Document Group: DG 209

Provenance: Received from Florence Andrews, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, 1998-2001

Size: 20 linear inches

Restrictions: None

Microfilm: None

Finding Aid: Checklist prepared by Anne Yoder, May 1998; updated 2002

This checklist is the property of the Swarthmore College Peace Collection.

Historical Introduction

Bennett Andrews, a musician from Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), was an absolutist conscientious objector during World War II. His total opposition to war meant for him that neither noncombatant service or Civilian Public Service were options he would consider. Instead, he chose prison with no parole. He was sentenced in April 1943 to five years in a federal penitentiary, and sent to Danbury Prison in Connecticut. There he worked as a farm laborer, librarian, editor of prison publications (The Nutmeg Guidon and Little Nutmeg), truck driver, and finally fireman. This latter position gave him the right to two hours of visitation a month, rather than the former one hour. He was released from prison on July 11, 1946 with no conditions, and received amnesty from President Truman in 1947.

Andrews, born on September 13, 1906, married Florence (born in 1913) on July 22, 1938. She was also a strong pacifist, who fully supported her husband's C.O. stance. Twice a month Florence traveled ten hours on two trains to visit Ben for a half hour each visit, all that was allowed. She wrote to him every day while he was in prison, a total of 973 letters, giving him the news of day, telling of her life at home (on a very small budget) and the office, reflecting on her beliefs about God and about peace, and using humorous stories and drawings to help keep up his spirits. These have been excerpted and collected by Florence into a manuscript called "From the Outside." He wrote often to her as well, sharing his opinions about the war, relaying anecdotes about life in prison, and expressing his longing for her. These letters have been excerpted and collected by Florence into a manuscript called "Somewhere in Prison." This collection provides a fascinating and valuable portrait, from both the female and the male points of view, of a devoted couple who were forced to live apart for three and a half years for their beliefs.

Florence worked as a secretary for the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia from 1943-1948, as secretary for the Dean of Haverford College (Pennsylvania) for nine years, and in various libraries through her 84th year. Ben continued his avocation as a musician, working as both music teacher and organ teacher at the Settlement Music School in Germantown (Philadelphia). He died on May 02, 1994.

Contents of the Collection

Box 1
Biographical information
CO papers of Bennett
Writings of Bennett & Florence
Mss. "Somewhere in Prison": transcript of letters from Bennett to Florence, written from May 01, 1943, to July 10, 1946
Mss. "From the Outside": transcript of letters from Florence to Bennett, written from May 05, 1943 to July 07, 1946

Box 2
Letters of Florence to Bennett (#1-369), 1943-1944

Box 3
Letters of Florence to Bennett (#370-820), 1944-1945

Box 4
Letters of Florence to Bennett (#821-970), 1946
Letters of Bennett to Florence, 1943-1946

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