Karl Sterns '15
Karl Sterns was a born-and-raised Middlebury man. After graduating from Middlebury High School in 1910, Karl enrolled at Middlebury College, where he was a member of the Chi Psi fraternity and an avid athletics fan. He played the clarinet in the college orchestra and traveled throughout New England with the music group, his fraternity, and his friends. His personal scrapbook, donated by his family, provides insight into his personality, humor, and his time at Middlebury.
After graduating from Middlebury in 1915, Karl moved to Puerto Rico and taught English for a year before enlisting in the Navy in 1917 in the midst of World War I. Karl was stationed on the U.S.S. South Dakota, an armored cruiser used to transport American troops back and forth between the European continent. On board, Karl served as a musician for his nearly 9 months of service.
In 1918, Karl passed away from pneumonia at the Chelsea Naval Hospital in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Although his death certificate states pneumonia as his cause of death, he likely died of the Spanish Flu, an epidemic that killed at least 50 million people worldwide and about 45,000 American soldiers. Karl is remembered as the first Middlebury man to die in service during World War I. Honored for his service to both his Vermont community and his country, he is buried in the cemetery on campus. His name can be found today in the memorial plaque in the middle of the Route 7 rotary.
After graduating from Middlebury in 1915, Karl moved to Puerto Rico and taught English for a year before enlisting in the Navy in 1917 in the midst of World War I. Karl was stationed on the U.S.S. South Dakota, an armored cruiser used to transport American troops back and forth between the European continent. On board, Karl served as a musician for his nearly 9 months of service.
In 1918, Karl passed away from pneumonia at the Chelsea Naval Hospital in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Although his death certificate states pneumonia as his cause of death, he likely died of the Spanish Flu, an epidemic that killed at least 50 million people worldwide and about 45,000 American soldiers. Karl is remembered as the first Middlebury man to die in service during World War I. Honored for his service to both his Vermont community and his country, he is buried in the cemetery on campus. His name can be found today in the memorial plaque in the middle of the Route 7 rotary.
Case 1 - Contents Below
Karl’s social life was defined largely by Greek life on campus. His scrapbook contains many dance cards from his fraternity’s banquets and from sorority parties.
Program Banquet of the Seventy-First Annual Convention of the Chi Psi Fraternity
Hotel Bellevue, Boston, MA
Karl Sterns Scrapbook, 1912
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Hotel Bellevue, Boston, MA
Karl Sterns Scrapbook, 1912
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Dance cards
1911-1913
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
1911-1913
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Chi Psi Lodge at Middlebury College
1910
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
1910
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Case 2 - Contents Below
Karl took classes in several subjects: History, Math, Physics, Engineering, English, Geology, French, Government, and Chemistry. He saved numerous letters from his Dean noting his many absences from class.
Scrapbook of Karl Sterns, Class of 1915
1910 - 1918
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
1910 - 1918
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Picture of Case 3
Baseball Schedule and Results
1911
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
1911
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Athletics Spring Season Ticket
Karl Sterns Scrapbook, 1915
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Karl was invested in college athletics and kept his Spring Season Ticket, which granted him access to all varsity athletic events.
Karl Sterns Scrapbook, 1915
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Karl was invested in college athletics and kept his Spring Season Ticket, which granted him access to all varsity athletic events.
Athletic Pin
Karl Sterns Scrapbook
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Karl Sterns Scrapbook
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Middlebury College Band
Kaleidoscope, 1915
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Karl was an active member of the Middlebury College Band. In this image, Karl is standing behind the drum, holding his clarinet.
Kaleidoscope, 1915
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Karl was an active member of the Middlebury College Band. In this image, Karl is standing behind the drum, holding his clarinet.
Case 3 - Contents Below
Karl served as a musician, First Class, in the U.S. Navy, on the U.S.S. South Dakota from 1917 - 1918. He is listed as the first Middlebury College alum to die in World War I.
World War I Pin
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
Special Collections & Archives, Middlebury College
U.S.S. South Dakota
Darryl Baker
NavSource.org
Karl was stationed on the U.S.S. South Dakota, an armored cruiser used to transport American troops to and from Europe. During his nearly 9 months of service, Karl served as a musician.
Darryl Baker
NavSource.org
Karl was stationed on the U.S.S. South Dakota, an armored cruiser used to transport American troops to and from Europe. During his nearly 9 months of service, Karl served as a musician.
"Military Honors Paid to Sterns"
Middlebury Register March 29, 1918 Library of Congress Karl is remembered as the first Middlebury man to die in service during World War I. Honored for his service to both his Vermont community and his country, he is buried in the cemetery on campus. His name can be found today in the memorial plaque in the middle of the Route 7 rotary in Middlebury. |
"Karl I. Sterns Dies in Service"
Middlebury Register March 22, 1918 Library of Congress Karl died at the Chelsea Naval Hospital in Chelsea, Massachusetts in 1918. Although his death certificate states pneumonia as his cause of death, he likely died of the Spanish Flu, an epidemic that killed at least 50 million people worldwide and about 45,000 American soldiers. |