Swarthmore College Peace Collection,
500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081-1399, USA
Photograph Exhibit of
the Eichel Family
The Eichel Family
papers provide a unique glimpse into the lives of conscientious
objectors from one family over two generations. Brothers Julius,
David and Albert were all absolutists who went to prison for their
convictions; Julius' son did the same. Other family members provided
emotional support and lobbied for the rights of the COs.
Raised in the Jewish faith, but grounding their convictions in
Socialism, David & Julius spent time alone and together in U.S.
Disciplinary Barracks during WWI. Many COs, including the Eichel
brothers, were mistreated by army personnel, but remained true to
their beliefs. David & Julius were released from prison in 1920.
Albert was imprisoned in WWII as a CO. Julius was arrested in 1942
for failure to register for the draft and put in prison; a national
outcry brought about his release after two weeks. Julius' son,
Seymour, was arrested when he was 26 years old for not registering
for the draft, and spent over nine months in prison.
For more information about the Eichels, and about their papers, see
Eichel
Checklist.
 
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#1
David (left)
& Julius Eichel, 10/18/1919
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close-ups
from photograph #3 (below)
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#2
Group of C.O.s:
David or Julius Eichel 2nd from right in front
row?
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4.25
in. wide x 3.25 in. high sepia print [from CDGA: New
York Bureau of Legal Advice]
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#3
C.O.s at Ft.
Douglas (Utah), Oct. 18, 1919 [link
to larger size & list of names]
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5 in.
wide x 3.5 in. high sepia photograph on postcard [from
CDGA: Kantor, William]
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#4
C.O.s at Fort
Douglas (Utah), Nov. 15, 1919: caption on back of photo "The
Funston Boys Who Participated in the 'Reign of Terror'";
front row (l-r): Monsky, David Eichel, Bloch, Silver,
Steiner; back row (l-r): Shotkin, Greenberg, Downey, Powell,
Kaplan, Breger, Hennessey
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5.5 in.
wide x 3.25 in. high sepia print [from CDGA: New York
Bureau of Legal Advice]
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#5
Ft. Douglas
(Utah) C.O. Barracks, Nov. 1, 1919
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4.5 in.
wide x 3.25 in. high sepia print [from CDGA: New York
Bureau of Legal Advice]
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#6
Ft. Douglas
(Utah) C.O. Barracks, Nov. 12, 1919
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4.5 in.
wide x 3.25 in. high sepia print [from CDGA: New York
Bureau of Legal Advice]
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#7
Ft. Douglas
(Utah) guardhouse: solitary cells, Nov. 1,
1919
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2.5 in.
wide x 3.25 in. high sepia print [from CDGA: New York
Bureau of Legal Advice]
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#8
Ft. Douglas
(Utah) play "Augustus Does His Bit" (by George Bernard Shaw)
performed by C.O.s, Jan. 16, 1920: the woman - Knud Lassen;
the colonel - David Eichel; Beemish - Jacob
Schneider
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5.55
in. wide x 3.25 in. high sepia print [from CDGA: New
York Bureau of Legal Advice]
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#9
Thanksgiving
Dinner at Ft. Douglas (Utah) C.O. Barracks #12, Nov. 27,
1919
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5.5 in.
wide x 3.5 in. high sepia photograph on postcard [from
CDGA: New York Bureau of Legal Advice]
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#10
Ft. Leavenworth
(Kansas), U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, ca.
1918-1919
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5.25
in. wide x 3.5 in. high sepia photograph on postcard
[from CDGA: Kantor, William]
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#11
Ft. Leavenworth
(Kansas), 7th Wing Sub-Basement, Solitary Cell, ca.
1918-1919; caption "Behind the Wooden Doors Are Bars; the
board and blankets shown are the facilities granted for the
sole respite from the monotony of solitary"
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3.25
in. wide x 5.5 in. high sepia photograph on postcard
[from CDGA: Kantor, William]
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#12
Ft. Leavenworth
(Kansas), Basement of the Wings, ca.
1918-1919
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5.25
in. wide x 3.25 in. high sepia photograph on postcard
[from CDGA: Kantor, William]
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#13
Ft. Leavenworth
(Kansas), 7th Wing; caption "'Open' Cells In Tiers For the
Better Type of Prisoners." The men are confined in this wing
except when at work or at mess. They have no outdoor
recreation, but may read, write, converse, and play
checkers"
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3.25
in. wide x 5 in. high sepia photograph on postcard [from
CDGA: Kantor, William]
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#14
Seymour, Esther
& Julius Eichel, ca. 1957 [from WRL News no.
78 (ca. 1957);
used with permission of WRL]
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#15
Seymour, Esther
& Julius Eichel, 1974 [from WRL News no. 184
(Sept.-Oct. 1974); photo by Bill Newsom; used with
permission of WRL]
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#16
Julius Eichel
(left), Al Eichel [brother of David & Julius],
& Seymour Eichel, at 1976 WRL annual dinner at which
Julius was awarded the 1976 WRL peace award [from WRL
News no. 194 (May-June 1976); used with permission of
WRL]
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All photographs are the property
of the Swarthmore College Peace Collection. Permission must be gained from the
Curator for any reproduction of the images. Click here
for details.
For more information on
this or other questions, contact Wendy Chmielewski, Curator,
at wchmiel1@swarthmore.edu
or call 610-328-8557.
Swarthmore
College Peace Collection
| Swarthmore
College
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