Call Number:

DG.284

Repository:

Swarthmore College Peace Collection

Extent:

6.25 linear ft.

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item] in the Craig Simpson Papers (DG 284), Swarthmore College Peace Collection

Date:

circa 1961-2019 (inclusive)

Abstract:

Papers of a peace activist who was involved in the War Resisters League and the War Resisters' International, among other organizations and causes, from the 1970s on.

The following is a brief chronology of Craig Simpson's involvement in peace, nonviolence, anti- military, and anti-nuclear life [written by Smith]:

Born – April 10, 1946 in Plainfield, New Jersey.

April 1968- September 1969- VISTA Volunteer- Hereford, Texas, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

April 1970- Started Chapter of War Resisters League in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Involvement in student strike May,1970; returned draft card to Selective Service Office. Increased organizing Los Alamos, Albuquerque, - nonviolence training, civil disobedience training, war tax resistance with Wally and Juanita Nelson.

1972- Attended War Resisters' International Triennial in Sheffield, England. Visited Vietnamese Peace delegations in Paris, France.

1973- Southwest organizer for War Resisters League; participant in 50th Anniversary of War Resisters League National Conference, California.

1974-1975- WRL Intern for War Resisters' International, Brussels, Belgium.

1976- Returned to Albuquerque to organize WRL chapter- Albuquerque Branch of Continental Walk.

1976-1977- Organized union at Pioneer Wear Albuquerque.

1978- Arrested in Moscow, USSR, in dual protest with White House demonstration.

1977-1981- Helped organize Citizens Against Nuclear Threats (CANT) to oppose nuclear waste facility in Southern New Mexico and Uranium Mining. Organized with Mt Taylor Alliance- coalition of Chicano, Native American, peace activists, environmental movement. Wrote articles for WIN magazine, Catholic Worker, Fellowship, Nonviolent Activist and others on nonviolence internationally- Gorlben, Larzac, Spanish COs.

1979- Planned tour for Winona La Duke and Herb Blatchford of European anti-nuclear movement. Campaigned against Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant with Cactus Alliance. Worked against MX Missile in west Texas and eastern New Mexico and base expansion of Melrose Bombing Range, Portales, New Mexico.

1981- Committed civil disobedience at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, New Mexico, resulting in eight days in jail.

1982-1984- Worked for War Resisters League- West, San Francisco, California.

1984- Co-edited with Deena Hurwitz the WRL Desk Calendar "Against the Tide- Pacifist Resistance in the Second World War- An Oral History."

1984-1988- War Resisters League – Albuquerque- WRI Council member- attended meetings in India and Finland.

1989- Move to Boston, Massachusetts, for early education work and degree. Joined CEASE (Concerned Educators Allied for Safe Environment), which later became P.E.A.C.E. (Peace Educators Allied for Children Everywhere). Wrote articles on peace education, planning curriculum on peace, Native Americans, anti-bias.

1977-2016- worked as preschool teacher.

Present [circa 2020-2023]- working with Mass.Peace Action, Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda, Boston Chapter of Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children, MenTeach- New England ( male early educators), etc.

Files of Craig Simpson that document his interests in conscientious objection to war and other topics, and his involvements, particularly with the War Resisters' International.