Inventory of the Arthur Jost Papers, 1945-1998

Processed by Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Gabriela A. Montoya
Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies
Fresno Pacific University
1717 S. Chestnut Avenue
Fresno, California, 93702
Phone: (559) 453-2225
Fax: (559) 453-2124
Email: kennsrem@fresno.edu
URL: http://sunthree.fresno.edu/affiliation/cmbs
© 1999
Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies. All rights reserved.

Inventory of the Arthur Jost Papers, 1945-1998

Record Group No.: M24

Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, California

Contact Information:

  • Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies
  • Fresno Pacific University
  • 1717 S. Chestnut Avenue
  • Fresno, California, 93702
  • Phone: (559) 453-2225
  • Fax: (559) 453-2124
  • Email: kennsrem@fresno.edu
  • URL: http://sunthree.fresno.edu/affiliation/cmbs
Processed by:
Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies staff
Encoded by:
Gabriela A. Montoya
© 1999 Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Arthur Jost Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1945-1998
Record Group No: M24
Creator: Jost, Arthur, 1918-
Extent: 0.45 linear ft.
Repository: Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies (Fresno, Calif.).
Fresno, California
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Arthur Jost Papers, M24, Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Fresno, Calif.

Biography

Arthur Jost was born 10 October 1918 in Flowing Well, Saskatchewan. In 1927 he moved with his family to the United States and settled in Reedley, California. Jost became a member of the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church.
During World War II Jost registered as a conscientious objector and served approximately four years in the Civilian Public Service Program. Following his discharge from CPS, Jost was instrumental in organizing Kings View Hospital, a mental hospital in Reedley, California.
In 1950 Jost applied for United States citizenship in Fresno, California. Naturalization authorities there rejected his application because they were not satisfied that his refusal to bear arms in defense of the Constitution was based on religious training and belief, as required by law. Jost appealed the decision in the courts. His appeal was rejected by the California Superior and Appellate Courts, and the California Supreme Court refused to hear the case. The Supreme Court of the United States, however, overturned the rulings of the lower courts in 1954. Numerous technicalities prevented Jost from receiving his citizenship until more than a year later. One of Jost's attorneys before the Supreme Court was former U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson.
Jost continued to serve in various leadership positions within Kings View Hospital and Kings View Foundation until 1990, when he and his wife moved to Columbus, Ohio. While living on the West Coast Jost was active in the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. He was chairman of the board of Fresno Pacific College from 1979 to 1986 and a member of that board from 1986 to 1990. He also served on the Coordinating Board of the PDC (1979-1986), the Social Concerns Committee (1989-1990), the Spiritual Ministry Committee (1955-1956), the Spiritual Welfare for Service Units Committee (1951-1954) and the Welfare and Public Relations Committee (1949-1961). Arthur Jost died in 1999.

Scope and Content

This record group contains correspondence, 1949-1962; court transcripts and other legal documents, 1952-1955; clippings, 1953-1956; and telegrams, 1955, related to Jost's application for citizenship and the legal appeal process. It also contains papers presented by Jost at various conferences on the topic of mental healthcare, 1945-1998; articles written by Jost on the topic of mental healthcare or by others about Kings View Hospital, 1950-1998; correspondence relating to mental healthcare issues, 1967-1998; and government testimony by Jost and appointments relating to mental healthcare, 1969-1974.

Organization and Arrangement of the Collection

This record group is organized into two series:
Title: I. Materials relating to the Arthur Jost Citizenship Case, 1949-1962;
Title: II. Material relating to mental healthcare, 1945-1998.

 

Series I. Materials relating to the Arthur Jost Citizenship case

 

Correspondence, 1949-1962

 

Telegrams, 1952-1955

 

Court documents

 

Fourth Appellate District, State of California, Aug. 1952-May 1953

 

Supreme Court of the State of California, June 1953

 

Supreme Court of the United States, Sep. 1953-Jan. 1954

 

Superior Court of the State of California, Mar. 1954-Apr. 1955

 

Draft of Amicus Brief by Richard W. Petherbridge, undated

 

Clippings, 1952-1956

 

Series II. Materials relating to mental healthcare

 

Conference presentations by Arthur Jost, 1945-1998

 

Published articles, 1950-1998

 

Correspondence, 1967-1998

 

Government testimony and appointments, 1969-1974