Connecticut Residents Among Those Killed on the Lusitania

Connecticut Students Turned Soldiers

Connecticut Women Became Workers During War

Farmington Woman Among Survivors of Lusitania, Legacy Lives On

Former Heavyweight Champion Fought at Camp Hines

From Athlete, to WWI Soldier, to First Black Judge in CT

Hartford’s Colt Armory Led the Way in Munitions Production During WWI

Hello Girls Recognized a Century Later

Home Guard Patrols Helped in CT During WWI

Jack Barry Misses 1918 World Series for WWI

Naval Units Patrolled U.S. Coast During World War I

Popular CT WWI Poet Never Fought

Submarine Detection Helped U.S. Track Enemy During WWI

Townsend Depicted War Through Illustrations

Townsend War Art Displayed at the New Britain Museum of American Art

Waterbury Among Leaders in WWI Liberty Bonds Sales

WWI Sparks Poetry For Connecticut Residents

WWI Production Poisoned CT ‘Radium Girls’