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Conrad Wilson collection

Notifications

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
MC.1328
Repository:
Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
Extent:
1.25 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Conrad Wilson collections (HC.MC 1328) Quaker and Special Collections, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.
Date:
1943-1998 (inclusive)
Creator:
American Field Service
Form:
Correspondence and Newsletters
Abstract:
This collection is primarily correspondence to and from Conrad Wilson during his time as a conscientious objector during World War II. His mom encouraged him to save his letters from her, and she saved all the letters he sent. Included in the letters from his mother are photostat letters from Conrad.

Conrad Wilson (1921-2005) was raised a Quaker in Pennsylvania. He was enrolled in Middlebury College and then the University of Pennsylvania. He left the latter due to World War II. He applied for conscientious objector status and was granted alternate service through the Civilian Public Service, first as part of a camp draining old-growth cypress swamps in Maryland, and then as at a mental hospital in Middletown, Connecticut.

He was released from the Civilian Public Service to volunteer for the American Field Service, an ambulance corps started during World War I. He served as a driver in both Italy and Germany.

He returned and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1947, and married Barbara Copp in 1951. They had two sons, William and Alexander. They later moved to Vermont, where Wilson was a member of Putney Friends Meeting.

This collection is primarily correspondence to and from Conrad Wilson during his time as a conscientious objector during World War II.

This collection has three series, which maintains the arrangement of the gift. These series are: Letters from Conrad Wilson, Letters to Conrad Wilson, and Record of Work.

Gift of Alex Wilson, July 2021

Processed by Mary A. Crauderueff, completed May 2022

- Samuel Cooper papers (HC.MC-975-11-008) - William Huntington papers (HC.MC-1181)

Organization
Subject

Publisher
Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
Mary A. Crauderueff
Finding Aid Date
May, 2022
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use (if there are restrictions indicated it here)

Use Restrictions

Standard Federal Copyright Law Applies (U.S. Title 17)

Collection Inventory

Letters from Powellsville, Maryland, 1942-1943.
Box 1
Letters from Middletown, Connecticut, 1943.
Box 1
Letters during American Field Service trip to Italy, 1944.
Box 1
Letters during American Field Service trip to Italy and Germany, 1945.
Box 1
Letters during American Friends Service Committee trip to Italy, 1945-1946.
Box 1

Letters from Wilson's parents while he was in Civilian Public Service, 1942-1943.
Box 1
Letters from Wilson's parents while he was with the American Field Service, 1944.
Box 1
Letters from Wilson's parents while he was with the American Field Service, 1944-1945.
Box 1
Letters from Wilson's parents while he was with the American Friends Service Committee, 1945-1946.
Box 1
Letters from Peterich family, 1946-1950.
Box 2
Letters from Costanza Peterich , 1945-1946.
Box 2
Letters from Gertrud Arlt to Wilsons, 1946-1958.
Box 2
Letters from Gadeke family, 1946-1948.
Box 2
Letters from various people while Wilson worked with the Civilian Public Service, 1943-1944.
Box 2
Letters from various people while Wilson worked with the American Field Service, 1944-1947.
Box 2
Letters from Michael Rand, 1944-1947.
Box 2
Letters from various people while Wilson worked with the American Friends Service Committee, 1943-1948.
Box 2

Paperwork related to travel and release from Selective Service, 1945-1947.
Box 2
Newspaper articles, 1943-1966.
Box 2
American Field Service correspondence, 1947-1966.
Box 2
American Field Service mailing lists, 1995, 1998.
Box 3
Correspondence with American Friends Service Committee, 1998.
Box 3
Misplaced letters, 1943-1945.
Box 3
Miscellaneous records, 1944-1983.
Box 3
Drivers trip to Italy, 1993-1994.
Box 3
American Field Service newsletters, 1944-1954.
Box 3
The Janus newsletter, 1995-1998.
Box 3
Roll of Honour and Roster of American Field Service volunteers, 1939-1945.
Box 3
A.F.S. Letters, 1943-1944.
Box 3
A.F.S. Letters, 1944-1945.
Box 3
A.F.S. medals and insignia, undated.
Box 3

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