An Inventory of the Rachel Davis DuBois Papers, 1920-1993
General International Standard for Archival Description
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399 U.S.A.
Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, December 2000.
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Papers, 1920-1993
Rachel Davis DuBois (1892-1993)
Biographical History for: Papers, 1920-1993
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL Rachel Davis DuBois (1892-1993) was active throughout her long life initiating and maintaining numerous projects and conferences to promote intercultural and interfaith understanding, shaping the field of intercultural education through her teaching and conferences, corresponding with a long list of friends and associates, writing articles and books, and much more. She worked closely with the New York Friends Center and Earlham College, as well as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and major Jewish groups. She was a pioneer in inter-faith and inter-racial dialogue and intercultural education and traveled all over the U.S. and abroad to share her programs with other communities. Rachel Davis was born in 1892 into a Quaker family in Salem County, New Jersey, the daughter of C. Howard and Bertha Haines Davis. She earned a degree in natural science at Bucknell University, Pa., in 1914. Her first job was as a teacher at a high school in Glassboro, New Jersey. In 1920, she traveled with her husband, Nathan DuBois, to the first World Conference of Friends held in London, England. At this Conference, she learned about the race riot in Chicago and affirmed a lifetime commitment to pacifism. On her return to the U.S., DuBois was inspired by an article by W.E.B. DuBois in which he contended that war would not be overcome until racial prejudice and injustice were overcome. This was crucial to her decision to devote her life to fostering better relationships between cultural and racial groups. DuBois's experiences contributed to the development of the Group Conversation method, a means of intergroup communication by sharing common experiences. Group Conversation took place in small informal groups of adults who spontaneously shared memories, mostly drawn from childhood, with the aim of achieving a better understanding of the similarities in each other's lives. When she resumed teaching in 1924 at the Woodbury High School in New Jersey, she developed a series of programs to highlight the history and cultural contributions of various ethnic groups. She left Woodbury in 1931 to work for a degree at Teachers College, Columbia University. Three years later, she was the catalyst in the formation of the Service Bureau for Human Relations, an organization which assembled speakers and provided materials on the contribution of all ethnic groups to American society. As Director, she worked with the U.S. Commissioner on Education to develop a popular and award winning series of radio programs, “Americans All- Immigrants All.” After she resigned from the Service Bureau in 1941, DuBois went to California to attend a month-long seminar led by Gerald Heard, a philosopher who taught that the universe is one organic whole, held together by the power of love. When she returned to New York, she proceeded to “put the pieces of my life in order.” She obtained an amicable divorce, completed the work for a Doctorate in Educational Sociology at New York University. Her thesis was published as Build Together Americans (Hinds, Hayden and Eldridge, 1945). With other leading academics, she founded the Workshop for Cultural Democracy. The Workshop gathered groups in individual homes, where understanding of differences was encouraged and respect was fostered in an informal setting. After a successful program at PS 165 in New York City, she took Group Conversation to other cities. The U.S. State Department sent DuBois to West Germany from 1951-1952, where she trained teachers and social workers in methods of intergroup relations. In 1953, she worked with the Chicago project of the East European Fund (Ford) in its work of integrating the latest newcomers to American life. In the late 1950's, DuBois concluded that there was a need to adapt Group Conversation for the use of the Society of Friends. She devised the process which came to be known as the Quaker Dialogue Process in 1958. With the backing of the Advancement Committee of the Friends General Conference, she introduced Quaker Dialogue to over 400 groups in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and eight countries in Europe. She was 67 when she started her first Dialogue tour. In 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King asked her to use the dialogue method in the civil rights struggle. She joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference staff in Atlanta for two years, where she conducted workshops and trained several Group Conversation leaders. At this time, she also became involved in the interfaith movement and was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Office of Christian-Jewish Relations of the National Council of Churches of Christ. Rachel spent 1971-74 working at Earlham College, Indiana, training college and community leaders in group methods for developing mutual acceptance among the races. In cooperation with Earlham and a group of community leaders in Richmond, a Center for Ethnic Awareness was established. After moving back to southern New Jersey in 1977, DuBois adapted group Conversation to the “Living Room Gathering.” Sponsored by the New Jersey Committee for the Humanities, this work fostered the development of intercultural understanding in the local communities of her region. DuBois continued to work on many of her projects until the late 1980's, particularly the Quaker Dialogue and Interfaith relations projects. She died in 1993 at the age of 101. TIME LINE1892Rachel Davis was born to C. Howard and Bertha Haines Davis, a Quaker family in Salem County, New Jersey1914Graduated from Bucknell University, Pa.1914-1920Taught high school in Glassboro, NJ1920Attended first World Conference of Friends in London; became involved with pacificism and race relations 1924Resumed teaching in 1924 at the Woodbury High School, worked to foster inter-cultural dialogue1931Began working for a degree at Teachers College, Columbia University1934Helped form the Service Bureau for Human Relations1941-1945Resigned from the Service Bureau; obtained amicable divorce; completed Doctorate in Educational Sociology at New York University 1951-1952Worked at creating dialogue in West Germany for the US state department1953worked with Chicago project of the East European Fund (Ford)1958Created the Quaker Dialogue Process1967Toured to promote Quaker Dialogue Process1965Joined Southern Christian Leadership Conference staff in Atlanta at Martin Luther King, Jr.'s request, conducted workshops1965Became involved with interfaith movement1971-74Continued diversity training at Earlham College, Indiana and established Center for Ethnic Awareness 1977Moved to southern New Jersey in 1977, worked to create community accross cultural lines1993Died at the age of 101
SCOPE AND CONTENT This collection contains the personal papers of Rachel Davis DuBois, including correspondence, writings, her work with interracial, intercultural, and interfaith projects, personal logs and notes, and miscellaneous material.
Quakers - New Jersey - Salem County
Quaker social reformers
Quakers - Education
Social reformers - Society of Friends
Race relations - Religious aspects -- Society of Friends
Religious education
Leadership - Religious aspects - Society of Friends
Ecumenical movement - Society of Friends
Quaker - Social life and customs
Quaker authors
Rachel Davis DuBois, 1892-1993
series
Ser. 1. Personal Materials, 1939-87, n.d.
Biographical Material 1920-85, n.d. [Bulk: 1966-77]
Also includes the Report of the International Conference of Women at The Hague, organized by WILPF, 1920, and minutes from a meeting of the Emergency Service Bureau, 1920.
99th and 100th birthday articles and correspondence, obituaries, and other miscellaneous personal material 1939-93, n.d. [Bulk: 1992-93]
Newspaper clippings regarding Rachel Davis DuBois 1963-87 and n. d.
Ser. 2. Correspondence, 1920-92 and n.d
Emily A. Allen1951-71
See also Folder 5.
Inge Bauer, Emily Allen and “Elizabeth” 1946-86
Landrum Boiling 1971-83
"David Castle regarding Group Conversation,” 1962-69, n.d.
Paul Douglas 1968, 1945 and Frank Aydelotte
Robert Greenleaf 1964-66, n.d.
Includes articles by Greenleaf.
Irene Malvan, Gertrude Rohr, and other correspondents (mostly foreign) 1932-62
Zeng Pratoomratha and other correspondents, mostly African and Asian1949-80
Also includes “My People, the Thailanders."
Viola Purvis 1978-84, n.d.
“Important Letters,” for Swarthmore Historical Society 1984-87
Also includes conference programs, n.d.
Miscellaneous correspondence with Quakers 1966-69, n.d.
New York Friends Center correspondence 1967-74
“Personal letters” 1969-82
“Foreign letters” 1944-87, n.d. [Bulk: 1972-84]
“Correspondence file 1” 1944-89. [Bulk: 1951-70]
Some letters marked “Personal Letters,” and many are from European correspondents.
“Correspondence file 2” 1940-87. [Bulk: 1951-80]
Many are from European correspondents, all appear to be personal in nature.
“Correspondence file 3” 1938-91.
Some “Foreign letters,” all appear to be personal in nature.
Letters by RDD to publishers for her autobiography 1968-77, n.d.
Letters from publishers regarding her books 1938-74.
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1920-1992
Miscellaneous correspondence1920-92
Also includes: “Service Bureau for Intercultural Education” pamphlet and her article “Futurism, Quakerism and Me,” 1978.
1933-90 [Bulk: 1978-90] Loose correspondence.
Miscellaneous correspondence1956-89
Also includes Quaker Dialogue reports, 1963, and articles by RDD.
Miscellaneous correspondence1964-83 [Bulk: 1964-75]
Miscellaneous correspondence sent by RDD 1962-83, n.d.
Miscellaneous correspondence received by RDD 1949-83, n.d.
Ser. 3. Group Conversation and other Community Projects, 1954-71, n.d.
Information packets and pamphlets regarding the Workshops
Documents and pamphlets regarding New York Friends Center's work with the Group Conversation method 1968-69
Document and pamphlets regarding New York Friends Center Training Workshops for Group Conversation material1966-71, n.d.
Community Friendship Projects (also known as Community Dialogue Program) material and related correspondence 1963-65, n.d.
Financial appeals, Sources and Foundations, for RDD's work in Group Conversation 1954-70, n.d.
“Art of Group Conversation,” an essay by RDD n.d.
See also most of the miscellaneous papers, Folders 145-163.
Ser. 4. Quaker religious and race relations material, 1920-81, n.d.
New York Yearly Meeting Race Relations Committee material 1967-73
Includes minutes and papers with notes by RDD. Also includes related correspondence, and material regarding Rev. Albert Cleage.
Material regarding Quakers and race relations 1960-69, n.d.
Removed: Sixth National Conference of Friends on Race Relations, 1967 (see copy in FHL, BX7748.47.N2 A2), which includes position papers by RDD; Race Relations
A Guide to Action, by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends Committee on Race
Quaker Dialogue material 1952-79, n.d.
Includes evaluation reports, personal responses, and notes. Also includes the “Handbook for Leaders of Quaker Dialogue,” by RDD.
1961Friends' General Conference material, including information on RDD's workshop
Booklists from the Friends' General Conference on Religion
Miscellaneous material relating to Quakers 1920, 1952, n.d.
Notes and writing by RDD on Religious Education in Meeting
re: National Conference of Friends on Race Relations, 1970, material (see Folder 14)
See also: Folder 15, “Futurism, Quakerism and Me,” 1978; Folder 24, Quaker Dialogue reports, 1963; Folder 26.
Information packets and pamphlets regarding the Workshops for Cultural Democracy and Quaker Dialogue projects n.d.
See folder 30.
Documents and pamphlets regarding New York Friends Center's work with the Group Conversation method 1968-69, n.d.
See folder 31.
New York Friends Center Training Workshops for Group Conversation material1966-71, n.d.
See folder 32.
Teacher's Conference (for “Quaker and Negro” teachers) material and correspondence 1965-67
See folder 42.
Loose pamphlets.
Includes “Survey of the Friends Meeting, Woodstown, NJ,” 1930, by Wilbur K. Thomas; “Friends World Conference, 1937: Report of Commission I. The Spiritual Message of the Religious Society of Friends.” (see Folder 166).
See also certain logs, Folders 63, 65, 67-8,71-2, 74, 76-7, 82-3, 87, 92, 106, 110-11, 118; and most of the miscellaneous papers, Folders 145-162.
Ser. 5. Intercultural Education material, 1942-67, n.d.
Intercultural Education writings by RD1942, n.d.
Originally under the name "Ruth Davis." Includes “The Brown God,” guides and reports on Intercultural Education, notes on Lithuanians, and chapter drafts for book Americans All. “Service Bureau for Intercultural Education” pamphlet.
Ser. 6. Interfaith Relations material, 1970-91, n.d.
Interfaith Dialogue material and related correspondence 1973-84, n.d.
Also includes Interreligious Currents, Winter 1985, Winter/Spring 1988, and Fall 1990.
Interreligious Dialogue Group (Christians and Jews) notes, reports and essays, 1976-85
Also includes Homework for Jews, by Arthur Gilbert, n.d.
Interfaith and Jewish Relations material and related correspondence 1976-84, n.d.
Includes material and correspondence, 1976-1984, n.d.; miscellaneous correspondence, 1976-84 [Bulk: 1976-81]. Also includes removed articles from the New York Times.
Holocaust and Jewish Relations material and related correspondence1970-91, n.d.
Includes a publication by the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism (1990-91) and “Zionism, Judaism and Racism: A Study Guide,” a pamphlet by Balfour Brickner. Removed related news articles from the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor, 1980-88.
Ser. 7. Essays and notes, 1945-79, n.d.
Published writings, 1926-76
Essays and writings 1945, 1979, n.d.
Includes “An Experiment in Conscious Borrowing of Ethnic Cultural Patterns,” “Art of Group Conversation,” and excerpts from “Build Together Americans.”
Typescript for her autobiography, All This and Something More: Pioneering in Intercultural Education
See also many of the miscellaneous papers, Folders 145-163.
Section I. Includes some related correspondence
Section II: “Futurism, Quakerism and Me” 1978
See folder 24.
Pamphlets on Group Dialogue, the Service Bureau for Education, Workshop for Cultural Democracy, and Intercultural education 1927-34, n.d.
LP recordings of her radio program
“Americans All, Immigrants All.” Includes her 2nd Program, “Our English Heritage,” and her 13th program, “Jews in the U.S.”
Ser. 8. Logs and loose notes, 1925-87,, n.d.
Logs
Including work related a well as personal reflections.
1925-77, n.d. [Bulk: 1934-50]. Loose logs.
1933-53, n.d. Logs with letters and other material inserted.
1935-64, n.d. Loose notes and reflections.
1939-40, n.d. "Radio Journal, Series H.”
[1940?], n.d. "Mostly on Break, S. Bureau; Adamic Intro.”
1941-79, n.d. Loose notes and reflections.
Logs1942-54, n.d. [Bulk: 1952-3]
1952, n.d. "England,” and other European travels.
1952, n.d. "Cambridge.”
Logs1956, n.d.
[1958?]"Baptists take me to California to do [illegible] for local Quakers.”
1959 (Spring) "Southern Trip, The First Dialogue.”
1959. "Frogmore, Daytona Beach, D. C. Dialogue.”
2mo-3mo 1960"Quaker Dialogue Tour II, Mid-West.”
1960 (Fall) "Quaker Dialogue.”
"Mexico."
3mo-4mo/1961 "Quaker Dialogues, Tour III, S. West and California.”
1961"California Dialogue, AFSC stuff.”
6mo-9mo/1961 "Teenage Dialogue, etc”
1 Imo-12mo/1961 Dialogue reports
1/1962 "Southern Trip”
2mo-4mo/1962 "Quaker Dialogue”
1962 (Winter) "Eastern Seaboard Dialogue”
1962, n.d. "Notes on Science and Tech,” etc.
1962 (Fall) "Boston Trip”
Includes removed NY Times article from 1968.
1mo-2mo/1963 "NYC Dialogue S.”
5/1963 "South Central Yearly Meeting.”
9/1963 "Canadian Trip.”
1963 "Canada.”
1963 (Fall) "Virginia.”
1963 "Race Relations, FGC.”
Log1963-66, n.d.
Log1963-77, n.d.
Log1964 (Spring).
Also includes loose notes from 1982.
1964 (Spring) "Mid-West Log.”
8/1964, n.d. "Lake Erie Assoc. YM, Dialogue Training Ann Arbor, Canadian Friends Service Committee.”
1964, n.d. "Atlanta, Augusta,” etc.
1965 "Birmingham, SCLC Convention,” etc.
[2/1965?] "Atlanta 1; Notes: Murphy, Human Potentialities”
1965, n.d. "Birmingham.”
1965, n.d. "Atlanta, Reports, Interviews.”
1965, n.d. "Atlanta, Pre-Louisville Plans.”
1965-66, n.d. "Atlanta, Birmingham,” etc.
1966, n.d. "Louisville.”
1966. "Atlanta, Louisville”
1966. "Nashville, Louisville II, Mesterville, Columbus.”
1966, n.d. "Frogmore.”
1967-71, n.d. "Ideas for Earlham Black Studies,” etc.
8mo-11mo 1969. "Log for Europe.”
1969, n.d. "Log for Europe; quotes.”
1969-70. "Trip to 8 Countries.”
1969-72, n.d. "Earlham Report.”
1971 "Earlham; Wm. Penn exp.”
1972, n.d. "Ithaca; Quotes; Ecol gy,” etc.
Log1972-73, n.d.
1972-76, n.d. "Mainly Huxley quotes on dying; other quotes.”
1973-75, n.d. Includes “India Log, 1974-5.”
Notes marked “not clearly written but.. valuable.”
1975, n.d. "Pendle Hill, Middle East,” etc.
1977, n.d. "Quotes; Ethnicity; American Indians.”
Log1977-80, n.d.
Log1977-81, n.d.
Log1977-87, n.d.
Also includes a letter to RDD written in 1953.
Log1978, n.d.
1978, n.d. "Arts, Training NCCJ II, LIZ Gathering,” etc.
1978-79. "Ethnicity.”
Log1979-80, n.d.
1979-80, n.d. "Blending; Friends School; Japanese Tea.”
Log1981, n.d.
Log1983, n.d.
Log1987
With many references to past events, 1917-33
n.d. "German journal #2.”
n.d. "Nyack, NY.”
Logn.d.
n.d. "C.C.C.; quotes; poems; books.”
Includes article dated 1969
n.d. "HAAF and consultants in Group Conversation.”
“Topics for Early [Morning?]” 1948-74, n.d.
Includes logs and notes for topics.
Notes for speeches and articles 2/1977, n.d.
Includes undated rough unbound notes.
Part I.
Part II.
Ser. 9. Miscellaneous papers, 1920-93, n.d.
Photographs, n.d. mostly from her trip to Germany.
Checklist of RDD collection held at the Immigration Historical Research Center (material returned to RDD)n.d.
Reference material from folder marked “1986-1987”
Includes newspaper clippings and pamphlets, 1964-66, n.d. Articles without notes or comments were removed.
Papers regarding RDD's McCarthy hearing 6mo-7mo 1953, n.d.
Includes a chapter draft on the, hearing, the official transcript and RDD's statement on the hearing, preparation notes, and related correspondence with friends, senators and McCarthy. Some reference material removed (see folder).
Miscellaneous papers, 1920-1993, n.d.
Includes brochures, reports and educational materials.
Miscellaneous papers1939-75
Miscellaneous papers1976-81
Miscellaneous papers from "Box of material”
Miscellaneous papers1922-92, n.d. [Bulk: 1952-92]
Includes writings; workshop notes; biographies of RDD; copies of photos and correspondence by Susan Landgroff, 1981-92; 100th birthday articles and notes; and 1922 letter.
Miscellaneous papers1964-66, n.d.
Includes notes for workshops and lectures (particularly regarding civil rights), correspondence (including a letter to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), workshop reports and writings.
Miscellaneous papers 1920, 1934, and 1941-89, n.d.
Includes correspondence, 1942-88; “Notes in London,” 1920; memo by Mabel Carney, 1934; and writings by RDD regarding Intercultural Education, her various intergroup projects, and spirituality, 1941-89.
Miscellaneous papers, 1933-87, n.d.
Includes workshop information, clippings marked “Speech material” or otherwise annotated, correspondence, etc.
Miscellaneous papers 1934-85, n.d.
Includes notes and reports on projects, workshops, religion and teaching, 1939-84. Also includes genealogical information, articles written by and about RDD, and correspondence, 1934, 1976-85.
Miscellaneous papers1938-80, n.d.
Includes notes, correspondence, clippings, material for workshops, etc.
Miscellaneous papers 1938-93, n.d.
Includes correspondence, 1954-93, n.d., writings by and about RDD, 1938-72, n.d., and chapter drafts.
Miscellaneous papers 1941-88, n.d.
Includes notes, reports and responses to Group Conversation, Quaker Dialogue, Intercultural Education and Living Room Gatherings, 1941-84. Also includes information on Bayard Rustin, writings and notes (including the Germany trip) by RDD, 1950-76, and correspondence, 1982-88.
Miscellaneous papers 1941-89, n.d.
Includes Group Conversation material, 1964-86; correspondence, 1941-2, 1972-5 and 1985-9; reports on work and travel; Intercultural Education ideas; articles by RDD, 1942-77; and New York Friends Center publicity lists.
Miscellaneous papers 1944-90, n.d.
Includes correspondence, her published and unpublished essays, 1967-86, notes and workshop material. Also includes an obituary she wrote for Ann Yarrow, 1955.
Miscellaneous papers 1946-84, n.d.
Includes correspondence, notes and logs, articles regarding the Quaker Dialogue and Group Conversation projects, publicity material for her books and workshops, and various other articles by and about RDD.
Miscellaneous papers 1947-90, n.d.
Includes correspondence, 1948, 1961, 1976-90; writings on Quaker Dialogue, Community Dialogue, Workshop for Cultural Democracy, Living Room Gatherings; published articles by RDD; Report of Powell House International Search, 1968; etc.
Miscellaneous papers1955-81, n.d. [Bulk: 1972-81]
Includes correspondence with the University of Minnesota, 1972-73; notes and correspondence regarding the Intercultural Dialogue Groups and the Workshop for Cultural Democracy.
Miscellaneous papers 1960-88, n.d. [Bulk: 1980-88] .
Includes “Important” notes, articles, etc.
Miscellaneous papers 1961-89, n.d.
Includes correspondence, news clippings about RDD and articles that she marked as useful, essays by RDD on Group Conversation, Quaker Dialogue, Workshop for Cultural Democracy and other topics.
Miscellaneous papers 1962-84, n.d.
Includes correspondence, topics for Group Conversation and Quaker Dialogue, andfinancial matters of the FGC.
Miscellaneous papers 1967-75, n.d.
Includes material regarding the death of Benjamin Albert Botkin, RDD's writings on Group Conversation, and other material regarding RDD.
Loose item, [incense holder?]
Stored with relics collection.
Signed pamphlet on Langston Hughes n.d.
Loose pamphlets1930, 1947
Includes “Survey of the Friends Meeting, Woodstown, NJ,” 1930, by Wilbur K. Thomas; “Friends World Conference, 1937: Report of Commission 1. The Spiritual Message of the Religious Society of Friends”; and “The Realness of Witchcraft in America” 1947, by A. Monroe Aurand, Jr.
Photocopy of cover and inscription of book, Old Meeting Houses, by John Russell Hayes, which was dedicated to Rachel D. DuBois