Records of the American Student Defense League, Harvard Chapter, 1940-1941.
Overview
The American Student Defense League was established as a national organization by Harvard students to support Great Britain against Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II. The records are organized in three series: The Constitution of the American Student Defense League, Harvard Chapter, General Information and Ephemera, and Business Records.
Dates
- Creation: 1940-1941.
Creator
- American Student Defense League, Harvard Chapter (Organization)
Conditions on Use and Access
The Records of the American Student Defense League, Harvard Chapter, are open for research.
Extent
1 cubic feet (2 document boxes, 1 portfolio box)The Records of the American Student Defense League, Harvard Chapter, document the League's press and publicity activities, sponsorship of speaking and lecture events, organization, and interaction with other defense related groups.
Historical Essay
The American Student Defense League (ASDL) was established as a national organization by Harvard students on September 23, 1940 to support Great Britain against Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II. Eventually the League advocated for a declaration of war against Germany by the United States, maintaining that Great Britain could not win without American intervention.
League activities included the establishment of ASDL chapters at other schools, the sponsorship of public meetings and lectures, the exploration of auxiliary military training on the Harvard campus, and the establishment of Defense, a bi-weekly newspaper.
The League dissolved on December 10, 1941, after United States entry into World War II.
Acquisition Information
The Records of the American Student Defense League, Harvard Chapter, were acquired through donation. Whenever possible the archivist noted the terms of acquisition in the descriptions and item lists.
The acquisitions are as follows:
- 1942 Walter Lear
- 1942 W. Milbank Pillsbury
General note
This document last updated 2016 October 14.
Processing Information
The Records were first classified and described in the Harvard University Archives shelflist prior to 1990. In June 2008, Dominic P. Grandinetti re-processed the collection. Re-processing included integrating and reorganizing the collection, establishing series and subseries, re-housing materials in the appropriate containers, including acid-free folders, and preparing this inventory.
Call numbers were simplified and reassigned. A list of obsolete call numbers is included in this finding aid.
Creator
- American Student Defense League, Harvard Chapter (Organization)
- Title
- American Student Defense League, Harvard Chapter. Records of the American Student Defense League, Harvard Chapter : an inventory
- Author
- Harvard University Archives
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hua17008
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
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