Norman J. Whitney Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists mostly of Whitney's files on his work for conscientious objectors and the Civilian Public Service system in the 1940s.
Dates
- Creation: 1938-1967
Creator
- Whitney, Norman J. (Norman Jehiel), 1891-1967 (Person)
- Cary, Stephen G. (Correspondent, Person)
- Freeman, Harrop A. (Harrop Arthur), 1907-1993 (Correspondent, Person)
- French, Paul Comly, 1903-1960 (Correspondent, Person)
- Furnas, Paul J. (Correspondent, Person)
- Jacob, Philip E. (Correspondent, Person)
- Thomas, Evan W. (Evan Welling), 1890-1974 (Correspondent, Person)
- Vogel, Robert S. (Correspondent, Person)
- Whitney, Mildred C. (Correspondent, Person)
- Winchester, Harold P. (Correspondent, Person)
Language of Materials
Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Researchers using the materials in this collection must sign a form agreeing to anonymize personal information in any publications. This restriction is in place until January 1, 2025. For more information, contact the Swarthmore College Peace Collection at peacecollection@swarthmore.edu.
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.
Conditions Governing Use
None.
Biographical Note
Norman Jehiel Whitney (1891-1967) was a Quaker teacher, writer and devoted peace worker. From 1919-1957, he taught English at Syracuse University (New York), during which time he helped establish and directed for many years the Syracuse Peace Council. He left Syracuse in 1957 to work for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in peace education.
Whitney's major peace work was in the area of counseling conscientious objectors to war (COs), particularly those in Civilian Public Service (CPS) camps. In 1941 he helped establish the New York State Board for Civilian Public Service, which attempted to counsel and assist Conscientious Objectors in New York state. Whitney also served in various positions with the American Friends Service Committee, including Field Representative for New York and New England, National Secretary for Peace Eduction, and as Peace Consultant. His activities sometimes overlapped, and this collection of papers reflects those often dual roles. In the 2001 reprocessing of the papers, it was often difficult to discern which entity Whitney was associated with at the time a particular folder was created, so that the organizing designations used below should be not be considered as entirely definite.
Correspondents include Stephen G. Cary, Harrop A. Freeman, Paul Comley French, Paul J. Furnas, Philip E. Jacob, Abraham Kaufman, Evan W. Thomas, Robert S. Vogel, Mildred C. Whitney, Harold P. Winchester, and many American Friends Service Committee staff members.
Extent
7.5 Linear Feet (7.5 linear ft.)
Abstract
Norman Jehiel Whitney (1891-1967) was a Quaker teacher, writer and devoted peace worker. From 1919-1957 he helped establish, and directed for many years, the Syracuse Peace Council. He left Syracuse in 1957 to work for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in peace education. Whitney's major peace work was in the area of counseling conscientious objectors to war (COs), particularly those in Civilian Public Service (CPS) camps. In 1941 he helped establish the New York State Board for Civilian Public Service, which attempted to counsel and assist Conscientious Objectors in New York state.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of his sister Mildred C. Whitney, the Syracuse Peace Council & the American Friends Service Committee.
Separated Materials
A set of "Spectator Papers," edited by Whitney (from January 1943 until his death in 1967) was removed to the Periodical Collection. This set is not complete.
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
Collection reprocessed & checklist revised by Anne Yoder in November, 2001; this finding aid was prepared by Chloe Lucchesi- Malone in August, 2009.
Subject
- Whitney, Norman J. (Norman Jehiel), 1891-1967 (Person)
- New York State Board for Civilian Public Service (Organization)
- Civilian Public Service (Organization)
- American Friends Service Committee (Organization)
- Metropolitan Board for Conscientious Objectors (Organization)
- Pacifist Research Bureau (Organization)
- Syracuse Peace Council (Organization)
Topical
- Conscientious Objectors -- United States -- History -- Sources
- Conscientious objection -- United States -- History -- Sources
- Draft resisters -- United States -- History -- Sources
- Pacifism -- History -- Sources
- Pacifists -- United States -- History -- Sources
- Peace -- Research -- History -- Sources
- Peace -- Societies, etc. -- History -- Sources
- Peace -- Study and teaching -- History -- Sources
- Quakers -- Societies, etc. -- History -- Sources
- Quakers -- United States -- History -- Sources
- War -- Moral and ethical aspects -- History -- Sources
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Conscientious Objectors -- Sources
- Title
- Norman J. Whitney PapersSCPC.DG.061
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is written in: English, Latin script.
Revision Statements
- 2018: The file list was standardized in Summer 2017 by Min Cheng in preparation for importing into ArchivesSpace. Elisabeth Miller 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
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore 19081-1399 USA US
610-328-8557
610-328-8544 (Fax)
peacecollection@swarthmore.edu
