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Henry LeRoy Finch Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SCPC-DG-195

Scope and Contents

This collection is comprised of material related to Finch's pacifist activities in the 1940s and 1950s. It includes much correspondence, as well as some administrative material for organizations or efforts he involved himself with. The papers contain only slight reference to Finch's work as a philosopher, writer and professor.

Dates

  • Creation: 1933-1995

Creator

Language of Material

Materials are in English.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

None.

Biographical note

Henry Leroy Finch, Jr. was born on August 8, 1918. He was a pacifist and conscientious objector during World War II. He served in Civilian Public Service (CPS) Camp 11 (Ashburnham, Massachusetts) and Camp 37 (Coleville, California), and with CPS Unit 41 Williamsburg, Virginia). The first two were engaged in U.S. Forest Service efforts, and the latter was a mental hospital. After the war, Finch worked as an editor for Alternative and Liberation. For a time he was involved with the American Forum for Socialist Education, but his primary affiliations were with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and War Resisters League. He earned a PhD, taught philosophy at Sarah Lawrence College for twenty years and at Hunter College for sixteen years, and wrote several books, including Simone Weil and the Intellect of Grace. Finch was one of the founders of the American Weil Society in 1970. He died on August 22, 1997.

Finch was known as Roy in pacifist circles during the 1940s-1950s, and as such this name is noted in parentheses in the title of his papers because it shows up this way in the various collections at the SCPC. He used Henry as his name in his professional life.

Extent

2.7 linear ft. (2.7 linear feet.)

Abstract

Henry Leroy (Roy) Finch Jr. was a pacifist, conscientious objector to World War II, philosopher and writer.

Custodial History

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

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Annie Finch, 1998 [acc. 98A-001; acc. 98A-024].

Related Materials

Legal Status

Copyright to the materials created by Henry Leroy Finch has been transferred to the Swarthmore College Peace Collection. Copyright to all other materials is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Processing Information

Processed and finding aid by Anne M. Yoder, Archivist, April 2014.

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

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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