Charles Fisher Collected Papers
Scope and Contents
Charles Fisher was involved in several important radical peace groups in the late 1960s and early 1970s, during the Vietnam War era. His papers showcase his efforts with the Congress of Racial Equality and the Boston Draft Resistance Group, including his manuscript analyzing the BDRG.
Dates
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1964-1971
Creator
- Fisher, Charles, 1938- (Person)
Language of Material
Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Draft counseling files in Box 4 cannot be copied, scanned, or photographed. Researchers using these materials must sign a form agreeing to not make reproductions and to anonymize personal information in any publications. For more information, contact the Swarthmore College Peace Collection at peacecollection@swarthmore.edu. These restrictions remain in place until 2035.
Conditions Governing Use
Material in box 4 may be seen by all researchers, but may not be photocopied; in addition, researchers must sign a form agreeing to not use personal names or other characteristics of individuals that might identify them in any published work; restrictions are in place until 2035.
Biographical note
Charles Fisher was a draft counselor for the Boston Draft Resistance Group (BDRG) and a sociologist at Brandeis University. In 1973 Fisher analyzed over 5,000 counselee forms to determine what types of people were using BDRG's counseling services. He found that a majority of counselees were white middle-class college students. He also studied how BDRG clients ultimately attempted to avoid the draft during the Vietnam War and how receptive they were to BDRG's political message. In another study, ca. 1970, Fisher analyzed BDRG steering committee meeting minutes. Fisher was also involved with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
Extent
1.67 linear ft. (20 linear in.)
Abstract
Charles Fisher was a draft counselor for the Boston Draft Resistance Group (BDRG), and involved with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
Arrangement
These papers were arranged according to Fisher's involvements with two groups. Boxes 2-3 hold cards with his notes about the BDRG. Box 4 has usage restrictions because of the personal nature of the interview contents.
Other Finding Aids
For the catalog record for this collection, and to find materials on similar topics, search the library's online catalog.
Custodial History
The Swarthmore College Peace Collection is the official repository for this collection of papers.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Charles Fisher, 1998 [Acc. 98A-015].
Legal Status
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Processing Information
Processed by Anne M. Yoder, Archivist, 1998.
Subject
- Fisher, Charles, 1938- -- Midwives to history : the sociology of a radical anti-war organizing group (Person)
- Congress of Racial Equality (Organization)
- Boston Draft Resistance Group (Organization)
Topical
- African Americans -- Civil rights -- History -- Sources
- Civil rights movements -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area -- History -- Sources
- Civil rights movements -- United States -- History -- Sources
- Conscientious Objectors -- Massachusetts -- Boston -- History -- Sources
- Conscientious objection -- United States -- History -- Sources
- Draft resisters -- Massachusetts -- Boston -- History -- Sources
- Draft resisters -- United States -- History -- Sources
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Draft resisters -- Massachusetts -- Boston -- Sources
- 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 Mary Olesnavich in preparation for importing into ArchivesSpace. Tessa Chambers added the notes in Fall 2017.
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
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