The 1918-1919 Influenza Epidemic in Connecticut

A Red Cross emergency hospital in New Haven, CT – January 1919. Source: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/45499367

Introduction

Beginning in 1918 and continuing into 1919, the global influenza epidemic raged. It was known at the time as the “Spanish Flu,” due to the widespread but erroneous belief that the disease had originated in and spread from Spain. Worldwide, 21,600,000 died. In the United States alone, .5% of the population died of the disease (Arcari and Birden). Unlike previous strains of influenza, this one affected adults between the ages of 20-40 more than infants or the elderly (Bristow 4). Occurring against the backdrop of the first World War and the federal government’s increased role in social and daily life, the pandemic occurred as the American understanding of public health and its institutions were growing and changing (Bristow 35). The American Red Cross, for example, was a major player in disaster relief efforts throughout the pandemic (Bristow 54).  

In Connecticut, the epidemic began in September of 1918, in New London, and over the course of the epidemic an estimated 7,700 Connecticut residents died due to flu or pneumonia (Winslow and Rogers 188). The disease spread over the entire state within a month of its arrival, and affected between 20% and 40% of the entire population (192). Connecticut as a state was made vulnerable both by global factors and local conditions. The events of World War I fed the spread of the disease, as did the trend of emigration from Europe to the United States. Connecticut’s ports, which caused the state to see a lot of international travel, and its densely populated cities allowed the easy spread of the virus (Arcari and Birden ). Indeed, the flu was first introduced to the state via ships arriving to New London from abroad and from the Boston Navy Yard (Winslow and Rogers 185).  

Connecticut’s health services were drastically taxed by the exigencies of the epidemic. Despite the creation of emergency hospitals, the medical system could not accommodate the number of people in need, and the lack of medical care was at times acute. Another example of Connecticut’s struggle to cope with effects of the epidemic was the burial of the dead. In cities like Waterbury and New Britain, coffins were left without burial on the ground for days (Winslow and Rogers 190). In New Haven, despite the fact that schools remained open (in contrast to much of the nation), such a large number of teachers stayed home from fear of infection that the Superintendent of Schools had to explore options to increase the number of teachers and substitutes in the city (Stern et al. 69-70).   

The Connecticut State Department of Health undertook a variety of measures intended to prevent the spread of the disease. In addition to supporting emergency hospitals and attempting to address the shortage of doctors and nurses, they developed and published materials meant to educate the public on how to treat and avoid spreading the virus and supported vaccine treatments, which were not proven to work (Connecticut State Department of Health 305, 288-289 / pdf pages 37, 20-21). The State Council of Defense was also actively involved in the state’s response to the disease. In addition to assisting the Department of Health with publishing educational materials, they established a volunteer ambulance service in the cities hardest hit by the epidemic  (Connecticut State Department of Health 305-306/ 37-38).  

—Caroline Hron Weigle*  

Timeline

• April 1917 – US Entered World War I
• March 1918 – First reports of illness are made in the United States, in Fort Riley, Kansas. This would later be identified as part of the first wave of the epidemic
• August 28, 1918 – The second wave of the epidemic begins outside of Boston
• September 1, 1918 (approximate) – The first cases of the flu appear in New London, CT. By September 10, 1918, approximately 100 cases were admitted to the New London Naval Hospital
• September 12, 1918 – Influenza was declared  a reportable disease by officials in New London County, CT 
• September 18, 1918 – Influenza was declared a reportable disease across the state of Connecticut  
• November 1918 – World War I ends, soldiers return, and people gather to celebrate; this allows a resurgence of the influenza
• January 1919 – A third wave of the flu occurs; it lasts until the summer

How to Search this Topic in Historic CT Newspapers on Chronicling America

Open the Library of Congress Chronicling America collection in your web browser, available at https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/.  Click on the “Advanced Search Tab and select “Connecticut.” Select the years “1918-1919.” Enter these terms in the box labelled “with the phrase,” or “with all the words.” 

Suggested Search Terms

Health Board, Board of Health, Health Authorities
Serum, Vaccine
Isolation Hospital
Public Gatherings
Public Health
Flu, Spanish Flu, Influenza, Epidemic
Gauze Masks 

Sample search results

• “Grip Cases Now Total 1,509; In Need of Nurses,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 15 Oct. 1918, page 1, col. 4.  Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-10-15/ed-1/seq-1/> 
• “Spanish Influenza — What It Is and How It Should Be Treated,” New Britain herald. [volume] (New Britain, Conn.), 09 Oct. 191, page 3, col. 3. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1918-10-09/ed-1/seq-3/> 
• “Advice to ‘Flu’ Convalescents,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 09 Dec. 1918, page 10, col. 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-12-09/ed-1/seq-10/> 
• “S. Health Service Issues Warning,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 09 Dec. 1918, page 10, col. 6. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-12-09/ed-1/seq-10/> 
• “Bridgeport is in Grasp of Spanish Influenza,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 26 Sept. 1918, page 1, col. 2.  Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-09-26/ed-1/seq-1/> 
• “Halt Smoker to Prevent Spread of Influenza,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 26 Sept. 1918, page 1, col. 2.  Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-09-26/ed-1/seq-1/> 
• “Report 16 Additional Influenza Cases Here,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 27 Sept. 1918, page 1, col.  1. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-09-27/ed-1/seq-1/> 
• “American Red Cross Notes,” New Britain herald. [volume] (New Britain, Conn.), 10 Oct. 1918, page 4, col. 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1918-10-10/ed-1/seq-4/> 
• “Epidemic is Still on Increase Here,” New Britain herald. [volume] (New Britain, Conn.), 30 Sept. 1918, page 1, col. 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1918-09-30/ed-1/seq-1/> 
• “Influenza Serums,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 28 Oct. 1918, page 6, col. 1. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-10-28/ed-1/seq-6/> 
• “A New Serum for Spanish Influenza,” Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.), 02 Oct. 1918, page 1, col.  5. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014086/1918-10-02/ed-1/seq-1/> 
• “Coal Supply of State May be Curtailed by Influenza Epidemic,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 19 Oct. 1918, page 2, col. 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-10-19/ed-1/seq-2/> 
• “Influenza Gains 366 Victims in 48 Hour Period,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 28 Oct. 1918, page 1, col. 4. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-10-28/ed-1/seq-1/> 
• “Influenza Cases Again Increase; Total Now 4,309,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 26 Oct. 1918, page 1, col. 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-10-26/ed-1/seq-1/> 
• “Influenza Epidemic Leaves Many Connecticut Children Homeless,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 05 Dec. 1918, page 4, col. 1. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-12-05/ed-1/seq-4/> 
• “Uncle Sam’s Advice on Flu,” Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.), 17 Oct. 1918, page 7, col. 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84027718/1918-10-17/ed-1/seq-7/> 
• “Soldiers Need Nurses, is Devens Message to City,” New Britain herald. [volume] (New Britain, Conn.), 27 Sept. 1918, page 1, col. 1. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1918-09-27/ed-1/seq-1/> 
• “How to Avoid the Influenza Now Epidemic,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 27 Sept. 1918, page 12, col.  2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-09-27/ed-1/seq-12/> 
• “Condemns Trolley Traffic Conditions,” The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.), 31 Dec. 1918, page 1, col. 4. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1918-12-31/ed-1/seq-1/> 
• “Druggists Still Asked to Conserve Stocks of Vaporub Needed in ‘Flu’ Districts,” New Britain herald. [volume] (New Britain, Conn.), 13 Nov. 1918, page 5, col. 1. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1918-11-13/ed-1/seq-5/> 
• “City Arranges to Care for the Sick,” New Britain herald. [volume] (New Britain, Conn.), 17 Oct. 1918, page 5, col. 3. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1918-10-17/ed-1/seq-5/> 

Bibliography and Additional Resources

Books

Bristow, Nancy K. American Pandemic: The Lost Worlds of the 1918 Influenza Epidemic. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.

Byerly, Carol R. Fever of War: The Influenza Epidemic in the U.S. Army during World War I. New York: New York University Press, 2005.

Fanning, Patricia J. Influenza and Inequality: One Town’s Tragic Response to the Great Epidemic of 1918. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2010.

Kent, Susan Kingsley. The Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919: A Brief History with Documents. The Bedford Series in History and Culture. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 

Articles

Arcari, Ralph D., and Hudson Birden. “The 1918 Influenza Epidemic in Connecticut.” Connecticut History Review 38, no. 1 (1997): 28–43. 

Irwin, Julia. “An Epidemic without Enmity: Explaining the Missing Ethnic Tensions in New Haven’s 1918 Influenza Epidemic.” Urban History Review/Revue d’histoire Urbaine 36, no. 2 (2008): 5–17. 

Patterson, K. David, and Gerald F. Pyle. “The Geography and Mortality of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic.” Bulletin of the History of Medicine 65, no. 1 (1991): 4–21. 

Stern, Alexandra Minna, Mary Beth Reilly, Martin S. Cetron, and Howard Markel. “‘Better Off in School’: School Medical Inspection as a Public Health Strategy During the 1918–1919 Influenza Pandemic in the United States.” Public Health Reports 125, no. 3_suppl (2010): 63–70. 

Tuckel, Peter, Sharon Sassler, Richard Maisel, and Andrew Leykam. “The Diffusion of the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 in Hartford, Connecticut.” Social Science History, 2006, 167–196. 

Winslow, C.-EA, and James Frederick Rogers. “Statistics of the 1918 Epidemic of Influenza in Connecticut: With a Consideration of the Factors Which Influenced the Prevalence of This Disease in Various Communities.” The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1920, 185–216. 

Primary Sources

Connecticut  State Department of Health, Report of the State Department of Health for Two Years Ending June 30, 1920. Pages 269-311, Influenza Epidemic of 1918-1919. <http://hdl.handle.net/11134/30002:21752034> 

Connecticut State Council of Defense, Classified File P116, Spanish Influenza, 1918-1919. <http://hdl.handle.net/11134/30002:719503482> 

Connecticut State Council of Defense, Classified File P111.1 Nurses for Spanish Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919. <http://hdl.handle.net/11134/30002:719503444>  

Websites

“1918 Pandemic Influenza Historic Timeline | Pandemic Influenza (Flu) | CDC.” <https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/pandemic-timeline-1918.htm> 

*Caroline Hron Weigle is a Connecticut resident and graduate student at Wayne State University pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science.*