From Campus to Cockpit: Duke During World War II

Rose Bowl: Pre-Game Prep, 1941

1942 Train Station

Fans at Durham's Union Station greet the inbound train carrying the Oregon State football team, December 24, 1941.

From the University Archives Photograph Collection, 1861-[ongoing].

“Bowl Durham”: The Tobacco City Welcomes the Oregon State Beavers

The game gave Durham a national stage upon which to show its “southern hospitality.” On December 24, 1941, over 2,000 fans, including a local high school marching band, gathered at Union Station in downtown Durham to greet the Oregon State Beavers. Oregon State’s captain, Martin Chavez , was named Acting Mayor of Durham for one day upon his arrival at Union Station.  A series of celebratory events ensued over the next few days, including lunch at the Washington Duke Hotel, Christmas dinner in the West Campus Union Building, an old-fashioned tobacco auction, and a number of New Year’s Eve parties in downtown Durham.

Durham Welcomes Oregon State

Durham Welcomes Oregon State

Photograph of students celebrating, 1941

Students were overjoyed when Duke was invited to play in the 1942 Rose Bowl, as shown in this photograph taken at the Goody Shop on Durham’s Main Street.

From the University Archives Photograph Collection, 1861-[ongoing].

Celebrating Duke's Rose Bowl bid, 1941

Duke students hold a rally in front of Durham's Malbourne Hotel (since demolished) to celebrate the news of the Blue Devils' bid to play in the 1942 Rose Bowl.

Devils Captain Bob Barnett with congratulatory scroll from UNC-Chapel Hill

Devils Captain Bob Barnett with congratulatory scroll from UNC-Chapel Hill

Christmas Dinner program, December 25, 1941.

Christmas Dinner program (page 1), December 25, 1941.

Christmas dinner at the West Union Building featured local culinary specialties of Baked Virginia Ham and North Carolina yams.

Christmas Dinner program, December 25, 1941.

Christmas Dinner program (page 1), December 25, 1941.

Christmas dinner at the West Union Building featured local culinary specialties of Baked Virginia Ham and North Carolina yams.

Beavers Captain and his Christmas Gifts

Beavers captain Martin Chavez holds his gift box, surrounded by two Durham Chamber of Commerce officials, 1941.

Crown Hosiery Mills Gift Card, 1941

At the Christmas Dinner, the Oregon State Beavers received a number of Durham-made “party favors”: cartons of Chesterfield and Lucky Strike cigarettes, bags of Bull Durham Smoking Tobacco, and a pair of socks from the Durham’s Crown Hosiery Mill, the latter of which was accompanied by this card.

Kick-Off Luncheon Ticket, 2941

Kick-Off Luncheon Ticket, 1941

Kick-Off Luncheon Photograph, 1941

Duke’s Dean William H. Wannamaker (speaking) and President Robert L. Flowers at the Kick-Off Luncheon, 1941.

Processing Rose Bowl ticket orders, 1941

Processing Rose Bowl ticket orders, 1941

Oregon State Beavers outside the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, 1941

Oregon State Beavers outside the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, 1941

M.E.H. Hardware Rose Bowl ad, 1941

M.E.H. Hardware Rose Bowl ad, 1941

Durham Building and Loan Rose Bowl ad, 1941

Durham Building and Loan Rose Bowl ad, 1941

Erwin Mills Rose Bowl ad, 1941

Erwin Mills Rose Bowl ad, 1941

Claude Hull Florist Rose Bowl advertisement, 1941

Claude Hull Florist Rose Bowl advertisement, 1941

Chesterfield Cigarettes Advertisement, 1942

The Durham-based tobacco company Liggett & Myers honored the Rose Bowl by incorporating the team rosters into an advertisement for Chesterfield cigarettes. The ad appeared in the program for the January 1, 1942 game.

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