This collection is open for research.
Onsite storage.
This collection contains material compiled by John Deming Wolf related to UTS students who conscientiously objected to registration for conscription during WWII, including newsclippings and photographs, pamphlets (including a UTS-published Manual of Air Raid Defense), and other related documents, including "Information in Regard to Registration at the Seminary under the Selective Training and Service Act," court proceedings, and a signed statement by the students.
John Deming Wolf papers on UTS in WWII, 1940 -- 1942
This series contains material compiled by John Deming Wolf related to UTS students who conscientiously objected to registration for conscription during WWII, including newsclippings and photographs, pamphlets (including a UTS-published Manual of Air Raid Defense), and other related documents, including "Information in Regard to Registration at the Seminary under the Selective Training and Service Act," court proceedings, and a signed statement by the students.
Union Theological Seminary Archives: UTS 1, papers of faculty and students
This collection is arranged in one series in original order.
This collection is open for research.
Onsite storage.
Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.
Item description, UTS1: John Deming Wolf papers on UTS in WWII, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.
This collection was donated to the UTS Development department in October 2015 by John Deming Wolf, Sr.
Columbia University Libraries, Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary
Metal clips and staples were removed from materials and folded items were flattened. Acidic items were separated from one another by interleaving with acid-free paper as needed. Any items in an advanced state of deterioration were placed in Mylar envelopes. Fragile news clippings and images were scanned to acid free legal paper. The finding aid was created by Leah Edelman in 2023.
John Deming Wolf was born on September 29, 1918 in Kansas City, MO. His father worked for the YMCA, training soldiers for WWI. Wolf grew up in Great Falls, Montana and Pocatello, Idaho, and attended Idaho State and George Williams College before graduating from Oberlin College in 1939. He received a divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in 1942, and was ordained on June 21, 1942. In 1941, he married Carolyn Kelsey. Wolf joined up as the youngest Chaplin in the US Navy during WWII; his combat medals include Salerno, Italy and the Pacific Campaign where he was awarded a Bronze Star at Iwo Jima. Following the War, he joined the Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church, and held appointments at churches in Vevey, Evansville, Martinsville, South Bend, Hammond, Ft. Wayne and Valparaiso, Indiana. He received an honorary Doctorate from DePauw University in 1964, where he also served as Trustee. In retirement, he was chair of the Indiana Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, and also published his real-time war diary "Amen till Tomorrow." In 2003, Wolf received the "Sagamore of the Wabash" from Indiana Governor Kernan, for his efforts in social justice. Wolf died in Valparaiso, Indiana on January 9, 2019 at age 100.
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
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| Subject | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conscientious objectors | CLIO Catalog | ArchiveGRID |
| Military chaplains | CLIO Catalog | ArchiveGRID |
| World War, 1939-1945 | CLIO Catalog | ArchiveGRID |