Annie Lee Hoffman Papers, 1909-1926

In the aftermath of World War I, a number of volunteers from American agencies went overseas to help with the return to peacetime and assist the military with this and other projects. Annie Lee Hoffman was one of these volunteers, serving as part of the YMCA.

Annie was born on August 9, 1887 in Morganton, NC to Julius and Martha Hoffman. She attended Oxford Seminary in Oxford, NC where she studied office administration. She moved to Rocky Mount, NC where she was employed as a private stenographer. At the time Annie volunteered overseas, she was the Nash County Court Stenographer.

The mission of the YMCA is to operate as a Christian service to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. It was established in London, England in June 1844 in response to “unhealthy social conditions” resulting from the Industrial Revolution in large cities. In1914, the YMCA turned its attention to providing support and wholesome pursuits for troops fighting for Britain and her empire. Examples of services provided include supplying men with writing paper, film showings, libraries, religious services, concert parties, folk dancing, and educational lectures.

The YMCA opened its doors for women in July 1917. Prior to this, Americans did not believe that women could hold up to the physical and mental strain of war work. Women certainly proved these ideas wrong by serving as nurses, surgeons, chaplains, chaplains' assistants, distributors of medical supplies, and distributors of food and clothing. Some women also served on the battlefield with horse drawn canteens that had built and staffed kitchen a hotel, and a hospital. Women volunteers also provided male soldiers with free meals and taught men to read and write.

By 1918, over 300 YMCA centers existed in France. There were approximately 1,700 volunteers in French YMCAs, mostly women. Each center offered a canteen, chapel, concert hall, library, game room, and classroom.

Throughout her travels, Annie kept a detailed account of foreign lands laying in ruins during the war. Her papers, held in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, contain extensive letters that she wrote to her mother and sisters in the form of a diary. After her volunteer service, she returned to Rocky Mount. She died at age of 97 in her hometown on October 9, 1984.