Dickson, Emma Young, 1891-1984

Emma Young Dickson was born August 31, 1891 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She grew up in a wealthy family in Montclair, New Jersey, the daughter of steel industry businessman Willam B. Dickson. After the United States entered the first World War in 1917, Emma applied to serve as a canteen worker for the YMCA in France. She sailed to France in April of 1918 and and served for a year with a unit attached to the Seventh Infantry of the Third Division. She later married James Graham Carswell, settled in Montclair, and had three children. Dickson died in August, 1984.

From the description of Emma Young Dickson papers, 1917-1955 (bulk 1918-1919). (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62695647

Emma Young Dickson was born August 31, 1891 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was second of six children of William Brown Dickson and Mary Bruce Dickson. Dickson grew up and attended school in Montclair, New Jersey, where her family moved in 1901. Although born to a family of wealth and privilege, her father being a high-ranking businessman in the United States steel industry, she did not grow up ignorant of the social ills of the time. Her father resigned from his position as first vice president of U.S. Steel because of his disagreement with the inhumane labor practices prevalent throughout the steel industry during that period, and fought throughout his career for the abolishment of the twelve-hour, seven day work week.

When the United States entered in World War I in 1918, Emma knew she wanted to be part of the war effort, not by rolling bandages and knitting socks and scarves, but by going to France to help out in whatever way she could. She applied to the YMCA for an assignment as a canteen worker and after being turned down once was finally accepted. She sailed for France on April 3, 1918 and served with a unit attached to the Seventh Infantry of the Third Division. The work primarily involved supporting the soldiers by serving hot coffee and chocolate to the men in the trenches, visiting and writing letters for the wounded, and organizing recreational activities.

After returning home in March of 1919, Dickson married James Graham Carswell. The couple settled in Montclair and had three children.. Graham died suddenly of a heart attack in 1945, after which Emma took secretarial jobs for the Red Cross and the Montclair Art Museum, and as a companion to an elderly woman. In 1957 she moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, where her youngest son had been living with his family. She died on August 7, 1984, after a two-year struggle with cancer.

Biographical information was summarized from "A YMCA Canteen Worker in the Great War: The Diaries and Letters of Emma Young Dickson," compiled and edited by Cornelia Carswell Serota.

From the guide to the Emma Young Dickson papers., 1917-1955, 1998, (bulk 1918-1919)., (University of Minnesota. Kautz Family YMCA Archives. [ymca])