I'm helping a friend research a paper topic regarding the Spanish Flu in Philadelphia following World War I. However, he has been hitting a wall when it comes to finding primary sources for these topics. He has tried NYtimes database for articles from that time, but these sources are limited in the type of information they can give. Does anyone in r/askhistorians know of any primary sources in particular that can help him in this regard? In particular the response of Philadelphians to the Spanish flu among the medical community, the municipal government, and the common citizen?
I've been wracking my brain trying to remember where I learned this, but I seem to recall that in Philadelphia's case, there was a parade for U.S. soldiers heading off to war that was a huge instigator in the spread of the disease. That parade was pointed to as what turned the situation in Philadelphia into an epidemic. If I can remember where I got that information, I'll be sure to post it.