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Kindlewood Peace Community Records

 Collection
Identifier: SCPC-DG-279

Scope and Contents

This collection includes the records created by members of the Kindlewood Peace Community between 1979 and 1999, concerning their efforts to close down the Griffis Air Force base. It includes newsletters, administrative and meeting records, financial records, material distributed to the general public, newspaper clippings about the organization's protests, and information concerning other peace and anti-nuclear organizations.

Dates

  • Creation: 1970-1999

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Conditions Governing Access

None

Conditions Governing Use

None

Historical note

The Kindlewood Peace Community began as part of a coalition of peace organizations in central upstate New York, protesting the storage of nuclear missiles at a military base in the state. They began demonstrations, vigils, and civil disobedience activities in 1980. The organization was first known as the Griffiss Peace Community, and later as Kindlewood at the Griffiss Peace Community. KPC described its purpose as "a spiritually based peace community devoted to the ideals of nonviolent change and the freeing up of the world's resources from military spending to use for the common good." By the late 1980s some members lived in a co-housing community, sharing living space, as part of their commitment to KPC goals and ideals. KPC members were involved in planning the conversion of the Griffiss site to civilian use in the late 1980s through the 1990s. The leaders included Tom [Thomas C.] Joyce and Carrie Stearns.

Extent

3.75 linear ft. (9 boxes)

Abstract

The Kindlewood Peace Community was a grassroots organization, located in Rome, New York, during the 1980s. Members of the organization wished to raise awareness of the nuclear Cruise missiles stored at the nearby Griffiss Air Force Base. Kindlewood members held vigils and weekly handed out leaflets at the Base gate. They were also involved in the planning of conversion of the base to civilian and limited military use in the 1990s.

Arrangement

This collection remains in the order in which it was donated. The donor, Thomas C. Joyce, organized the files before bringing the records to the Peace Collection in 2019.

Custodial History

The Swarthmore College Peace Collection is the official repository for these records.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Thomas C. Joyce, 2019

Existence and Location of Copies

None

Separated Materials

Photos were removed to the Photograph Collection.

Legal Status

Copyright to the Kindlewood Peace Community Records created by the organization has been transferred to the Swarthmore College Peace Collection. Copyright to all other materials is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Processing Information

This collection is unprocessed; this finding aid was created by Patrick Gehlbach, 2019 July.

Status
In Progress
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 Swarthmore College Peace Collection Library

Contact:
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore 19081-1399 USA US
610-328-8557
610-328-8544 (Fax)