Finding Aids
PRIMARY SOURCE FINDING AID
These Finding Aids will help you find primary source documents that have been posted on the corresponding individual worker and camp pages of the CPS website, where they appear as Other Material. Please note that there are separate sections devoted to Mental Health Units and Prison, with subheadings under each of these categories.
The Arts
Decision to Join CPS
Descriptions of Camps from Outside Sources
Guinea Pig Experiments
Mental Health
Descriptions of Mental Hospitals from Outside Sources
Investigations, Court Cases, etc.
Mental Hygiene Program/National Mental Health Foundation
Miscellaneous
Relations with the Public
Race
Relations with Administration or Staff
Worker Suggestions for/Attempts at Improvement or Reform
Worker Descriptions of/Reactions to Mental Hospital Work
Miscellaneous
Personal Anecdotes/Accounts of Individuals
Prison
Walkouts from CPS, Arrests, Trials, etc.
Descriptions of/Reactions to Prison
Suggestions for Reform
Strikes and Other Protests in Prison
Race
Relationships with Administration/Strikes and other Protests in Camps
Relationships with Soldiers and the Public
Smoke Jumpers
Women's Service
Worker Descriptions and Reactions to Camp
The Arts
Lyrics to “Opposition to Conscription” and “Our Old and Dusty Loam”
Lyrics to “The CO Blues” and “Who’s Going Next?”
Lyrics to “The Wickiup Artillery” and “Money Patriots”
Decision to Join CPS
Reflections from Harold Barton
Reflection from J. Robert Kreider
Reflections from Mary Ellen Stucky
Reflection from Willard Krabill
Descriptions of Camps from Outside Sources
“36 Young CO’s Shoulder Shovels in Camp to Satisfy Consciences”
“151 Conscientious Objectors Camped for Duration”
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 3 no. 5
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 3 no. 6
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 6 no. 4
Guinea Pig Experiments
“Ethics and the Guinea Pig Experiments”
Pages from “What Happens When People Starve”
Reflections from Benjamin Candee
Reflection from Samuel Allen Shirk
“Youths Start Fourth Sleepless Day” and other clippings
Mental Health
See below
Miscellaneous
Reflections from Mary Ellen Stucky
Interview with Calvin Hilty [German prisoners]
Personal Anecdotes//Accounts of Individuals
Excerpt from “The Patapsco Peacemaker”
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 3 no. 5
Reflection from M. Franklin Brunk
Reflection from Oliver Petty
Reflection from Edwin P. Stephenson
Prison
See below
Race
Reflections from Emanual Hertzler
Relationships with Administration//Strikes and Other Protests in Camps
“Christmas Spirit Backfires” and other clippings
Glendora Strikers’ Defense Committee Pamphlet
“Objectors Without Conscience”
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 6 no. 4
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 8 no. 1
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 8 no. 5
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 8 no. 6
Reflection from Barry Hollister
“War is Over—‘Conchies’ Want Out”
Relationships with Soldiers and the Public
“Christmas Spirit Backfires” and other clippings
Interview with Charles Jehnzen
Letter to the Attorney General, March 1945
“My Life as a Conscientious Objector”
Reflections from Allen S. Bacon
Reflections from Daniel Diener
Reflections from Emanual Hertzler
Reflection from J. Robert Kreider
Reflections from Paul Hertzler
Reflection from Raymond Yeackly
Reflection from Ted Klopfenstein
Reflection from Victor Goering
Smoke Jumpers
Reflections from Nicholas Helburn
Reflection from Richard Lehman
Women’s Service
“Diary of an Ypsilanti, Michigan, C.O. Girl”
“Service to Mental Hospitals,” by Elizabeth Janet Gray
Women’s Service in Mental Hospitals
Worker Descriptions of/Reactions to Camp
Letter from John Morgan, August 1943
“My Life as a Conscientious Objector”
“Reflections at the End of an Era”
Reflections from Kenneth Garver
Reflections from Robert Walker
Reflections from Roy Denlinger
Reflections from Russell Hertzler
Mental Health
**Many CPS workers were shocked and troubled by the conditions they discovered as they entered work in mental hospitals. The sources below document their experiences, including a variety of efforts towards improving these conditions. One such effort was the formation of the Mental Hygiene Program of Civilian Public Service, which was started by members of CPS unit #49 in Philadelphia. This organization continued even after CPS ended and eventually grew into the National Mental Health Foundation.
Descriptions of Mental Hospitals from Outside Sources
Article from “The Philadelphia Record,” May 1946
"Conchies Fill Vital Gap at Hospital”
Excerpt from “Servicemen in White”
Letter to the Editor by L. L. Dunnington
“Mennonites Help to Solve Institution Labor Problem,” in The Evening Bulletin
Investigations, Court Cases, etc.
Earl Leinbach’s comments on suggested press release
Grand Jury Report on Cleveland State Hospital
Letter from Earl Leinbach to Albert Gaeddert
Letter from Earl Leinbach to P.F. Hopkins
Page from “The Cleveland Press,” July 1944
Page from “The Cleveland Press,” March 1945
Pages from “The Compass,” Fall 1944
Mental Hygiene Program/National Mental Health Foundation
Article from “The Philadelphia Record,” May 1946
“CO’s and Mental Health: An Assignment Unfinished”
CPS Contributions to Institutions
Letter from Erwin Goering to Pete Goertzen, April 1945
Letter from Harold Barton, June 1945
Letter from Pete Goertzen to Erwin Goering, April 1945
Memo to State Mental Health Organizations
Memorials to CPS Mental Hospital Service
Mental Hygiene Program of Civilian Public Service
Mental Hygiene Program letter from Harmon Wilkinson
Mental Hygiene Program letter from Leonard Edelstein
Mental Hygiene Program Pamphlet
Mental Hygiene Program Purpose Statement
Mental Hygiene Program Summary Statement
National Mental Health Foundation Pamphlet
Organization of the Mental Hygiene Program
Pages from “One Out of Twenty-Two”
Reflections from Harold Barton
Report on Federal Legislation, January 1946
Miscellaneous
Poem in “The Unifier.” March 10, 1945
“The Infestation: a memoir by Paul Klassen”
“They Would Have Invited Nazis to Dinner Here”
Relations with the Public
“In Retrospect,” from The Seagull
Interview with Don and Pauline Fillmore
Letter from Edward Belan to Robert Kreider, May 1945
Letter from Larry Burkhalter to J. N. Byler, April 1944
Letter from Loris Habegger to J. N. Byler, November 1943
Notes from Camp Council, March 1944
Reflections from Daniel Diener
Race
Relations with Administration or Staff
“Christmas Spirit Backfires” and other clippings
“Conchies Fill Vital Gap at Hospital”
Earl Leinbach’s comments on suggested press release
First Weekly Report, November 1943
“Hospital Unit Report,” Robert Kreider. February 1944.
Letter from Arthur P. Noyes, Superintendent of Norristown State Hospital
Letter from Bertran Smucker to Dr. John R. Ross, May 1945
Letter from Bertran Smucker to Robert Kreider, May 1945
Letter from Boyd Nelson to J.N. Byler, March 1944
Letter from Earl Heisey to J. N. Byler, May 1943
Letter from Earl Heisey to J. N. Byler, February 1944
Letter from Earl Leinbach to Albert Gaeddert
Letter from Ernest Goertz to Warren Leatherman, July 1946
Letter from Harold Duerksen to Bertran Smucker, April 1946
Letter from Landis Martin to Dr. Henry Fast, November 1942
Letter from Larry Burkhalter to J. N. Byler, April 1944
Letter from Loris Habegger to J. N. Byler, May 1943
Letter from Lotus Troyer to J. N. Byler, May 1944
Letter from Menno Holdeman to Esko Loewen, November 1942
Letter from O. R. Yoder, Superintendent of Ypsilanti State Hospital
Letter to J. N. Byler from Alfred Zook et al, November 1943
Memorandum on Visit to New Jersey State Hospital
Notes from Camp Council, March 1944
Reflection from J. Hobart Goering
Statement regarding “dismissal,” 1945
“Visit to Western State Hospital” by J. N. Byler, March 1943
“Ypsilanti—A Modern Institution”
Worker Suggestions for/Attempts at Improvement or Reform
“An Evaluation of the Work Done on Ward 41”
Article from “The Unifier,” June 24, 1944 [??]
Article from “The Unifier,” August 5, 1944 [??]
Committee for Improvement of Patient Care
CPS Contributions to Institutions
Excerpt from “Humiliation of Patients”
Excerpts from William Ryan’s daily log, 1946
Excerpt of Letter from Roland Smith
“Homage to COs” from a patient
Letter from Bertran Smucker to Robert Kreider, April 1945
Letter from Bertran Smucker to Robert Kreider, May 1945
Letter from Boyd Nelson to Elmer Ediger, May 1944
Letter from Boyd Nelson to J.N. Byler, March 1944
Letter from Chester Wenger to Mr. Nash (Superintendent), March 1944
Letter from Donald Engle to Albert Gaeddert, August 1944
Letter from Earl Heisey to J. N. Byler, February 1944
Letter from Ernest Goertz to Warren Leatherman, August 1946
Letter from J. Willard Linscheid to Albert Gaeddert, August 1944
Letter from Robert Barrus, January 1943
Letter from Robert Kreider to Dr. O. R. Yoder, October 1944
Letter from Vernon Rocke to Harmon Wilkinson, February 1946
“Mennonites Help to Solve Institution Labor Problem,” in The Evening Bulletin
Page from “Newsette,” February 1946
Page from “Release,” March 1946
Pages from “One Out of Twenty-Two”
Pages from “The Compass,” Fall 1944
Statement regarding “dismissal,” 1945
“The Long Term Possibilities of Mental Hospital Service”
“Treatment of Mental Patients”
Worker Descriptions of /Reactions to Mental Hospital Work
“An Evaluation of the Work Done on Ward 41”
Articles from “The Unifier,” July 22, 1944
Brethren Service Committee Publication
“Diary of an Ypsilanti, Michigan, C.O. Girl”
Excerpt from “Observation and Introspection”
Excerpt from “Servicemen in White”
Excerpts from William Ryan’s daily log, 1946
Excerpts from “Work of National Importance”
First Weekly Report, November 1943
“Hospital Unit Report,” Robert Kreider. February 1944.
“In Retrospect,” from The Seagull
Letter from Boyd Nelson to Elmer Ediger, May 1944
Letter from Chester Wenger to Mr. Nash (Superintendent), March 1944
Letter from Earl Heisey to J. N. Byler, May 1943
Letter from Earl Leinbach to Esko Loewen
Letter from Ernest Goertz to Warren Leatherman, August 1946
Letter from Harold Duerksen to Bertran Smucker, April 1946
Letter from John Morgan, August 1943
Letter from Landis Martin to J. N. Byler, May 1943
Letter from Loris Habegger to J. N. Byler, May 1943
Letter from Marshall Sutton to J. Huston Westover, August 1943
Letter from Matthew Brubaker to Robert Kreider
Letter from Menno Holdeman to Esko Loewen, November 1942
Letter from Pete Goertzen to Erwin Goering, April 1945
Letter from Robert Barrus, January 1943
Letter from Roland Smith to his sister, January 1943
Letter from Ted Neff, December 1945
Letter from Vernon Rocke to Harmon Wilkinson, February 1946
“My Life as a Conscientious Objector”
“Observations and Impressions”
Page from “Release,” March 1946
Page from “Release,” November 1944
Page from “SCUPPS,” June 27, 1946
Reactions after one month (Sept.-Oct. 1943), by Roland Smith
Reflection from David Bixler, February 1945
Reflection from David Kanagy, February 1945
Reflections from Harold Barton
Reflections from Kenneth Garver
Reflections from Paul A. Wilhelm
Report of Trip to Norristown State Hospital
“Soliloquy of a C.O. Upon Beginning His Third Year in a Mental Hospital”
“Staunton—Treatment of Mental Illness”
“You Must Have Patience to Work With Patients”
“Ypsilanti—A Modern Institution”
Prison
**A number of men were arrested and/or sentenced to prison for walking out of CPS, and the following sources include some of their stories. Here you will also find information regarding many other conscientious objectors who were never in CPS but rather were sentenced for refusing to cooperate with the draft in a variety of ways.
Walkouts from CPS, Arrests, Trials, etc.
Page from The Conscientious Objector vol. 7 no. 9
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 3 no. 5
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 3 no. 6
Reflections from Benjamin Candee
Reflections from Bent Andresen
Reflections from Leonard Stark
Reflections from Robert Walker
Descriptions of/Reactions to Prison
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 6 no. 4
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 8 no. 2
The Conscientious Objector, Special Release
The Conscientious Objector, Springfield Section
Suggestions for Reform
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 3 no. 5
The Conscientious Objector, Special Release
The Conscientious Objector, Springfield Section
Strikes and Other Protests in Prison
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 7 no. 8
Page from The Conscientious Objector vol. 7 no. 9
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 8 no. 2
Pages from The Conscientious Objector vol. 8 no. 6