Russell Stetler Papers
Content Description
These documents created and collected by Russell Stetler pertain to the early role of Haverford students in opposing the war in Vietnam, Haverford’s support of Stetler’s right to dissent when his scholarship from the Philadelphia Board of Education was threatened because of his antiwar activities, Stetler’s correspondence with the English philosopher and peace activist Bertrand Russell, and Stetler’s essay on the Vietnam war that was ultimately published in a pamphlet by the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation. The collection also includes the post-hearing legal brief by ACLU lawyer Richard Kirscher and newspaper clippings from the three Philadelphia daily newspapers and other press sources on the antiwar efforts and scholarship controversy.
Dates
- Creation: 1962-2022
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1963-1965
Creator
- Stetler, Russell (Person)
- Russell, Bertrand, 1872-1970 (Person)
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions
Standard Federal Copyright Law Applies (U.S. Title 17)
Biographical / Historical
This collection consists of documents created and collected by Russell Stetler, Class of 1966. Stetler and other Haverford students played an early role in opposing the war in Vietnam, documented in leaflets, petitions, and other materials. Stetler wrote to Bertrand Russell, who also opposed the war and supported the student efforts. Copies of multiple letters from Bertrand Russell are included in the collection. The antiwar efforts aroused the ire of members of the Philadelphia Board of Education, which had awarded a modest scholarship to Stetler. Haverford’s president and two faculty members testified in support of his right to dissent at a school board hearing, where Stetler was represented by a volunteer lawyer from the ACLU. Russell Stetler was the National Mitigation Coordinator for federal death penalty projects at the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel from 2005 to 2020.
Extent
0.4 linear ft. (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
These documents created and collected by Russell Stetler pertain to the early role of Haverford students in opposing the war in Vietnam, Haverford’s support of Stetler’s right to dissent when his scholarship from the Philadelphia Board of Education was threatened because of his antiwar activities, Stetler’s correspondence with the English philosopher and peace activist Bertrand Russell, and Stetler’s essay on the Vietnam war that was ultimately published in a pamphlet by the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation.
Processing Information
Processed by Elizabeth Jones-Minsinger, completed April 2022.
Subject
- Stetler, Russell (Person)
- Russell, Bertrand, 1872-1970 (Person)
- May 2nd Movement (Organization)
- Davidon, William C. (Person)
- Borton, Hugh (Person)
- American Civil Liberties Union (Organization)
Genre / Form
Topical
- Title
- Russell Stetler Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Elizabeth Jones-Minsinger
- Date
- April, 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Find It at the Library
Most of the materials in this catalog are not digitized and can only be accessed in person. Please see our website for more information about visiting or requesting repoductions from Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections Library
