Charles A. Thrall papers

This collection includes Charles A. Thrall’s course materials, research projects, and correspondence during his time as a student at Haverford College, as well as some publications and class correspondence after his graduation.

The collection begins with materials from the courses Thrall took at Haverford. The materials include syllabi, Thrall's handwritten notes, exam booklets, essays, and project reports for classes in a variety of disciplines.

The next series includes Thrall’s correspondence from 1959-1963, almost exclusively outgoing correspondence written by Thrall. Thrall wrote mostly to his parents, updating them on his coursework and friendships at school. He also wrote to both his maternal and paternal grandfathers, family and friends in Ann Arbor, and friends from Haverford when they were off campus. Some of his correspondence also includes his acceptance to conduct research with Ira DeA. Reid and his correspondence with various potential summer jobs and publications to which he submitted his academic work.

The next series contains materials pertaining to the Chester County Housing Study, a study of housing conditions in Chester County conducted by Thrall and Reid with the support of the Chester County Citizens Housing Committee in the summer of 1961. The series includes one notebook, correspondence about the study, a project proposal, and two copies of the study, one with an added appendix of photographs and maps.

The next series contains other studies and publications that Thrall contributed to. There are papers concerning the Fellowship of Reconciliation Clergy study he helped conduct from 1962-1966; correspondence about and a copy of the SPU (Student Peace Union) Discussion Bulletin from 1962, in which Thrall wrote and submitted a piece about personality and pacifism; and a reprinting of “Impairment of Psychiatric Outpatients and Change with Treatment,” an article written by Anita K. Bahn and Thrall that was published in Mental Hygiene, Vol. 48, No. 2, in April, 1964.

The final series contains correspondence between Thrall and his classmates post-graduation, mostly around the time of their tenth and fiftieth class reunions and after the death of Professor John Spielman. There are also materials related to a handful of class reunions, including pamphlets of class photos and faculty photos, a booklet titled “The class of 1963, where are they now?”, and biographies of Charles A. Thrall, Herbert H. Blumberg, and Peter N. Wilson.

There are also five additional files containing papers related to Thrall’s experience at Haverford. One file includes Thrall’s transcripts, course schedules, a letter inviting him to dinner, and a document given to first years about life at Haverford. The next pertains to the Students Association and the honor code and includes programs about Arts and Service courses. The second file also contains information about customs, club budgeting, and plenary. The other files include clippings from publications that relate to Thrall, Thrall's Haverford acceptance letter, and a Christmas card Thrall received from his professor, A. Paul Hare.