Find of the Month
Each month we highlight interesting, important, and odd items from our collection, along with the stories they tell.
Most recent Find of the Month
October 2025 - World War I quarantines
During World War I, there was national concern about the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases among soldiers and sailors. A system of arrest and internment was established to “quarantine” prostitutes while the war was ongoing. An August 1918 letter from the National League for Women’s Service was in favor of this system in Seattle:
[We] earnestly ask that the council take such steps as may be needful to continue to hold for the period of the war the women from the red light district who are now interned. To turn these women loose would be, we believe, a singular misfortune. At present soldiers and sailors from this entire section are given free run of the city of Seattle, and thousands frequently spend every week end here… If these women are allowed to go free again to follow their occupation the bad results would be so far reaching that all thinking women in the community would condemn the action. It may be well that the women should be removed into some place where they can have occupation and greater freedom, but we respectfully beg the council to continue the internment of these women.
A self-described “missionary evangelist” named Thomas O’Reilly wanted to go further:
Pass an act that every female from 15 to 31 years register in the City, appoint a health board composed of Lady Physicians as an examining board giving each a thourough [sic] examination, also a chance for volunteers to present themselves but make it compulsory, all found in any way tainted with venereal diseases should be interned in camps fitted up for such…
This remedy will last and bring results not only to city but nation… All diseased females should be dealt with in merciful human way and the Government Should intern all who is a nuisance to the carrying on of battle against the Foe in any way. I trust this may find a way to your hearts to establish an ordinance of this kind.
O’Reilly's proposed registration system was not implemented, but the federal Chamberlain-Kahn Act led to the detainment of over 30,000 women nationwide during the war.
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