Stewart Herman Conscientious Objector Research, 1989-1993.
Bulk Dates: 1941-1993
Finding aid created by Layne Cole & Jenna Collins
Copyright Concordia College Archives
Overview
Creator: Dr. Stewart W. Herman
Extent: 2 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:
In 1989, Dr. Stewart Herman started research on the topic of conscientious
objection to military service in the United States, specifically that of Lutherans.
Focusing on conscientious objectors (COs) from World War II, the Vietnam War,
and the Korean War, Dr. Herman and his student assistants collected data from
several sources, including reaching out to Lutheran Church organizations such
as the Lutheran Church of America (LCA), the American Lutheran Church (ALC),
and the Missouri Synod (MS). The LCA and the ALC would eventually merge to
form the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). Materials in this
collection include correspondence to Lutheran pastors asking for names of
known COs, questionnaires sent to COs, correspondence with COs, as well as
other research materials including secondary articles about conscientious
objection. It also includes some material regarding the possible publication of a
book containing Dr. Herman’s research, which was not completed. Series within
this collection includes the planning stages of research (Series 1, Planning), the
correspondences and answers to Dr. Herman’s CO questionaire (Series 2,
Correspondence with Conscientious Objectors), as well as the secondary
research (Series 3, Further Research) and publishing materials (Series 4,
Presentation of Data). The final series in the collection contains materials sent to
Dr. Herman by the ELCA archives (Series 5, ELCA Conscientious Objector
Records).
Language: English
Subjects:
Herman, Stewart W., 1948-
World War II, 1939-1945
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Korean War, 1950-1953
Lutherans--United States
Lutherans--United States--Attitudes
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Conscientious objectors--United States
Related materials:
Wiederaenders, Robert C. Historical Guide to Lutheran Church Bodies of North
America. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Lutheran Historical Conference, 1998.
Concordia College Archives, Call Number: BX8041 .W544 1998
Access & Use
Acquisition information: Gifted to the Concordia College Archives by Dr.
Stewart W. Herman of Fargo, ND on 14 July 2015.
Access restrictions: The records found in Series 5: ELCA Conscientious
Objector Records may not be reproduced or published without the consent of the
ELCA Archives. They can be contacted through email at [email protected].
Copyright: Concordia College Archives; Copyright to all articles, interpretations
and publications produced by Dr. Stewart W. Herman or other researchers are
held by Dr. Stewart W. Herman; Copyright to Series 5: ELCA Conscientious
Objector Records is held by the ELCA.
Recommended citation:
Stewart Herman Conscientious Objector Research, 1989-1992, Concordia
College Archives
Background Information
Biographical History:
Dr. Stewart Herman joined the faculty of the Concordia Religion
department in 1987. He received his undergraduate degree from Hamilton
College in Clinton, N.Y., his master’s in theological studies from the Lutheran
School of Theology at Chicago and his doctorate in social ethics from the
University of Chicago Divinity School. After teaching at Concordia for 28 years,
he retired in 2015.
According to a book proposal found in a folder titled Publishing Venues [Series 4,
Box 2, Folder 5], Dr. Herman’s interest in conscientious objection stems from his
studies at a school run by pacifists, and two years of alternative service as a
selective conscientious objector to the Vietnam War. His alternative service took
place in Vietnam, which gave him “close firsthand experience to that wretched
civil war, and spurring [his] interest in the pacifist wing of the Lutheran church.” A
Concordian article about his project from 1992 states that Dr. Herman’s
motivation for the project also came from the attitudes some people have had
about war resistance--he felt the idea of contentious objecting was important due
to the possibility of drafts in the future. While Dr. Herman’s intent was to use this
research for a published book, other obligations took precedence and the project
fell to the wayside. It is Dr. Herman’s current hope that the project could be used
for a digital project of some sort, rather than a book.
Arrangement
Scope and Content:
Series 1: Planning-- This series contains the planning stages of Dr. Herman’s project,
including sources for locating Lutheran conscientious objectors (COs), a Directory of
Civilian Public Service, as well as information regarding the ELCA’s statement of peace.
It also includes the lists of COs to be contacted from WWII, and Vietnam, and various
preliminary correspondences.
Series 2: Correspondence with Conscientious Objectors-- This series contains the
letters of correspondence between the COs and Dr. Herman. It includes an example of
the questionnaires sent to each CO, as well as their replies, which are sorted by war--
WWII, Vietnam War, and a smaller series for the Korean and Gulf War.
Series 3: Further Research-- This series contains further secondary research on
conscientious objection, and well as some of Dr. Herman’s personal and institutional
information on the Vietnam War.
Series 4: Presentation of Data-- This series contains documents pertaining to the
possible publication of a book of the results of Dr. Herman’s research, including a short
draft of an article, and information about publishing venues.
Series 5: ELCA Conscientious Objectors Records-- This series contains copies of
letters and other documents regarding COs sent to the ELCA. While doing his research,
Dr. Herman requested these records and was sent copies from the ELCA archives.
Permission from the ELCA Archives must be received before publishing any information
from this series.
Archival Arrangement: Topical
Arrangement Note: Several folders in the initial arrangement were titled “Miscellaneous”
by Dr. Herman. All materials within dealt with the locating of COs, and so have been
compiled into one “Miscellaneous Correspondence” folder.
Box and Folder Listing
Series 1 Planning__________________________________
Subseries 1 Stewart Herman Biographical Information
File Name Folder # Box #
Stewart Herman Biographical Information 1 1
1
Interview with Stewart Herman – Oral Histories 2
Subseries 2 Preliminary Research Folder Box
File Name ##
Sources for Locating American Lutheran Church Conscientious Objectors 1 1
Swarthmore College Peace Collection 21
Directory of Civilian Public Service 31
1964-1975 Lutheran Church of America Conscientious Objector List 4 1
ELCA Social Statement on Peace 51
Larry and Elaine speech: "Who Will Stop the Rain? Stories of Peace and 6 1
Justice" at the Friends for Non-Violent World Benefit
Subseries 3 Inquiries sent to Campus Pastors, American Lutheran Church (ALC),
Lutheran Church of America (LCA), Missouri Synod (MS)
File Name Folder # Box #
Campus Pastors/Chaplains ALC, LCA, MS, 1971 1 1
Sources/Leads on Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod 2 1
ELCA Synod Archivists 31
Questions Sent No Reply 41
Questions Sent, Need to Find Current Address 51
Responses to Requests to Addresses 6a 1
Responses to Requests for Addresses 6b 1
Responses to Requests for Addresses – No Leads 7 1
Mistaken Identity 81
Miscellaneous Correspondence 91
Contacts to be Followed Up On 10 1
Future Conscientious Objectors 11 1
Address Cards 12 1
Subseries 4 Lists and Status Reports Folder # Box #
File Name
Sources Non Conscientious Objectors “Live” 1a 1
Sources Non Conscientious Objectors “Live” 1b 1
Sources Non Conscientious Objectors “Live 1c 1
Status Report 1 21
Status Report 2 31
Status Report 3 41
Subseries 5 World War II Folder # Box #
File Name
World War II Networks 11
World War Conscientious Objectors to be Contacted 2 1
Subseries 6 Vietnam Folder # Box #
File Name
ELCA Co Lists Vietnam War 1 1
Vietnam Cos to be Contacted 21
Vietnam CO Inquiries Located 3 1
Vietnam Cos Located (Questionable) 4 1
Series 2 Correspondence with Conscientious Objectors____
Subseries 1 Questionnaire Folder # Box #
File Name
Conscientious Objection Questionnaire 1 1
1
Conscientious Objectors – Questionnaires Sent 2 1
1
Questionnaires Sent No Reply 3a 1
1
Questionnaires Sent No Reply 3b
Declined/Refused to Participate 4
Return to Sender 5
Subseries 2 World War II Conscientious Objectors
File Name Folder # Box #
Returns A-H 1 1
Returns I-Z 2 1
Subseries 3 Vietnam War Conscientious Objectors
File Name Folder # Box #
Returns A-C 1 2
Returns D-G 2 2
Returns K-S 3 2
Returns S-Z 4 2
Mistaken Identity 5 2
Subseries 4 Korean War and Gulf War Conscientious Objectors
File Name Folder # Box #
Korean War 1 2
Gulf War 2 2
Subseries 5 Additional Sources Folder # Box #
File Name 2
Recorded Responses to Questionnaire on Cassette Tape 1
Content Box # CA #
Response to Questionnaire – Stephen Koons
Response to Questionnaire – Al Bostelman
Response to Questionnaire – Richard Morris Reid
Response to Questionnaire – Brian Jory
Response to Questionnaire – James H. Mica
Series 3 Further Research_______________________________________
Subseries 1 Additional Sources
File Name Folder # Box #
Conscientious Objection 12
"Moral and Religious Arguments in Support of Pacifism…" 2 2
Vietnam Era Material - Personal 32
Vietnam Era Material - Institutional 42
Series 4 Presentation of Data_______________________________
Subseries 1
File Name Folder # Box #
Permission to Release Addresses 12
Conscientious Objection – Stewart Herman Scribbles 2 2
Lutheran Peace Fellowship Articles 32
Conscientious Objection Project Publicity 42
Publishing Venues 52
Series 5 ELCA Conscientious Objector Records (Processing not Complete)_
Subseries 1
File Name Folder # Box #