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Universal Peace Union Records

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Held at: Swarthmore College Peace Collection [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore 19081-1399

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Swarthmore College Peace Collection. 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

The most radical and important peace organization to rise from the the Civil War was the Universal Peace Union (UPU). This militant band grew out of reaction against compromising tactics which the American Peace Society adopted during the Civil War. The new movement was launched at Providence, Rhode Island in 1866. Taking leading parts were Joshua P. Blanshard, Adin Ballou, Henry C. Wright, Alfred H. Love, and Lucretia Mott.

The UPU labored to remove the causes of war, to discountenance all resorts to deadly force . . . "never acquiescing in present wrongs." They tolerated no compromise with the principles of love and nonviolence. Specifically they preached immediate disarmament and worked for a general treaty among nations, arbitration, and unconditional submission to an international tribunal.

The UPU denounced imperialism, compulsory military training, memorials and war demonstrations, war taxes, capital punishment, lynching of African Americans, the spread of white imperialism in Africa, the exclusion of Asian immigration and the continued denial of rights to native Americans. Because of their work Pennsylvania laws were relaxed towards conscientious objectors. The UPU was active in promoting the rights of women. Many women served equally with men on all executive committees and working committees. Women made up at least 50 per cent of the membership of UPU and they were active in the organization's agenda. Early in its career the UPU believed that peace might be obtained in industry through arbitration. In 1880 members helped settle a dispute between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Reading Railroad management. Alfred Love, the president of the UPU, was the arbitrator in this action.

The UPU opposed the aggressive policy of the Grant administration toward Santo Domingo and Cuba. In 1896 they implored the Spanish government to grant autonomy to the Cubans, to withdraw troops and remove oppressive taxes. Alfred Love, the president, sent an ill-fated letter to the Queen Regent of Spain. The UPU worked equally hard to influence Washington. Though as war clouds gathered other peace organizations were undecided, or accepted war as inevitable, the UPU was determined to prevent war. The ill-fated letter was intercepted, and published in garbled form. It unleashed a storm of passion against the UPU, headquartered in Philadelphia. The office was thrown out of Independence Hall, precious mementos were ruthlessly scattered and Alfred Love was burned in effigy.

The UPU held its annual meetings at Mystic Grove, Connecticut for many years. At the first meetings only about sixty people were present. However, in the 1880s and the 1890s the number of attendees soared to close to 10,000.

In the course of time more than forty branch peace societies were affiliated with the UPU.

Officers and those associated with the UPU include: Hannah L. Bailey; Joshua P. Blanshard; Arabella Carter; Amanda Deyo; Mary Frost Ormsby Evans; Belva A. Lockwood; Alfred H. Love; Lucretia Mott; Lydia Schofield; and C.F. Stollmeyer.

The Records of the UPU consist of organizational correspondence, minutes, financial records, publications, and memorabilia. The diaries of president Alfred H. Love are also included in the collection.

The Records of the UPU are arranged into three series. Series I. includes all organizational and administrative files. Series II contains the diaries of Alfred H. Love. Series III consists of materials about Mary Frost Ormsby Evans and materials about the UPU collected by her.

The microfilm of the UPU records consists of eighteen reels of film. The first six contain the various periodicals of the UPU, published 1867-1913. Correspondence and organizational records may be found on Reels 7 through 11. Reels 11-18 contain the diaries UPU president Alfred H. Love. Reel 19 contains other material collected by Love and some material by and about Mary Frost Ormsby Evans. The memorabilia collected by Evans was not filmed.

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

Parts of this collection are available on microfilm (reels 13.1-13.19). Reels 13.1-13.6 contain periodicals of the Universal Peace Union (UPU) published 1867-1913. Reels 13.7-13.11 contain correspondence and organizational records. Reels 13.11-13.18 contain the diaries of UPU president Alfred H. Love. Reel 13.19 contains other material collected by Love and some material by and about Mary Frost Ormsby Evans. The memorabilia collected by Evans was not filmed. Microfilm is available on-site by appointment and through interlibrary loan from the Swarthmore College Libraries.

Gift of the Universal Peace Union Received: 1920, 1940s-1950s, 1980s

This collection was processed by SCPC staff, and this finding aid was created by Eleanor Fulvio in August, 2010.

Photographs of UPU members and officers may be found in the SCPC Photograph Collection. Flags and banners were removed to the Memorabilia Collection [or the Cloth Items Collection]. Ribbons were removed to the Stamp/Sticker/Seal/Envelope Collection. Three large 19th century wooden signs were removed to the Memorabilia Collection, one of which is on display (Dec. 2023 - ) in the Special Collections Reading Room. Important information about UPU activities may be found in the periodicals published by the UPU between 1867 and 1913. These periodicals have been microfilmed. The originals may be found in the SCPC Periodicals Collection.

Publisher
Swarthmore College Peace Collection
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

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 is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Collection Inventory

Correspondence (misc., special), 1867-1911.
Box 1 [SCPC-0459] Reel 13.7
Correspondence, 1876-1922.
Box 1 [SCPC-0459] Reel 13.7
Correspondence, Amanda Deyo (a vice-president and business manager of the UPU), 1906-1912.
Box 1 [SCPC-0459] Reel 13.7
Correspondence, re: C.F. Stollmeyer, 1938.
Box 1 [SCPC-0459] Reel 13.7
Correspondence, undated.
Box 1 [SCPC-0459] Reel 13.7
Minutes (with correspondence), 1891 (November 2) - 1900 (December 3).
Box 2 [SCPC-0460] Reel 13.7
Minutes (with correspondence), 1901 (January 7) - 1911 (December 4).
Box 2 [SCPC-0460] Reel 13.8
Minutes (with correspondence), 1912 (January 2) - 1920 (October 8).
Box 2 [SCPC-0460] Reel 13.8
Publications, 1861-1913.
Box 3 [SCPC-0461] Reel 13.8
Membership blanks, medals, etc.
Box 3 [SCPC-0461] Reel 13.8
Mystic Grove appeal.
Box 3 [SCPC-0461] Reel 13.8
Financial records.
Box 4 [SCPC-0462] Reel 13.8 Reel 13.9
Physical Location

Microfilm reel 13.9 starts with ledger number 2.

Membership records, 1893-1896-1900-1920.
Box 4 [SCPC-0462] Reel 13.9
Miscellaneous papers.
Box 5 [SCPC-0463] Reel 13.9
Independence hall rooms (contributions for furnishings).
Box 5 [SCPC-0463] Reel 13.9
Spanish War activities and removal from Independence hall rooms.
Box 5 [SCPC-0463] Reel 13.9
Material on a bill to establish a Department of Peace, 1915.
Box 5 [SCPC-0463] Reel 13.9
UPU inventory, 1866-1920.
Box 5 [SCPC-0463] Reel 13.9
Manuscripts (of Henning Melander).
Box 5 [SCPC-0463] Reel 13.9
Two scrapbooks, clippings, 1863-1910.
Box 5 [SCPC-0463] Reel 13.9 Reel 13.10
Physical Location

Microfilm reel 13.10 starts with scrapbook number 2.

Photographs and pictures (officers, members, and friends of the UPU).
Box 6 [SCPC-0464a] Reel 13.10
Material about the peace bell (Columbian Liberty Bell, 1893) and related material.
Box 6 [SCPC-0464a] Reel 13.10
Mystic's Peace Meetings article by Carol W. Kimball.
Box 6a [SCPC-0464b]
Copies of photos of the Peace Meeting at the Peace Temple.
Box 6a [SCPC-0464b]
Appeal of the Universal Peace Union, 1904.
Box 6a [SCPC-0464b]
Material from re-file box, 1992.
Box 6a [SCPC-0464b]
Material from re-file box, 1998.
Box 6a [SCPC-0464b]
Peacemaker.
Box 7 [SCPC-0465] Reel 13.10
Mailing lists, 1895-1898.
Box 7 [SCPC-0465] Reel 13.10
UPU Visitors book, 1897-1923.
Box 7 [SCPC-0465] Reel 13.11
Material about peace flags, (history, miscellaneous designs, correspondence, general) mostly from UPU files.
Box 8 [SCPC-0466] Reel 13.11

Diaries, Volumes 2-5, 1846 (March 7) - 1854 (November 5).
Box 9 [SCPC-0467] Reel 13.11
Scope and Contents

Includes "Index" [by date only] to diaries Vols. 1-25. Volume 1 is missing.

Diaries, v. 6-9, 1854 (November 6) - 1862 (December 17).
Box 10 [SCPC-0468] Reel 13.12
Diaries, v. 10-12, 1862 (December 18) - 1869 (November 12).
Box 11 [SCPC-0469] Reel 13.13
Diaries, v. 13-16, 1869 (November 13) - 1881 (October 13).
Box 12 [SCPC-0470] Reel 13.14 Reel 13.15
Physical Location

Microfilm reel 13.15 starts with Vol. 15--1875 (December 12).

Diaries, v. 17-19, 1892 (October 14, - 1892 (March 6).
Box 13 [SCPC-0471] Reel 13.15 Reel 13.16
Physical Location

Microfilm reel 13.16 starts with v. 18--1885 (March 19).

Diaries, v. 20-23, 1892 (March 7) - 1905 (March 20).
Box 14 [SCPC-0472] Reel 13.16 Reel 13.17
Physical Location

Microfilm reel 13.17 starts with v. 21--1895 (October 9).

Diaries, v. 24-25, 1905 (March 21) - 1912 (June 15).
Box 15 [SCPC-0473] Reel 13.18
Personal papers, memorial letters, etc.
Box 16 [SCPC-0474] Reel 13.19
Memorials, 1913.
Box 16 [SCPC-0474] Reel 13.19
Nobel Peace Prize.
Box 16 [SCPC-0474] Reel 13.19
Personal History.
Box 16 [SCPC-0474] Reel 13.19
PA Prison Society.
Box 16 [SCPC-0474] Reel 13.19
Mystic Grove.
Box 16 [SCPC-0474] Reel 13.19
W.H. Allen & Co.
Box 16 [SCPC-0474] Reel 13.19

Mrs. Mary Frost Ormsby Evans.
Box 17 Reel 13.19
Physical Location

Box on-site

Personal papers.
Box 17 Reel 13.19
Correspondence with Alfred Love.
Box 17 Reel 13.19
Photos, clippings.
Box 17 Reel 13.19
Photographs and pictures.
Box SCPC Memorabilia Collection
Scope and Contents

Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Membership books, 1885-1920.
Box SCPC Memorabilia Collection
Scope and Contents

Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Alfred H. Love's briefcase.
Box SCPC Memorabilia Collection
Scope and Contents

Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Peace Bell, 1893.
Box SCPC Memorabilia Collection
Scope and Contents

Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Alfred H. Love's high school diploma.
Box SCPC Memorabilia Collection
Scope and Contents

Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Grand Prize Award, Universal Exposition, 1900.
Box SCPC Memorabilia Collection
Scope and Contents

Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Grand Prize Award, Universal Exposition, 1904.
Box SCPC Memorabilia Collection
Scope and Contents

Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Various peace flags and banners of all sizes, some white bordered American flags, rolled and flat.
Box SCPC Memorabilia Collection
Scope and Contents

Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Two wooden signs.
Box SCPC Memorabilia Collection
Scope and Contents

Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

On display SCPC. Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

One large wooden sign.
Box SCPC Memorabilia Collection
Scope and Contents

Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Article on Universal Peace Union and meetings at Mystic river, July 21, 1934.
Box 3 [SCPC-0461]
Scope and Contents

Acc. 89A-002. Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Program on 2nd anniversary of International Court of Arbitration by UPA, 1902.
Box 5 [SCPC-0463]
Scope and Contents

Acc. 89A-002. Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Letter, Alfred H. Love to Reverend Joseph Hooper, September 15, 1891.
Box 1 [SCPC-0459]
Scope and Contents

Acc. 2015-057. Not available on microfilm.

Physical Location

Larger items shelved in SCPC Memorabilia Collection; photographs and conference delegate ribbons are available on Triptych (image database).

Philadelphia Tribune, November 1867.
Reel 13.1
Bond of Peace (Vols. 1-4), 1868.
Reel 13.1
Voice of Peace (Vols. 1-2, first series), 1872.
Reel 13.1
Voice of Peace (Vol. 1-Vol. 3, No. 4, second series), 1874.
Reel 13.1
Voice of Peace (Vol. 3, No. 5/6-Vol. 8, No. 12), 1876-1882.
Reel 13.2
Leaflets of Peace for Children (Vol. 3, No. 13), April 1882.
Reel 13.2
The Peacemaker (Vol. 1, No. 1-Vol. 4, No. 12), July 1882 - June 1886.
Reel 13.2
The Peacemaker (Vol. 5, No. 1-Vol. 12, No. 12), July 1886 - June 1894.
Reel 13.3
Fifth Universal Peace Congress Report to p. 89, August 1893.
Reel 13.3
Fifth Universal Peace Congress Report p. 90 to end, August 1893.
Reel 13.4
The Peacemaker (Vol. 13, No. 1-Vol. 18, No. 3/4), July 1894 - September/October 1899.
Reel 13.4
The Peacemaker (Vol. 18, No. 4-Vol. 24, No. 12), November 1899 - December 1905.
Reel 13.5
The Peacemaker (Vol. 25, No. 1-Vol. 32), January 1906 - Midsummer 1913.
Reel 13.6

Article on Reverend Amanda Deyo.
Box Re-File
Scope and Contents

Received 1992 (January)

Physical Location

Not available on microfilm

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