Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- America First Committee and Armstrong, Eunice Burton, 1887-
- Abstract:
- Correspondence, memoranda, notes, bulletins, newsletters, clippings, other printed matter, mailing lists, and address cards relating to the efforts of the America First Committee to ensure American neutrality during World War II. Includes issuances of, and correspondence with, other peace organizations.
- Extent:
- 5 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 2 card file boxes, 1 oversize folder (5.8 Linear Feet)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Eunice Burton Armstrong papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Correspondence, memoranda, notes, bulletins, newsletters, clippings, other printed matter, mailing lists, and address cards relating to the efforts of the America First Committee to ensure American neutrality during World War II and other anti-war campaigns.
The collection contains newsletters and printed matter published by the America First Committee, as well as materials from other peace and womens' organizations, including: the National Council for the Prevention of War (NCPW), the People's Lobby, Women Investors in America, Women Patriots of the Republic, Women United to Preserve America, Silver Star Mothers, and We, the Mothers, Mobilize for America.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Eunice Burton Armstrong was born in 1887 in Waterford, New York. She received a BA in English from Mt. Holyoke College, Massachusetts in 1908 and an MA in economics, social legislation and psychology from Columbia University in 1912. Armstrong finished her post-graduate education at the New York School of Social Work and later became a psychologist. Her career included teaching, writing, and speaking on womens' suffrage, public health, and psychology. Armstrong married Donald Budd Armstrong, a physician, in 1913. They raised four sons, Donald Budd, Jr., Stewart, Lincoln, and Burton.
Armstrong was assistant editor of the Archives of Psychoanalysis and performed research for the Encyclopedia of Social Forces. In addition to her professional writing, Armstrong became involved with writing editorials for small town newspapers. She also wrote publicity for the amendment to the Selective Service Act prohibiting use of drafted men outside the United States.
Armstrong's work experience also included performing taxation and housing studies, as well as serving as a New York State Factory Inspector (1910-1913). As field director of the New York City Department of Welfare, Armstrong was in charge of 140 inspectors who were investigating orphan asylums. She later was a consultant psychologist for school and private patients for 15 years.
Armstrong became Educational Director of the America First Committee's New York Chapter in 1941. The America First Committee was a non-interventionist, political pressure group that existed from 1940 to 1941, urging the United States government not to enter World War II. Armstrong's other affiliations included the Massachusetts Suffrage Committee, the Westchester Planned Parenthood League, and the District Nursing Association (Ossining, New York).
- Acquisition information:
- Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2011.
- Arrangement:
-
Files are grouped according to Armstrong's original file system. Un-filed materials were placed in existing groupings and filed chronologically, then alphabetically. For ease of use, the bulk of the mailing labels have been separated and placed in boxes 8 and 9.
- Physical location:
- Hoover Institution Library & Archives
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
- Terms of access:
-
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Eunice Burton Armstrong papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
- Location of this collection:
-
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford UniversityStanford, CA 94305-6003, US
- Contact:
- (650) 723-3563