Posted on by Sarah Horowitz

Haverford College During World War II

Introduction

This primary source packet contains materials related to Haverford College’s responses to World War II, and the experiences of a transformed campus community during wartime. Haverford College’s administration, led by President Felix Morley, pursued many strategies to keep the College afloat during the war, none of which pleased all faculty, staff, students, members of the Board of Managers, and alumni. Major topics emerging from these sources include the tensions between the College’s professed Quaker principles and the political, social, and economic pressures to support the national war effort; changes to the curriculum and campus community brought on by the war; and collaborations between Haverford College and the U.S. government, and between Haverford and other national and international organizations.

These materials may support classes and research topics related to the history of World War II, peace and conflict studies, Quaker studies, military history, the history of higher education, and the history of Haverford College.

Packet contents:

Primary Sources

Nearly all of the textual sources can be found in HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers. The finding aid for this collection is available here. 

Haverford’s Early Adaptations to Wartime and Discussions of Quaker Principles

Felix Morley memo to the Board of Managers and faculty regarding an accelerated college program, January 15, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 3, “Scattergood Files–War Activities–January to October 1942”
[digitized version]

Felix Morley letter to Fred J. Kelly, Chief of the Division of Higher Education within the U.S. Department of Education, July 26, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 3, “Scattergood Files–War Activities–January to October 1942”
[digitized version]

American Council on Education, “Proposed Plan for Enlisted Training Corps,” October 14, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Edward W. Evans letter to Felix Morley objecting to military recruitment on campus, October 17, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
[digitized version]

Felix Morley letter to Senator Gerald Nye on the war’s effect on colleges and the proposed draft of 18- and 19-year-olds, October 24, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 3, “Scattergood Files–War Activities–January to October 1942”
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Felix Morley letter to Senator Robert Reynolds concerning the draft, October 26, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Felix Morley memo to Board of Managers on cooperation with the federal government, November 15, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 3, “Scattergood Files–War Activities–November to December 1942”
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Richard M. Sutton letter to Felix Morley regarding pre-meteorological program, November 20, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
[digitized version]

Howard Comfort letter to Morris Leeds on Quaker principles and the pre-meteorological program, November 23, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Frederic Sharpless letter to Felix Morley on Haverford’s response during World War I, November 23, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Thomas Drake letter to Felix Morley on Quaker principles and the pre-meteorological program, November 25, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Felix Morley letter to Morris Leeds on Relief and Reconstruction, the Board of Managers’ reaction to his plans, and the “Quakerness” of the College, November 25, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Douglas Steere letter to Morris Leeds from the Civilian Public Service Camp, November 25, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Faculty vote on allowing a military training unit on campus, November 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Letter from Wilson H. Pile, Class of 1941, to Felix Morley, December 2, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Confidential memo by Felix Morley outlining Haverford’s role in the national war effort, December 8, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Felix Morley and Bernard Waring correspondence on Quaker principles and the “Quakerness” of the College, December 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1943-1945”
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Felix Morley and Joshua L. Baily, Jr., correspondence on Whittier College and the possibility of Haverford’s closure, February 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1943-1945”
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Morley report to the War Manpower Commission entitled “The More Effective Utilization of Small College Facilities in the National Interest,” February 11, 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 3, “Scattergood Files–War Activities–January to March 1943”
[digitized version]

Alumni Association, “Haverford in Wartime,” 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1943-1945”
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Felix Morley, “Can the Small College Survive?” The Saturday Evening Post, October 16, 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 3, “Scattergood Files–War Activities–May 1943 to December 1944.”
[digitized version]

The Army Specialized Training Program (A.S.T.P.) at Haverford College

Felix Morley letter to Colonel E.J. Oliver making formal application for the establishment of a Language and Area Study Unit and a Basic Pre-Professional Unit, July 17, 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Army Specialized Training Program, 1943”
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Felix Morley memo to faculty on the instruction of the A.S.T.P. unit, August 25, 1943.  HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Army Specialized Training Program, 1943”
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U.S. War Department memo to presidents of colleges and universities on reductions in the A.S.T.P., February 1944. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Army Specialized Training Program, 1944”
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Felix Morley memo to Board of Managers and faculty on the contraction of the A.S.T.P., March 10, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Army Specialized Training Program, 1944”
[digitized version]

Relief and Reconstruction

Excerpt from the American Friends Service Committee, “What Shall the Answer Be?”, 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
[digitized version]

Felix Morley and Howard Elkinton correspondence on Relief and Reconstruction and Civilian Public Service Camps, December 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
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Felix Morley and Joseph Willits correspondence on Relief and Reconstruction and conscientious objectors, December 1942. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “War Emergency, 1941-1942”
[digitized version]

Felix Morley letter to Douglas Steere regarding Haverford’s Citizenship and Reconstruction Unit, January 12, 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, January-June 1943”
[digitized version]

Reconstruction and Relief Unit announcement, early 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, January-June 1943”
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Second announcement of the Reconstruction and Relief Unit, early 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, January-June 1943”
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Application for the Reconstruction and Relief Unit of the Citizenship and Reconstruction Division, 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, January-June 1943”
[digitized version]

Felix Morley memo to the Board of Managers on the establishment of a Relief and Reconstruction unit to serve in China, May 12, 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, January-June 1943”
[digitized version]

Douglas Steere memo to the Women’s Unit of the Haverford College Relief and Reconstruction Training Divisions, May 27, 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, January-June 1943”
[digitized version]

Memo on the Reconstruction and Relief Training graduate course, ca. September 1943. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, July 1943-July 1944”
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Reconstruction and Relief training schedule, Fall 1944. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–Appointments, Courses, Budget and Expenses, Housing, etc.”
[digitized version]

Letter from Reconstruction and Relief staff to Felix Morley on the termination of the program with completion of current junior unit’s training in December 1945, November 17, 1944. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, September 1944-1945”
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Reconstruction and Relief training schedule, Spring 1945. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–Appointments, Courses, Budget and Expenses, Housing, etc.”
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Relief and Reconstruction curriculum for special area course on Germany, March 5, 1945. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, September 1944-1945”
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Harry W. Pfund, “Report on the Present Status of the Reconstruction & Relief Unit,” October 19, 1945. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, September 1944-1945”
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Relief and Reconstruction special area course on Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Poland in Washington, D.C., December 1945. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–General, September 1944-1945”
[digitized version]

“Positions Filled by Haverford College Reconstruction and Relief Unit (1943-1945) Members,” ca. 1947. HCB-001-006, Felix Morley presidential papers, Box 1, “Relief and Reconstruction–Appointments, Courses, Budget and Expenses, Housing, etc.”
[digitized version]

Excerpt from Lois V. Stanton, “Tales of a Haverford R and R Girl,” 1992. HCS-000-010, Lois V. Stanton, “Tales of a Haverford R and R Girl,” Box 1.
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Photographic Sources

Army Specialized Training Program students marching on campus with books, ca. 1944. HCT-001, Haverford College Photograph collection, Box 34, “Campus Life III”
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Army Specialized Training Program students studying, ca. 1944. HCT-001, Haverford College Photograph collection, Box 34, “Campus Life III”
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Wartime Haverford A.S.T.P. unit, ca. 1944. HCT-001, Haverford College Photograph collection, Box 34, “Campus Life III”
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Relief and Reconstruction students learning auto mechanics, ca. 1945. HCT-001, Haverford College Photograph collection, Box 34, “Campus Life III”
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Relief and Reconstruction auto mechanics, ca. 1945. HCT-001, Haverford College Photograph collection, Box 34, “Campus Life III”
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Barclay interior, ca. 1944. HCT-001, Haverford College Photograph collection, Box 34, “Campus Life III”
[digitized version]

Guiding Questions

  • Who created these sources?  For what purpose?
  • Describe the implied audience for these materials. What informs your opinion?
  • What was Haverford College’s initial response to the exigencies of the war effort? How did that response change over time? What were some suggested strategies for keeping the College open that were not adopted?
  • How did Haverford collaborate with the U.S. federal government during World War II? How did it collaborate with other national and international groups?
  • Many of these sources describe Haverford’s adherence (or lack of adherence) to Quaker principles during the war. Do these sources clearly define what those principles are? Does there seem to be a broad consensus regarding Quaker principles and their role in the College’s administration?
  • At this moment in its history, is Haverford a Quaker college? Why or why not?
  • How did the character of the campus community change during this period? Were any of these changes longlasting after the war?
  • Whose voices are heard in these sources? Whose are not?