Quaker Brotherhood: Interracial Activism and the American Friends Service Committee, 1917-1950

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments A monograph is the product of many people, even when the book jacket reflects a single author, and I am hard pressed to thank appropriately the many who have played important roles in shaping this book. First, I must thank all of those at the University of Illinois Press who have played a role in this process, especially Laurie Matheson, who has guided another book to publication, and Kate Babbitt, who skillfully edited the manuscript. A number of scholars have read and commented on sections of what follows, offering useful suggestions that have improved the final product. While any such listing will, I’m sure, miss too many along the way, I must thank Quaker historians Stephen Angell, Jerry Frost, and Thomas Hamm (as well as an anonymous outside reader) for helping to shape a more wellrounded manuscript. I have also relied (perhaps too) heavily on local scholars and friends, including Justin Nordstrom, who bravely read the entirety of my earliest draft and offered formative feedback; Patrick Hamilton , whose comments and good humor picked me up repeatedly along the way; and Becky Steinberger, who continues to read whatever I offer, no matter how far afield. Attendees at past meetings of the Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists have also gone out of their way to provide help and support, with Emma Lapsansky-Werner and David Hostetter, among others, providing especially helpful suggestions and leads. In addition , Tom Davis and attendees at an Indiana University–Purdue University at Indianapolis seminar that examined religious philanthropies helped shape the final version of my work on the AFSC in the 1930s. Finally, Charles Cherry, anonymous outside readers at Quaker History, Jill Ogline x Acknowledgments Titus, and Tracy K’Meyer provided help in shaping my earliest work and my outlook on the AFSC and interracial activism. Archivists have been especially helpful, too. At the American Friends Service Committee, I began this project with Jack Sutters, who asked hard questions that helped shape this book, and ended it with Don Davis, who has made my work as easy as he could. Both made my long archival visits to Philadelphia enjoyable and efficient. Christopher Densmore and Susanna K. Morikawa provided cheerful and instructive aid at the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College. Chris went above and beyond repeatedly in assisting me, and I appreciate very much my conversations with him about Quaker historiography as well as his comments on an early chapter draft. In addition to the significant help of such colleagues, this book was made possible by essential financial and moral support from Misericordia University. The committees for faculty research and faculty development have been consistently and generously supportive, providing funds for research travel and course release. In addition, such grants allowed for student research assistants, and I offer my sincerest thanks to Carmie Del Pizzo, Megan Motto, Paul Fetzer, and Brian Dorshefski, all of whom carried out a wide range of tasks, often mundane, with good cheer and efficiency. My colleagues in the History Department, especially its chair, David Wright, have been there for me, too, whenever asked, as have Joe Curran and Russ Pottle, deans of the College of Arts and Sciences. While in Philadelphia, Cathy Turner and Gordon Witty (and later Robby, too), were often terrific hosts, going out of their way to find time to get together and break up the monotony of extended research trips. As I wrote the final draft, the Athletics Department at Misericordia also found ways to distract me from overwork, and I would be remiss if I did not thank Dave Martin, Chuck Edkins, and Trevor Woodruff for reminding me to laugh every once in a while, even when I felt too busy to do so. Finally, of course, I offer my deepest thanks to family and friends who have gone through this process with me. Books take on lives of their own, and my family has been all too patient with me over the past five years as this project became a part of our lives (and an increasingly cluttered dining room table). Vicki has been constantly helpful and always willing to find ways to make my research travels and writing work. Her enduring love and support, from graduate school through this project, have enabled me to accomplish more than I thought possible. Bobby and Hope have also put up with the unconventional hours (upon hours) required Acknowledgments xi to complete this book...