26
27

1920–1929
28

u Building 1 as it appeared late in 

the second decade after two major 

additions. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, WRAMC History Collection

The war was over, but the care 

and rehabilitation of war 

wounded continued at Walter Reed during the early years of its 

second decade. Closure of temporary 

Army hospitals that were opened during the war lead Congress to provide 

additional funds to Walter Reed to 

purchase additional property and to 

replace many of the temporary buildings added during the war with permanent structures. Between 1920 and 

1922, the Army purchased 44 acres of 

land north of the Post that was part 

of the Sixteenth Street Heights subdivision. This brought the campus to 

its present size of approximately 116 

acres. Later in the decade, major east 

and west additions were added to 

“old main,” bringing Building 1 to essentially what is seen today. 

Warren G. Harding, elected President 

of the United States in 1920, was the 

first President to personally visit Walter Reed. Mrs. Rea and Miss Lower 

from the Red Cross at Walter Reed 

were at the White House making arrangements to bring wounded soldiers there for a garden party when 

the President approached them and 

asked if he could come out for a visit. 

He said how about this Sunday, and 

they said “of course.” Concerned that 

Title page - This aerial view, taken in the summer of 1921, looks north toward 

Building 1, the main administration and clinical building, which was completed in 

1908 and occupied in 1909. The new Wards A (west) and B (east, hidden behind 

the trees) were completed in 1914 and 1915, respectively. Directly north of the 

east portion of Building 1 are two identical double sets of Sergeant’s quarters, 

Buildings 2 and 3. To the east of Building 3 (right in the photo) is the larger “Isolation Hospital” of 12 beds completed in 1913. Temporary wards for World War I 

are seen in the foreground (left and right). The YMCA building is seen in the upper right of the photograph. Also north of Building 1, in the upper portion of the 

photos, are former private homes that were on the property that was purchased 

for the facility. These were used as officer’s quarters.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, 9882AC

28

they had committed to the President of 

the United States without the knowledge of the hospital commander, they 

rushed back to the hospital hoping 

that everything would be alright. It 

was of course and the President’s visit 

on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in 

May was a rousing success.

The rolling of Easter eggs on the Monday following Easter was a Washington children’s tradition long before it 

began at Walter Reed in 1923. In 1927, 

Walter Reed held Washington’s first 

Easter Sunrise Service soon becoming 

an annual event interrupted only during World War II.
29

The Army Medical School’s new permanent building was built on the little 

knoll to the west of Building 1 that had 

been the location of the tent-sheltered 

Hospital Company C in April 1909, the 

first medical unit to occupy the grounds. 

The Army Medical School, founded by 

Surgeon General George Miller Sternberg in 1893, was not a four-year medical school as we know it today, but was 

a course of variable length depending 

on the needs of the Army that was an 

introduction to military medicine for 

physicians who had no prior service. 

The new building (Bldg. 40) opened in 

1923 and also housed the Army Dental 

School and Army Veterinary School. 

29

Over the years, Building 40 would undergo significant additions in the 1930s 

and 1960s. With the arrival of the Army 

Medical School, the installation was 

now named the Army Medical Center, 

which encompassed the schools (Army 

Medical School, Army Dental School, 

and Army Veterinary School), Walter 

Reed General Hospital, and all other 

activities on Post.

James D. Glennan, Walter Reed General Hospital (1919-1923) and Army 

Medical Center (1923-1926) commander was an avid garden enthusiast and 

had much to do with developing the 

formal garden south of Building 1. He 

is credited with acquiring a number of 

Japanese cherry trees that were surplus 

from over 3,000 sent from Japan for 

planting around the tidal basin and Potomac River and having them planted 

on the upper rim of the rose garden 

basin.
30
31

On December 12, 1920, a fire in Ward 

43, the ward for neuropsychiatric 

patients under observation, caused 

$25,000 damage and the death of one 

patient. Wards 43 and 44 were completely destroyed. Thirty-eight patients 

were helped to safety, earning the staff 

a collective special commendation for 

conspicuous and meritorious conduct. 

The destroyed buildings were long low 

structures, part of a number erected 

to care for the wounded veterans from 

World War I. The Come-Back, Vol. 2, 

No. 27, December 18, 1920. 

Sources: (Left) National Museum of Health and 

Medicine, AFIP, WRAMC History Collection 

(Below and Below Opposite) Walter Reed Army 

Medical Center, Directorate of Public Works 

Archives
32

p The great influx of patients during and after World War I contributed to crowded conditions on the campus. Temporary 

buildings and tents filled the grounds around the main building. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 30624

p Snow removal team taking quick action.

Source: Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Directorate of Public Works Archives
33

u The 12-bed isolation ward was built 

in 1913. This building was razed in 

the 1970s to make way for the new 

hospital building. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 4176

t Convalescent Wards 23 and 24 

with sunporches. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, NCP 15001

t 1927, Entrance to Kitchen Area. 

Right: first floor, Mess II; second floor, 

Library; third floor, Eye, Ear, Nose and 

Throat Wards.

Source: Borden’s Dream by Mary W. Standlee, 

p. 218
34

p Architect’s rendering of the Army Medical School at Walter Reed Hospital. South Elevation. The Army Medical School 

moved from 7th Street in downtown Washington, D.C., to a location on a knoll west of Building 1, site of the original Company C Hospital Corps encampment. 

Source: The Come-Back, March 17, 1922

p The Army Dental School was located in these temporary WWI buildings from 1922 to 1930 when these buildings were 

condemned and torn down. March 23, 1923.

Source: Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Directorate of Public Works Archives
35

t The First Easter Egg Roll at Walter 

Reed was held the Monday after Easter 

on April 2, 1923 in the formal gardens. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, WRAMC History Collection

q The first Easter Sunrise Service in 

Washington, D.C., was held at Walter 

Reed in 1927. More than 8,000 people 

attended the second Easter Sunrise 

Service in 1928. The services were 

broadcast live by local Radio Station 

WRC. The initial Service, co-sponsored 

by the Washington Federation of 

Churches and the U.S. Army, featured 

an impressive “Living Cross” formed by 

Walter Reed personnel with music by 

the U.S. Army Band. This annual event, 

held every year except 1942–1944, has 

attracted thousands of participants.

Source: Borden’s Dream by Mary W. Standlee. 

p. 215
36

u Native Americans with patients.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, WRAMC History Collection

u 4th of July pageant.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Montgomery Collection

t Thanksgiving pageant.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Montgomery Collection
37

Front of the Christmas Menu from the 1921 Christmas Dinner. Highlights from the menu include Oyster Cocktails, 

Roast Virginia Turkey, Skookum Apples, and English Plum Pudding.

Source: Pierce Collection
38

p Outdoor class for the nurses. Notice the temporary ward construction behind them. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, WRAMC History Collection
39

q Maj. General Merritte W. Ireland, U.S. Army Surgeon General, presided at the graduation ceremonies for more than 

400 students from the Army School of Nursing at Walter Reed. It was said to be the largest graduating class from any 

similar institution in the United States. June 16, 1921.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, 65-12604

p Nurses doing their morning exercises.

Source: Office of The Surgeon General, Office of Medical History
40

t A long view of the bacteriology lab 

where physicians trained in the Army 

Medical School. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 2313

u The study of bacteriology has been 

important from the beginning of Walter 

Reed Hospital’s history. Here, one of 

the specialists is studying a slide. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 608
41

p Army officer examining men’s teeth. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medi-

cine, AFIP, Reeve 607 u (Left) Mrs. Henry (Edith Oliver) 

Rea, the original Red Cross Gray 

Lady. She was appointed by the 

American Red Cross to coordinate the 

Red Cross activities at Walter Reed 

during World War I. (Right) Shown is 

Mrs. Rea wearing the uniform of the 

day that gave the volunteer women 

their unofficial name based on the 

pearl gray color of their dress. 

Sources: (Left) Pierce Collection; (Right) National 

Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, WRAMC 

History Collection
42

Inside the main entrance to the main hospital (Building 1), July 25, 1924.

Source: Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Directorate of Public Works Archives
43

u Inside of the Operating Room of 

the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic, 

1922.

Source: Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 

Directorate of Public Works Archives

p Col. William L. Keller, Chief of Surgery, at work.

Source: Borden’s Dream by Mary W. Standlee, 

p. 163
44

p A typical hospital ward at Walter 

Reed. Patients are here for observation. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, 

AFIP, WRAMC History Collection. Reeve 605

u Rehabilitation aides (later called 

physical therapists) attending to their 

patients in one of the temporary building wards in August 1922. 

Source: Walter Reed Army Medical Center History Office
45

t Inside a hospital ward in a temporary building. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 227

q Patients in Ward 72 on New Year’s Day, 1920. This was one of the temporary wards built to accommodate the wounded from the Great War. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, WRAMC History Collection
46

p A portable X-ray machine is brought to the patient on the ward. The practice at the time was not to use protective 

shielding.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 2312
47

u A Dental Technician positioning the 

X-ray machine for dental radiographs 

at Walter Reed General Hospital, 

1922. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, NCP 2732

p Dental procedure using natural 

lighting.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 225
48

u Patients enjoyed a social event in 

the recreation center of the Red Cross 

Building. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 740

t Re-education in the form of occupational therapy is taking place on Ward X.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 773

u A war veteran wearing temporary 

pilons, which precede permanent 

prosthetic limbs. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, 

AFIP, WRAMC History Collection, Reeve 282
49

t Veterans recovering from wounds 

are taught basketry. The skills learned 

here will improve hand dexterity and 

eye-hand coordination. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 286

u Wounded soldiers being taught scroll work by a vocational aide at Walter Reed Hospital. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 644

u The process of making prosthetics 

is an essential part of training the 

patients to return to their normal lives. 

Here, technicians are shown creating 

the limbs lost in battle. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeves 271
50

p World War I veteran enjoys a spring day on campus. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 170

u Weaving is not only a creative 

way to pass time in the hospital, it 

also teaches eye-hand coordination, teaches injured muscles to work 

again, and gives the patient a sense 

of accomplishment when the project is 

completed. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 645
51

p Soldier learning gardening in the Walter Reed greenhouse. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 280

u The World War I veteran received a 

practical course. Farming, gardening, 

chicken-raising, and carpentry were 

taught, as well as stenography, printing, and the crafts. (Original caption)

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 281
52

p Typewriting is another skill useful both in physical therapy to regain coordination and muscle strength, and also a 

useful tool for employment after release from the hospital. The patient is being observed by a Physiotherapy Aide.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 646
53

p Patient learning telegraphy, July 1922. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 41849

t A patient learning hand weaving in 

his hospital bed, February 16, 1926. 

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, SC 560344
54

Learning to use prosthetics is critical 

to the patients’ recovery. In this series 

of photographs, patients are learning 

dexterity as well as skills for vocations 

after their release from the hospital. 

p Source: National Museum of Health and 

Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 4268

t Source: National Museum of Health and 

Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 2021
55

u Source: National Museum of Health and 

Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 4269

p Source: National Museum of Health and 

Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 4267
56

t Col. Glennan with the Duke of 

Windsor visiting with patients in 1920. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, WRAMC History Collection

q President Warren G. Harding was 

the first President to visit Walter Reed 

General Hospital in 1922. Here, he 

meets patients during his visit. 

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, WRAMC History Collection
57

p Surrounded by Walter Reed 

patients and Red Cross Gray Ladies 

at the White House, President Calvin 

Coolidge signed a bill for veterans 

relief pay, June 5, 1924. Looking on 

is General of the Armies, John J. 

Pershing.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, WRAMC History Collection

t President Calvin Coolidge visiting 

with Walter Reed Hospital patients, 

1926.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP
58
59

A determined and resolute Pvt. Maleskie poses for a picture in uniform at Walter Reed.

Source: National Museum of Health and Medicine, AFIP, Reeve 1299