Ottawa University History-Civilian Pilot Training Program
I am wondering what information you have in your archives about the establishment of the Civilian Pilot Training Program at OU in the early 1940s. My father, William Robert Nollmann, was an undergraduate student there in 1942, graduating May of 1943. He was a CPT trainer there in 1942, according to his account. He recently passed away at the age of 94 and I am putting together some biographical information about him. Can you help? I would like to know when the program was begun at OU, how many students were in the program, and what other records of the program you may have.
Answer
Thanks for your email. I am in the process of composing an email to you from my personal email with some attachments.
Please look for a second email from Ottawa University this evening.
Gloria Creed-Dikeogu, Director of Library Services for Ottawa University
785-248-2536
I sent this message via my personal email address yesterday and it was rejected by your email service. I hope you receive this email. Please find attached some information about our Civilian Pilot Program at Ottawa University from our Alumni Magazine, Tauy Talk, June and November 1942. Your father, Rev. William Nollman, did indeed graduate in 1943 with a Bachelor of Arts from Ottawa University. Unfortunately there are no senior pictures of him in our 1942 or 1943 yearbooks. If you go to our Archives and Collections site which is freely accessible to the public.
https://myottawa.ottawa.edu/ics/Resources/Myers_Library_Online/Archives_and_Collections/
On our page you have access to our Ottawa University Annual Catalogues. If you look in the 1943 Catalog you will see his graduation listed in the catalog. We also have Alumni Directories which list him as an alumni. I checked the catalogs for more information about the CPT Unit and its programs but nothing was provided in either of OU catalogues from the 1940’s. I also checked the OU Newspaper but they did not have information there either about the program.
Since you have asked about the Civilian Pilot Program, I have also reached out to our Ottawa Public Library to find out if they might have anymore information for you from the newspapers about this program. If I find anything more I will send it on to you.
Best regards,