Relief and Reconstruction Program records

Haverford College's Relief and Reconstruction program was established in early 1943 to provide training to students interested in relief and rehabilitation work in Europe during World War II. Directed by Douglas Steere, the program offered both undergraduate and graduate coursework and was open to male and female students. Many of the male undergraduate students were religious conscientious objectors. The program also worked with conscientious objectors in Civilian Public Service camps and sent students to the camps to complete field work. The program was built around language study, specialized study on Central and Eastern Europe, social work practices, and the philosophy of reconstruction. Stuednts also received daily training in manual skills, including masonry, carpentry, and first aid, as well as "special techniques," which included public sanitation, nutrition, and bookkeeping. The Relief and Reconstruction program worked in close cooperation with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), although there was not an official partnership with the organization.

The Relief and Reconstruction graduate program cohorts, known as units, were comprised primarily of female students. Graduate training consisted of four 12-week quarters and 12 weeks of field work to earn a Master of Arts degree. Haverford graduated two of these units, deciding not to admit a third unit in September 1945. The second Relief and Reconstruction unit completed their training in January 1946.