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Charles A. Thrall papers
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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.
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Charles A. Thrall (Haverford College Class of 1963) was born on January 15, 1942 in Princeton, New Jersey, to parents Natalie Hunter Thrall and Robert McDowell Thrall. Thrall grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his parents and two siblings. Thrall was heavily involved in his boy scout troop in Ann Arbor, a passion he continued at Haverford College by joining Bryn Mawr Troop 226. At Haverford, Thrall majored in sociology and completed a sociological research project with professor Ira DeA. Reid. He also participated in civil rights activism and peace activities. The day after graduation, Thrall married Judy Levine at the Haverford Friends Meeting. The two eventually divorced and Thrall later remarried to Sally A. Simmons, with whom he had a daughter, Elizabeth.
Thrall continued his studies in sociology after leaving Haverford. Thrall earned a PH.D in sociology from Harvard University, and his research centered on household technologies and the sexual division of labor within the family. He later went to law school at Rutgers University. Thrall served as head of the legal systems department of the Pennsylvania Superior Court until he retired in 2008. Thrall passed away at 80 years old on September 26, 2022.
This collection includes Charles A. Thrall's course materials, research projects, and correspondence during his time as a student at Haverford College, as well as some publications and class correspondence after his graduation.
The collection begins with materials from the courses Thrall took at Haverford. The materials include syllabi, Thrall's handwritten notes, exam booklets, essays, and project reports for classes in a variety of disciplines.
The next series includes Thrall's correspondence from 1959-1963, almost exclusively outgoing correspondence written by Thrall. Thrall wrote mostly to his parents, updating them on his coursework and friendships at school. He also wrote to both his maternal and paternal grandfathers, family and friends in Ann Arbor, and friends from Haverford when they were off campus. Some of his correspondence also includes his acceptance to conduct research with Ira DeA. Reid and his correspondence with various potential summer jobs and publications to which he submitted his academic work.
The next series contains materials pertaining to the Chester County Housing Study, a study of housing conditions in Chester County conducted by Thrall and Reid with the support of the Chester County Citizens Housing Committee in the summer of 1961. The series includes one notebook, correspondence about the study, a project proposal, and two copies of the study, one with an added appendix of photographs and maps.
The next series contains other studies and publications that Thrall contributed to. There are papers concerning the Fellowship of Reconciliation Clergy study he helped conduct from 1962-1966; correspondence about and a copy of the SPU (Student Peace Union) Discussion Bulletin from 1962, in which Thrall wrote and submitted a piece about personality and pacifism; and a reprinting of "Impairment of Psychiatric Outpatients and Change with Treatment," an article written by Anita K. Bahn and Thrall that was published in Mental Hygiene, Vol. 48, No. 2, in April, 1964.
The final series contains correspondence between Thrall and his classmates post-graduation, mostly around the time of their tenth and fiftieth class reunions and after the death of Professor John Spielman. There are also materials related to a handful of class reunions, including pamphlets of class photos and faculty photos, a booklet titled "The class of 1963, where are they now?", and biographies of Charles A. Thrall, Herbert H. Blumberg, and Peter N. Wilson.
There are also five additional files containing papers related to Thrall's experience at Haverford. One file includes Thrall's transcripts, course schedules, a letter inviting him to dinner, and a document given to first years about life at Haverford. The next pertains to the Students Association and the honor code and includes programs about Arts and Service courses. The second file also contains information about customs, club budgeting, and plenary. The other files include clippings from publications that relate to Thrall, Thrall's Haverford acceptance letter, and a Christmas card Thrall received from his professor, A. Paul Hare.
Gift of Sally A. Simmons, September, 2024
Processed by Maia Schwallie, completed October, 2024.
People
Subject
- Publisher
- Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- Maia Schwallie
- Finding Aid Date
- October, 2024
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research use
- Use Restrictions
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Standard Federal Copyright Law Applies (U.S. Title 17)
Collection Inventory
This file includes some miscellaneous materials related to Thrall's time at Haverford College, including transcripts, course schedules, a letter inviting him to dinner for the Sub-Freshman Guiding group, and a document given to first years about life at Haverford.
This file includes materials related to customs, plenary, club budgeting, the honor code, and arts and service programs.
This folder contains notes, essays, and record books about sociology and the family. Some information books and essays pertain to Puerto Rican families, specifically.
Notes from a sociology course Thrall took at Bryn Mawr.
This file contains handwritten notes, a syllabus, two examinations, and two copies of one essay for Professor Williamson's sociology class on social change and developing areas.
This folder includes examinations, notes, and essays, from three courses Thrall took on urban sociology. The courses are Sociology 38 taught by Robert C. Williamson at Haverford in Spring 1962, Sociology 11, taken at University of Pennsylvania in 1966, and an urban sociology course taken at Harvard University in 1969.
This folder contains notes, essays, and examinations from two semesters of English courses.
This folder contains notes, examinations, and essays pertaining to two semesters of a politcal science course, as well as one sealed envelope.
This folder includes note from a biology course and an essay on social darwinism.
This folder includes one exam booklet.
This folder includes notes, quizzes, and exams from two math courses: Math 21 with James O. Brooks and Math 22 with Cletus O. Oakley. This file also includes one letter from Oakley to Thrall's father, explaining that Thrall greatly increased his semester grade by doing well on his final exam.
This folder includes notes, examinations, and a Cuthbertson French verb conjugation wheel.
This folder includes a syllabus, notes, exams, and some writing about unsettling images all pertaining to a psychology course about personality.
This folder inscludes a syllabus, notes, exams, a project proposal, and materials related to a study Thrall performed for a psychology course.
This folder contains notes on two classes Thrall audited. One is Economics 39 and the other is Political Science 49.
This series includes Thrall's correspondence from 1959-1963, almost exclusively outgoing correspondence written by Thrall. Thrall wrote mostly to his parents, updating them on his coursework and friendships at school. He also wrote to both his maternal and paternal grandfathers, family and friends in Ann Arbor, and friends from Haverford when they were off campus. Some of his correspondence also includes his acceptance to conduct research with Ira DeA. Reid and his correspondence with various potential summer jobs and publications to which he submitted his academic work.
This folder contains around 100 letters written by Charles A Thrall (Class of 1963) during his freshman year at Haverford College. The majority of the letters are to his parents, Natalie Hunter Thrall and Robert McDowell Thrall, who he addresses as "Folks." Other frequent recipients include both his paternal and maternal grandfathers, his former Boy Scout troop, and friends and family from his hometown, Ann Arbor Michigan. Most letters detail his experiences at Haverford, focusing on how his classes are going, new friendships, and the freedoms allotted by the Honor System. He also writes about his new Boy Scout troop in Bryn Mawr and his interest in staying updated with his former troop.
This folder contains over 100 letters written by Charles A Thrall during his sophomore year at Haverford and during the summer of 1961. Most letters are to his parents, and other frequent recipients include his former Boy Scout Troop, his maternal and paternal grandfathers, close friend Herbert Blumberg (Class of 1963), and friends and family from his hometown, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Most letters detail his busy life at Haverford, and some letters written during the summer reference the housing study that Thrall completed with professor Ira DeA. Reid.
This folder contains letters written by Charles A. Thrall during his junior year at Haverford and during the summer of 1962. Most letters are to his parents, updating them about his life at Haverford and his summer job at the National Institute of Health. There are a few letters to his grandparents, to his friend Herbert Blumberg (Class of 1963), and to professors inquiring about aiding them with research.
This folder contains letters written by Charles A. Thrall during his final year at Haverford College. Most of the letters are addressed to his parents. Some letters pertain to his upcoming wedding with Judy Levine. There is one letter to Thrall from Professor John Ashmead and one letter responding to Professor Ira DeA. Reid about his life post-graduation.
This series includes materials related to the Chester County housing study that Thrall completed in the summer of 1961, under the faculty consultation of Ira DeA. Reid, the first tenured Black professor at Haverford.
The series includes one notebook, correspondence about the study, a project proposal, and two copies of the study, one with an added appendix of photographs and maps.
One small notebook containing notes on the Chester County Housing Study, written during the summer of 1961.
This folder contains the report created by Charles A. Thrall regarding the Survey of Housing Conditions in Selected Areas of Chester County, Pennsylvania that he and professor Ira D. Reid completed in the summer of 1961. The report contains their motivations for and findings during this study of housing conditions in Chester County.
This folder contains the report created by Charles A. Thrall regarding the Survey of Housing Conditions in Selected Areas of Chester County, Pennsylvania that he and professor Ira D. Reid completed in the summer of 1961. The report contains their motivations for and findings during this study of housing conditions in Chester County. Attached to the report are maps and photographs of Chester County and Chester County houses.
This folder contains correspondence, reports, and a project proposal for the Chester County Housing Study. The materials also include some photographs and initial findings, focusing on how race, age, and sex influence housing conditions and accessibility to adequate housing in Chester County.
This series contains other studies and publications that Thrall contributed to. There are papers concerning the Fellowship of Reconciliation Clergy study he helped conduct from 1962-1966; correspondence about and a copy of the SPU (Student Peace Union) Discussion Bulletin from 1962, in which Thrall wrote and submitted a piece about personality and pacifism; and a reprinting of "Impairment of Psychiatric Outpatients and Change with Treatment," an article written by Anita K. Bahn and Thrall that was published in Mental Hygiene, Vol. 48, No. 2, in April, 1964.
This file includes correspondence related to the Fellowship of Reconciliation Clergy study, one issue of the Christian Century publication, survey questions for the clergies studied (mostly related to opinions about war), a Fellowship Survey findings pamphlet created by Thrall and Herbert Blumberg (Class of 1963), and a Fellowship magazine that includes Thrall's study.
This file includes correspondence regarding a paper Thrall wrote based on a study he organized regarding the connection between personality types and views on pacifism. The correspondence is mostly between Thrall and a student publication, Student Peace Union, that he submitted this paper to. There is one copy of the SPU publication, which includes Thrall's paper amongst other articles related to peace and pacifism.
One reprint of an article written by Anita K. Bahn and Charles A. Thrall that was published in Mental Hygiene, Vol. 48, No. 2, April, 1964. The study discusses "Impairment of Psychiatric Outpatients and Change with Treatment.
This folder contains correspondence between Thrall and his classmates post-graduation, mostly around the time of their tenth and fiftieth class reunions and after the death of Professor John Spielman. There are also materials related to a handful of class reunions, including pamphlets of class photos and faculty photos, a booklet titled "The class of 1963, where are they now?", and biographies of Charles A. Thrall, Herbert H. Blumberg, and Peter N. Wilson.
This folder includes photographs of members of the class of 1963 taken at the 1988, 1998, 2003, and 2008 class reunions.
This folder contains a clipping with information about professor Ira DeA. Reid and a copy of "Haverford College Horizons" 1963, which includes a photo of Thrall as a Boy Scout leader for Bryn Mawr Troop 226.
This folder includes one copy of Charles A. Thrall's admission letter to Haverford College.
This folder contains a Christmas card from the Hares, including Haverford Professor A. Paul Hare. The card says "Light the path to peace, resist the draft this Christmas", and it includes a copy of Hare's draft registration card along with a match. The match and card are labeled "commitment kit".