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Camp Downey oral histories

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_COLL MSS 468

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the Camp Downey oral histories which John Olinger used for his 1987 master’s thesis in history entitled, Camp Downey: A Conscientious Objector Work Camp . The materials include several audio recordings of interviews that John Olinger conducted, as well as transcripts, correspondence and other information concerning different religious sects and their relation to conscientious objectors. This collection is useful to anyone studying conscientious objectors during World War II and the civilian reactions to the war on the home front.

The three boxes of materials are separated into tapes of oral histories, oral history transcripts and written histories, and other materials relating to conscientious objectors during World War II.

Dates

  • 1975-1993

Language of Materials

Material in English

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Camp Downey oral histories must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Biographical Note

Camp Downey was a conscientious objector camp located in Downey, Idaho, from November 1942 to February 1946. Camp Downey was one of 151 Civilized Public Service Camps established by the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, which set out the obligations of conscientious objectors during war. This system of conscientious objector camps was jointly run by the federal government and the joint efforts of the traditional “peace” churches, including the Mennonites, the Brethren, and the Quakers. The Mennonite Central Committee managed Camp Downey, while the Soil Conservation Service represented the interests of the federal government.

Extent

3 boxes (1.5 linear feet)

Abstract

The Camp Downey oral histories mainly consists of audio recordings and transcripts of several interviews which John Olinger conducted for his 1987 master’s thesis in history, Camp Downey: A Conscientious Objector Work Camp .

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These materials were dontated to USU Special Collections by John Olinger in 1998 and 2014.

Related Materials

A copy of Olinger's thesis, Camp Downey: A Conscientious Objector Work Camp , is available in USU Special Collections and Archives.

Processing Information

Processed in June of 2012

Title
Guide to the Camp Downey oral histories 1975-1993
Author
Finding aid/Register created by Andrew Izatt and Elisabeth Cropper
Date
©2014
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English .

Revision Statements

  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
  • 2014 December 29: Items in box 1 rearanged into alphabetical order and 10 recorded tapes added to the box. Boxes 2 and 3 added to the collection.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)