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National Peace Conference (U.S.) Records

 Collection
Identifier: SCPC-DG-049

Scope and Contents

The collection includes organizational meeting minutes, correspondence, statements of policy, annual reports, financial records, releases, serial publications, and literature. The bulk of the correspondence is with local peace groups, 1936-1944. There is additional correspondence with international peace organizations. In addition there are documents relating to various NPC committees and project, such as the Campaign for World Economic Cooperation, 1937-1939.

Dates

  • 1933-1951

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Limitations on Accessing the Collection

The collection is open for research use.

Physical Access Note

All or part of this collection is stored off-site. Contact Swarthmore College Peace Collection staff at peacecollection@swarthmore.edu at least two weeks in advance of visit to request boxes.

Copyright and Rights Information

None.

Historical Note

The National Peace Conference was formed in 1933 to unify and coordinate the efforts of various U.S. organizations interested in world justice and peace. The main function of the organization was to relate peace organizations to the public and to each other. The NPC member organizations coordinated some programs, activities and joint projects. Dr. Walter Van Kirk was director at the time of founding of the NPC. The main issues covered by the NPC included: neutrality, economics and peace, military training in schools and colleges, freedom of conscience, immigration policy, the League of Nations, and U.S. national defense policies. The organization had international contacts, especially with the National Peace Council in London, and the Rassemblement Universel pur la Paix (International Peace Council), in Geneva, Switzerland. The NPC was active until 1951.

Extent

6.25 Linear Feet (17 boxes)

Overview

The National Peace Conference was formed in 1933 to unify and coordinate the efforts of various organizations interested in world justice and peace. The organization was active until 1951.

Arrangement

The collection is organized first by internal administrative records, then correspondence with local U.S. peace organization and group by state. Correspondence with international peace organizations forms the next section of documents. The remaining boxes contain material on NPC projects and literature.

Custodial History

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

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of National Peace Conference.

Bibliographic References

Guide to the Swarthmore College Peace Collection, 2nd ed., p. 48.

Legal Status

Copyright to the National Peace Conference (U.S.) 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

Updated by Anne Yoder, Archivist, July 2015

Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2017: The file list was standardized in Summer 2017 by Min Cheng in preparation for importing into ArchivesSpace. Elisabeth Miller added the notes in Fall 2017. Wendy E. Chmielewski updated this finding aid, January 2020.

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 reproductions from Swarthmore College Peace Collection Library

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