I-Search (Spanish Flu)

Morgan Simpson

I-Search Paper

Part 1

From 1918 to 1920 the world had it worse than we do now (Shocking, I know.) Surprisingly, Coronavirus isn’t the worst flu pandemic in history. The Spanish Flu (weirdly didn’t start in Spain) is estimated to be the cause of death for at least 50 Million People worldwide and about 675,000 people in the united states alone from 1918 to 1920. Over the course of those 2 years, 500 million people, or one-third of the world's population became infected with this virus. Before starting my research I only knew that the Spanish flu pandemic is believed to be started in Kansas and is known as the most severe pandemic in history. I honestly was just curious as to how today's novel coronavirus measured up to the Spanish flu pandemic of the early 1900’s. But, to be more specific, I wanted to know how a pandemic of that measure was handled in 1918, and what the impact was on America. I ended up searching for simple information and facts about the pandemic. The sources I found provided me with more than enough information to answer my questions about what was done to handle a pandemic during that time period and how it affected not only America, but also the world.

Part 2.

To start my research I did a simple google search of “Spanish flu”. I first clicked on typical Wikipedia articles to get some general information about the pandemic. And then I clicked on a History.com article simply titled “Spanish Flu” (https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/1918-flu-pandemic). This particular History.com article had a lot of good in depth information as well as historical pictures, and documentary videos explaining the pandemic. I then followed the resources at the bottom of the page that were used in the history.com article just to get a little more in depth information. So after finding some good background information from a simple google search, I then used the primary sources resources found on the I-Search paper instructions/outline posted on canvas. I first went to the Digital Public library resource and searched for Spanish Flu. (https://dp.la/search?q=spanish+flu). I found a lot of newspaper articles from the time period. But in particular, I found my first primary source! An article titled “Prevention for Spanish ‘flu’”. (https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1542413). The October 1918 newspaper article was very intriguing to me. I learned earlier in my research that there was no such thing as a flu vaccine in 1918. So, in the article it explains how they used methods such as gargling salt water twice a day, and a herbal remedy of boiling water with sage and benzoin to steam your face with. The last prevention effort the article mentions came up in a few different articles I read, they simply suggest good personal hygiene. But this particular article recommends rubbing your skin with table salt until it “glows a healthy pink.” The article also mentions that it is a “wonderful cure”.

For my second Primary source, I consulted the I-search instructions on canvas again and chose to go to the Fordham University Libraries website resource (https://fordham.libguides.com/AmericanHistory/primarysources). While there, I attempted to simply search for the Spanish flu but nothing turned up. I then scrolled through the suggested Digital collections of Diaries and Letters box that they offer on the site just to see what they might have. It was there that I found the link called: Influenza Encyclopedia: The American Influenza Epidemic of 1918-1919: Collection of digitized primary source documents, images and narratives detailing the impact of the 1918-19 epidemic on 50 American cities. (https://www.influenzaarchive.org/). While on the influenza archive website, I looked at the subjects section and found an article from December of 1918, titled “flu killed 17,000 soldiers”. (https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cache/4/9/6/4960flu.0000.694/00000001.tif.1.pdf#zoom=75) I think this article really shows the impact it really had on America. Ironically, this flu pandemic showed up just as America was entering World War 1. In my second primary source article it details that there were over 338,000 cases across all Army camps. And 17,000 deaths of soldiers. According to an article at Army.mil (https://www.army.mil/article/210420/) “American combat deaths in World War I totaled 53,402. But about 45,000 American Soldiers died of influenza and related pneumonia by the end of 1918.” So, in short, instead of defending our country and our allies during war, the majority of the soldiers were battling the flu. I’m sure that had a huge impact on America assisting our allies with the war. Maybe the outcome of the war would have been different if there wasn't a flu pandemic going around?

During my research I was afraid of finding a lot of miss-information and false facts. But I ended up finding a large amount of very interesting information and very informative, scholarly articles and videos. I think the primary newspaper articles from the time period were the most interesting. I read a few just for fun before I decided on my primary source. It was very interesting to see that during today's coronavirus pandemic we are taking a lot of the same safety measures and precautions as they did back in 1918.

(Notice the Face covering in his hand) https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p16002coll9/id/3157

Part 3.

In my research I came to the conclusion that the only reason coronavirus isn’t on the same case number level as the Spanish flu (even though we are using mostly the same health and safety guidelines as they did) is because we have modern medicine and vaccines. And to answer my research question; Spanish flu epidemic of 1918: what was done to control it, and what was its impact on the United States? To control the flu pandemic in 1918, they mandated mask wearing, social distancing, quarantine, and regular bodily hygiene. They simply waited it out and let it run its course for almost 2 years since there was no vaccine. Also, The impact it had on the United States was very interesting, It impacted it in many different ways but the one I ended up finding and focusing on for my second primary source was the impact it had on the soldiers during World War 1. It is believed that the virus itself started in Kansas on a pig farm, and those farmers went to a small army camp in central Kansas for healthcare. It then ended up spreading through the soldiers to Fort Riley, Kansas. And from there, the soldiers went off to battle in other parts of the world and ultimately spread the virus. I found it most interesting that there were almost as many deaths from the flu among soldiers than there were that died in actual battle. I started and ended my research with the same question. There were a few times I debated on changing it but I think it was generalized but also just specific enough to find some good sources for my research. So, all in all, my curiosity was resolved. This novel Coronavirus pandemic may seem crazy and surprisingly the methods to flatten the curve haven't really changed, but at least we have modern medicine!

RESOURCES:

Primary Source 1: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1542413.

Primary Source 2: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cache/4/9/6/4960flu.0000.694/00000001.tif.1.pdf#zoom=75

Research resource: History.com Article: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/1918-flu-pandemic

Research resource: Army.mil Article: https://www.army.mil/article/210420/

Research resource: Picture: https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p16002coll9/id/3157