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William P. Camp Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-244

Scope and Contents

Contains the papers of William P. Camp, Quaker psychiatrist active in the ethics of the mental health field. The papers chronicle his life, especially his professional and volunteer activities.

Dates

  • Creation: 1936-1992

Creator

Language of Materials

All materials in English

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce items in this collection beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder or their heirs/assigns. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/.

Biographical / Historical

William P. Camp was a Quaker psychiatrist, particularly concerned with ethics in the mental health field and very active in his profession in Pennsylvania and on Quaker boards. He was born April 8, 1917, in Bridgeport, Ct. He earned his B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1940 where he was editor of the student newspaper and a classmate of Katherine Lindsley who became his wife in 1941. Camp was awarded an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1950 and became a resident in psychiatry at Norristown State Hospital.

He worked at Norristown State Hospital from 1954-1963 and served as superintendent 1959-1963. From 1964-1967, he was appointed Commissioner of Mental Health and Deputy Secretary of Public Welfare for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. During his tenure, the Mental Health Act of 1966 was approved. From 1968-1979, he was the Director of Friends Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. In addition to other professional responsibilities and serving as the president of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society, he served on the board of a many Quaker and medical organizations and associations and on the Ethics Committee of the American Psychiatric Association.

His wife, Kay Camp, was a teacher and peace activist who served as the president of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Both the Camps were active in Quaker concerns and members of Norristown Monthly Meeting. They had three sons. William Camp died in December 1999.

Extent

3 linear ft. (6 boxes)

Abstract

William P. Camp (1917-1999) was a Pennsylvania psychiatrist, concerned with ethics in the mental health field and very active in his profession and in Quaker organizations. His wife, Kay Camp, was a teacher and peace activist who served as the president of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Both of the Camps were active in Quaker concerns and members of Norristown Monthly Meeting. The papers chronicle Dr. Camp’s life, particularly his professional and volunteer activities. He served as superintendent of Norristown State Hospital, director of Friends Hospital, and commissioner of Mental Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He also served as president of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society and the Ethics Committee of the American Psychiatric Association.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into three series:

  1. Ser.1. Biographical and early life (education, military service)
  2. Ser.2. Professional life
  3. Ser.3. Quaker activities
  4. Ser.4. Miscellaneous

Physical Location

For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donor: Catherine L. Camp, 1995-2000

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was given by the widow of William P. Camp.

Related Materials

RG 4/034, Friends Medical Society Records in Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College and DG 169, Kay Camp Papers (Swarthmore College Peace Collection)

Separated Materials

Reference material on Friends Hospital stored in PG 3 Reference files.

Processing Information

Received in unsorted batches, roughly divided into different phases of William Camp’s professional life. Copies of general institutional reports and other non-relevant papers removed from collection. Histories of Friends Hospital removed to PG1, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College reference files. Annual reports of Friends Hospital checked for duplicates in FHL collection. Papers sorted into series and stored in RG 5.

Title
An Inventory of the William P. Camp Papers, 1936-1992
Author
FHL staff
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

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 Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College Library

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Swarthmore Pennsylvania 19081 USA