Committee on Militarism in Education, 1925-1940

(Size: 48.25 linear feet; 14.69 meters)

DG 009


© Swarthmore College Peace Collection  
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399  

Seal of Swarthmore College
Table of contents

Background note:
The Committee on Militarism in Education (CME) was established in 1925 by John Nevin Sayre, Norman Thomas and E. Raymond Wilson to combat military training requirements at public schools and universities. The CME fought to remove military training, in the form of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), from highschools and to eliminate compulsory ROTC service at state universities. Throughout its fifteen year existence, the CME endeavored to oppose militarism in all institutions dealing with youth, including such New Deal agencies as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Instead of military drill, the CME proposed the substitution of physical education courses and the institution of courses in world citizenship. The CME worked from its New York City headquarters in cooperation with local groups to educate the public about ROTC practices and attitudes. To this end, the CME kept detailed information files on the ROTC, offered speakers, and circulated pamphlets. Through political channels, the CME supported appropriate state and federal legislation. It also assisted students opposed to military training in gaining legal exemption through judicial processes.

Over the course of its existence, the CME had two Executive Committee chairmen: John Nevin Sayre and George A. Coe, who succeeded Sayre in the late 1920's; and it had four executive secretaries: E. Raymond Wilson, succeeded in 1926 by Roswell P. Barnes, who resigned in 1928, Tucker P. Smith, and five years later, Edwin C. Johnson. Both E. Raymond Wilson and John Nevin Sayre continued their affiliation with CME after leaving its key executive posts, Sayre remaining on the executive committee until CME disbanded itself in 1940 due to the prowar sentiment then pervading public opinion.

The CME sent its files (39 drawers, 10,000 papers) to SCPC in December 1940 (Acc.No. 40-146). The last secretary of CME made nine copies of a detailed finding list; two of these were sent to SCPC and the others to the board members.

In September 1950, a complete examination of CME files and final sorting resulted in the elimination of duplicate, surplus and irrelevant material, and a condensation of important CME organization files, for which a new finding list was made. At this point, CME material was filed in 27 drawers. In March 1967, the CME files were transferred to 113 document boxes, and in June 1968, a checklist was made for materials as they were arranged in the boxes. When CME records were prepared for microfilming in 1978, minor changes were made in the arrangement of materials within the boxes. In March 1984, a checklist was prepared which reflects these changes and is accurate for the 67 reels of microfilm which cover all of the CME files except for six boxes of newspaper clippings. Old checklists have been retained for reference, and can be found in the collection folder.

CME periodicals are found in the SCPC periodical section as follows:

Scope and content
The Committee on Militarism in Education (CME) files hold administrative records from 1925 - 1940, which include executive committee minutes, executive secretary's reports, financial records and statements, fund-raising letters, and address lists of donors and sympathizers.

There are files of correspondence (1925 - 1940) with persons, organizations, and by year. Correspondents include Devere Allen, Eunice B. Armstrong, Henry A. Atkinson, Roger N. Baldwin, Charles F. Boss, Jr., Ellen Starr Brinton, Dorothy Dunbar Bromley, Carrie Chapman Catt, George A. Coe, Dorothy Detzer, Rose Dabney Forbes, Edwin C. Johnson, William Heard Kilpatrick, Winthrop D. Lane, Frederick J. Libby, Alfred D. Moore, Laura Puffer Morgan, Ray Newton, Mildred Scott Olmsted, Kirby Page, Florence M. Pharo, Jeannette Rankin, Norman Thomas, Wellington H. Tinker, Walter W. Van Kirk, Oswald Garrison Villard, Kenneth E. Walser, E. Raymond Wilson, Theresa L. Wilson, Andrew S. Wing, and Robert Wolforth.

The CME information files cover military training and the ROTC in detail, including clippings, quotations, studies, and state-by-state files of ROTC status at universities and highschools. There are records of political campaigns which the CME undertook, such as support of the Nye-Kvale Bill and the 1940 Anti-Conscription Campaign, and records of trials in which the CME assisted. There is a large collection of anti-military training pamphlets, many published by CME, and some rough drafts thereof, CME periodicals, and newspaper clippings on ROTC and CME activities. A small quantity of papers from Roswell Barnes, John Nevin Sayre, and Tucker Smith are also present in the collection.


Administrative information

Restrictions
None

Provenance
Donors/Depositors: Committee on Militarism in Education

Received: December 1940

Accession number: 40-146


Additional descriptive information

Note
Microfilm: 67 reels Finding aids: Checklist prepared by Sherry Hartenstine (March 1984. EAD finding aid under construction by Wendy E. Chmielewski and Alexander Addison, January 2003. This collection was microfilmed under N.E.H. Grant No. RC 27706-77-739.


Added entries

Subjects
  • Committee on Militarism in Education (U.S.) -- Archives
  • Draft -- United States -- History -- Sources
  • Militarism -- United States -- History -- Sources
  • Military education -- United States -- History -- Sources
  • Military education -- United States -- History -- Sources
  • Sayre, John Nevin, 1884-1977
  • Thomas, Norman, 1884-1968
  • United States -- Militia -- History -- Sources
  • United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps
  • Wilson, E. Raymond (Edward Raymond), 1896-1987

    Contact information
    500 College Ave.
    Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399
    U.S.A.

    Telephone: (610) 328-8557
    FAX: (610) 690-5728
    Email: wchmiel@swarthmore.edu


    ©2003

     


    Collection inventory


    ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS
    Box 1

    Postal permits, regulations

    Expense accounts

    Business: specialties, firms

    Garland fund (American fund for public service)

    International campaign against military training; conscription

    Leases

    Ads ; clipping service correspondence

    Bank notes ; related correspondence

    Pamphlet: on abolishing compulsory military education

    MINUTES
    Box 2

    Board minutes, 1925-1932
    Reel 70.2

    Board minutes, 1933-1934

    Duplicate minutes, 1925-1928

    Duplicate minutes, 1930-1934
    Box 3

    Unsorted miscellaneous, reports, correspondence1934-1940:

    Board minutes ; correspondence, 1929

    Board minutes ; correspondence, 1928

    Board minutes, 1935-1939

    Reports

    Board minutes, 1940

    CONFERENCE TO REEXAMINE C.M.E. POLICY
    Box 4

    Conference to reexamine C.M.E. policy

    Objectives outlined

    Financial appeals ; budgets, 1929-1933

    Policy inquiries, including ones from Better Business Bureau and National Information Bureau
    NOT ON FILM

    Newspaper clippings
    Box 5

    Exhibits, 1935-1936

    Various articles ; publications

    Testimonials

    Executive board, inquiries board ; financial records, 1934-1937
    Reel 70.4

    Executive board records ; correspondence, 1938-1940

    FINANCIAL RECORDS
    Box 6

    Financial statements, 1932-1939

    [not in order]

    Addresses

    Treasury Department ruling

    Duane Press notes

    Income tax cases

    Corporation income tax returns

    Financial statements, 1939-1940
    Box 7

    Financial statements, 1926-1928
    Reel 70.5

    Financial statements, 1928-1929

    Financial reports (O. G. Villard), 1936-1940

    ADDRESS LISTS, FORM LETTERS
    Box 8

    Changes of address, 1936-1940

    Form “mutual friend” letters inviting assistance ; replies to them, 1940
    Box 9

    Form letters, 1928-1930
    Reel 70.6

    Form letters, 1931-1935
    Box 10

    Form letters, 1936-1938
    Box 11

    Form letters, 1939-1940

    APPEALS FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT ; REPLIES

    Memorandum on support of C.M.E. (J. N. Sayre), 1939

    Appeals (O. G. Villard), 1939
    Box 12

    Correspondence with wealthy ; special prospects [not in order]1928-1940

    John Nevin Sayre correspondence, 1939
    Reel 70.7

    John Nevin Sayre Correspondence, 1938
    Box 13

    Elmhirst Committee (Anna Bogue), 1931-1937

    Christian Social Justice Fund (Elizabeth Gilman), 1931-1940

    Financial appeals ; replies, 1928-1929
    Box 14

    Financial appeals ; replies, 1929
    Reel 70.8

    Financial appeals ; replies, 1930-1933
    Box 15

    Financial appeals ; replies, 1934

    Replies to J. N. Sayre appeals, 1935
    Reel 70.9

    Financial appeals ; replies, 1935-1936
    Box 16

    Financial appeals ; replies, 1936-1937

    Replies to O. G. Villard appeal, November 1937

    Financial appeals ; replies, 1938
    Box 17

    Financial appeals ; replies, 1939

    Responses to 1/13/39 mailing

    Responses to O. G. Villard appeal, June 1939

    Financial appeals ; replies, 1940

    Responses to J. N. Sayre final appeal, 1940

    MISCELLANEOUS DATA
    Box 18

    Book promotions

    Publications: Notices ; correspondence

    Speakers: Requests ; invitations; C.M.E.'s responses
    Reel 70.11

    McNutt address, McNutt pamphlet1927;

    National Republic, May 1927

    American Student Union case

    Intercollegiate Council case
    Box 19

    Correspondence on publications

    Clippings, pamphlets, ; reports

    R.O.T.C. RELATED INFORMATION

    Resignations from R.O.T.C.

    R.O.T.C. correspondences to reserve officers

    Misc. correspondence, including refusals to send pamphlets

    Misc. research and correspondence

    CORRESPONDENCE
    Box 20

    Criticisms of C.M.E.
    Reel 70.12

    More criticisms of C.M.E.

    Writers' correspondence

    Correspondence with:

    Stanfeld Sargent

    Andrew Wing

    Morris Schnapper
    Box 21

    T. J. Watson, Spidell, etc.

    Barber, Duffield

    Wohlforth

    Misc. correspondence ; articles

    Sumner Wells MSS.

    ARTICLES
    Box 22

    Waging peace, clippings

    Various articles ; MSS.

    CORRESPONDENCE
    Box 23

    Correspondence with:

    Devere Allen

    Henry Atkinson

    Roger Baldwin

    Dr. H. E. Barnes

    Lieut. Col. Ralph C. Bishop

    Charles F. Boss

    Brinton

    Olmstead

    Joseph Broadman

    Buell

    Stone

    Bromley

    Carrie Chapman Catt
    Box 24

    George A. Coe

    Ross Collins

    P. W. L. Cox

    D. Detzer

    John Dewey

    William Floyd

    Mrs. J. Malcolm Forbes

    Raymond B. Fosdick
    Box 25

    Richard B. Gregg

    C. H. Hamlin

    Charles Hart

    William B. Harvey

    C. Ray Keim

    William H. Kilpatrick

    Fred Libby (1928-1931)
    Reel 70.15

    Fred Libby (Harris ; Rankin)

    Mrs. Laura Puffer Morgan

    Ernest L. Meyer
    Box 26

    Ray Newton

    Kirby Page

    Fred V. Peter

    William C. Rivers
    Box 27

    H. W. Rogers

    Scattergood

    H. S. Tuttle

    Van Kirk
    Reel 70.16

    Villard

    Walser

    E. Raymond Wilson

    Theresa L. Wilson

    ANTI-CONSCRIPTION CAMPAIGN -- 1940

    Anti-conscription materials: Rough drafts for pamphlets
    Box 28

    Correspondence

    -with conscientious objectors

    -concerning the laws involved

    Articles, including information on international efforts

    Correspondence

    -C. O. problems under conscription

    -with H. E. Fey

    Anti-conscription writings:

    -Rough drafts

    -General
    Reel 70.17

    -General; criticism

    -with Mrs. Donald Armstrong
    Box 29

    Anti-conscription correspondence

    -with Fred Leighton

    -to ; from Congressmen

    Letters of support from new people

    Endorsements to “Declaration Against Conscription”
    Box 30

    Declaration Against Conscription: draft ; more endorsements

    Scrapbook on military training (E. Raymond Wilson)
    Reel 70.18 (cont.)

    Anti-conscription form letters

    “A Declaration Against Conscription,” 1st, 2nd, ; 3rd editions, printed copies

    “Compulsory Military Training” - from the Congressional Record (Hon. Fred Bierman)

    “A Course in International Relations” (Leo Litzskay)

    “Educating for World Citizenship” (Russell McNutt)

    Editorials on Nye-Kvale Bill

    Militarism in the U.S.A., `The World Tomorrow,' October 1926

    Military courtesy

    Nye-Kvale Bill

    A petition to Pres. Roosevelt protesting C.C.C. drill

    “School military training reconsidered” (E. C. Johnson)

    “What About Military Training?” (Tucker P. Smith)

    MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE
    Box 31

    Miscellaneous correspondence, 1930-1936
    Reel 70.19

    Miscellaneous correspondence, 1936
    Box 32

    Miscellaneous correspondence, 1937-1938
    Box 33

    Miscellaneous correspondence, 1939-1940

    MILITARY TRAINING -- C.M.E. PUBLICATIONS
    Box 34

    “An Amendment to Prohibit Compulsory Military Training in Civil Educational Institutions,” (Hon. Lynn J. Frazier; Congressional Record)

    “America Menaced by Militarism: An Appeal to Women” (Harriet Connor Brown)

    “Military Courtesy” (Major Bernard Lentz, of R.O.T.C. at Univ. of Minn.)

    “An Announcement Relative to Military Training at DePauw University” (G. Bromley Oxnam)

    “Anti-Military Groups Win at St. Louis” (reprint)

    “The Battle Against Militarized Education Must Go On”

    “The Battle for War or Peace is being Fought Today in our Schools and Colleges” (President Arthur E. Morgan, Antioch College)

    “Brass Buttons and Education” (Testimony of army officers before the House Committee on Appropriations)

    “The Breeding Place: Peace and Economic Sanity Demand Disarmament”

    “The Camel and the Arab: What College Catalogs Reveal on the Status of Military Training” (H. C. Engelbrecht)

    “The Campaign Against Military Training in Education”

    “The Campaign Against Militarism: Retrospect 1928-1929, Prospect 1929-1930”

    “Christ or War?” (Monroe T. Gilmour)

    “The Churches and Military Training in Schools and Colleges”

    “Speeches before House of Representatives by Hon. Ross A. Collins

    “Compulsory Military Training”

    “Committee on Militarism in Education: Origin and Aims”

    “Corporal Nichols-Dismissed” (Winifred Hulbert)

    “The Cure for Compulsory Drill” (extract of statements supporting Nye-Kvale proposal)