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Julien D. Cornell Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SCPC-DG-010

Abstract

Julien Cornell (1910-1994) practiced law in New York City, with a special interest in civil liberties. During World War II, he handled many cases for conscientious objectors, as well as advising many other COs about their various problems with the legal system. He was considered an expert on legal issues regarding conscientious objection and Civilian Public Service, and was consulted by many lawyers throughout the country for his opinions.

Dates

  • 1940-1947

Creator

Language of Material

Materials are in English.

Limitations on Accessing the Collection

This collection is restricted until 2020. Information concerning individual conscientious objectors must not be disclosed. Researchers wishing to use the collection must sign a form agreeing to this stipulation. Consult Swarthmore College Peace Collection staff for details.

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.

Biographical Note

Julien Cornell (1910-1994) was a member of the Religious Society of Friends, and a 1930 graduate of Swarthmore College. He practiced law in New York City, with a special interest in civil liberties. During World War II, he handled many cases for conscientious objectors, as well as advising many other COs about their various problems with the legal system. He served as Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union's National Committee on Conscientious Objection (NCCO), and chaired the Lawyers Committee of the Metropolitan Board for Conscientious Objectors. He was the author of The Conscientious Objector and the Law (1943) and a supplement entitled Conscience and the State (1945). He was considered an expert on legal issues regarding conscientious objection and Civilian Public Service, and was consulted by many lawyers throughout the country for his opinions.

Extent

3.25 Linear Feet (3.25 linear feet.)

Arrangement

It is probable that this collection was arranged by Cornell before he donated his papers to the Peace Collection; for the most part, his arrangement has been adhered to. This collection includes files about many cases handled by Cornell during WWII. He divided them between "Cases Handled" and "Habeas Corpus Cases Handled," though there are some Habeas Corpus cases which were not separated by Cornell out of the "Cases Handled" section for some reason. Habeas Corpus cases were civil suits instituted by the appellant after all avenues had been tried via the court system of appeals. The cases handled by Cornell were for COs released from military prisons because they were illegally inducted despite their refusal to take the oath of induction [see p. 70-71 of Conscience and the State by Julien Cornell]. It should be noted that the General Correspondence files include many letters to/from conscientious objectors and others concerned with them, and some of these refer to COs who have individual folders further on in the collection.

Notes following the names in the "Cases Handled" files were written by Cornell.

Correspondents include Ernest Angell, Roger Baldwin, A.J. Muste, Rosika Schwimmer, Agnes Young, and many others.

In 1968, Cornell donated 10 bound volumes of court records showing the legal treatment of conscientious objectors (1940-1948). Included in some of the volumes are newsclippings about the COs or their cases. Of particular note is volume five which includes reviews of Cornell's books, as well as 1943 correspondence about The Conscientious Objector and the Law from Evan Thomas, A.J. Muste, Clarence Pickett, Julius Eichel, Allen Barr, Roger Barr, Oswald Garrison Villard, John Steinbugler, Judge Edward F. Waite, Eugene Sherpick, John Nevin Sayre, Theodore Neumann and Harrop Freeman. These bound volumes are in the SCPC's book collection [called Legal Papers of Julien Cornell].

Other Finding Aids

For the catalog record for this collection and to find materials on similar topics, search thelibrary's online catalog.

Custodial History

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

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Julien Cornell.

Separated Materials

Items removed: Legal Papers of Julien Cornell [see tripod record]

Bibliographic References

Guide to the Swarthmore College Peace Collection, 2nd ed., p. 22.

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

Original checklist prepared in 1966; collection re-processed and checklist revised by Anne Yoder, June 2001. Finding aid created by Wendy E. Chmielewski, September 2009.

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

Revision Statements

  • 2018: 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 reproductions from Swarthmore College Peace Collection Library

Contact:
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Swarthmore 19081-1399 USA US
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