Washington’s Birthday, 1919

The Spirit of America

George Washington’s birthday used to be the cause for much larger celebrations and observances than we see today. The image shown here is the cover from a pamphlet produced by the North Carolina Department of Instruction to give school teachers “material not only for [the] Washington Day Program, but for teaching the spirit of America in the public schools of the state.”

Published in 1918, the 64-page pamphlet contains patriotic poems and songs, and many readings about the country’s current involvement in World War I, including President Woodrow Wilson’s war message, sections about the Army and the Red Cross, and a tribute to North Carolinian Josephus Daniels, who was serving at the time as the Secretary of the Navy.