William P. Camp Papers

William P. Camp was a Quaker psychiatrist, particularly concerned with ethics in the mental health field and very active in his profession in Pennsylvania and on Quaker boards. He was born April 8, 1917, in Bridgeport, Ct. He earned his B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1940 where he was editor of the student newspaper and a classmate of Katherine Lindsley who became his wife in 1941. Camp was awarded an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1950 and became a resident in psychiatry at Norristown State Hospital.

He worked at Norristown State Hospital from 1954-1963 and served as superintendent 1959-1963. From 1964-1967, he was appointed Commissioner of Mental Health and Deputy Secretary of Public Welfare for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. During his tenure, the Mental Health Act of 1966 was approved. From 1968-1979, he was the Director of Friends Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. In addition to other professional responsibilities and serving as the president of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society, he served on the board of a many Quaker and medical organizations and associations and on the Ethics Committee of the American Psychiatric Association.

His wife, Kay Camp, was a teacher and peace activist who served as the president of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Both the Camps were active in Quaker concerns and members of Norristown Monthly Meeting. They had three sons. William Camp died in December 1999.