Immel, Wilder V. (nuclear bomb protest scrapbook), 1945-1985, bulk Bulk, 1945

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Summary

Title:
Wilder V. Immel '35 World War II Atomic Bomb Protest Scrapbook, 1945-1985
Dates:
1945-1985, bulk Bulk, 1945
Creators:
Immel '35, Wilder V., 1906-1987
Abstract:
A scrapbook documenting the protest of the dropping of the nuclear weapons on Japan during World War II by a San Francisco preacher during the war.
Containers:
Box: 1
Extent:
1.0 Linear feet 1 scrapbook
Language:
The majority of the collection is in English
Preferred citation:

[identify item], Wilder V. Immel '35 World War II Atomic Bomb Protest Scrapbook, 1945-1985 (2009.55.r), Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This is a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and letters regarding Immel, who protested the dropping of the atomic bombs during WWII.

Box 1 Scrapbook, A Preacher Protests the Atomic Bombing 1945

24 Leaves, sleeved

Ephemera, loose, relating to Immel's protest.

Biographical / historical:

Wilder V. Immel, 1906-1987, a member of the 1935 class of Chapman College, served as a Disciples of Christ minister in Sacramento, California, affiliated with the Disciples of Christ. His ministry began on December 7, 1941, coinciding with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. After the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, Immel wrote to the editor of the Sacramento Bee, a local perodical, protesting the bombing. His letter was published on August 13, setting off a storm of debate over the "atomic bomb question". Immel continued in his ministry until 1971. After Immel's death in 1987, Harmon Wilkinson donated money in his name for the Wilder and Mary Immel Scholarship, awarded to those students in Peace Studies. Protest against World War II and the use of the atomic bomb was rare, but still a major part of American sentiment about the war. Though the majority of Americans supported use of the bomb, particularly after the war came to an end, there were a few who felt that the bomb would bring more ill than good. Many understood the dangerous possibilities that came with the atomic bomb, possibilities which would come to haunt Americans from that moment forth. Others, many of them clergy such as Immel, felt that use of the bomb against civilian populations was tantamount to the Nazi slaughter that had just been uncovered.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Clarice Friedline '52
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged as it was received from the donor.

Physical location:
Leatherby Libraries
Physical description:
Scrapbook has detached covers and heavily acidified paper.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Sarah Ganderup '10
Date Prepared:
02/09/2010
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2011-06-10T13:24-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on the use of this material.

Preferred citation:

[identify item], Wilder V. Immel '35 World War II Atomic Bomb Protest Scrapbook, 1945-1985 (2009.55.r), Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Location of this collection:
One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866, US
Contact:
(714) 532-7719
speccoll@chapman.edu
Website