Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Small Histories during World War II, Letter Writing, and Family History Methodology

233 Pages·2021·11.459 MB·English

by  Suzanne Kesler Rumsey

Blessed Are
the Peacemakers

Blessed Are
the Peacemakers
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WWoorrlldd WWaarr IIII,, LLeetttteerr WWrriittiinngg,,
aanndd FFaammiillyy HHiissttoorryy MMeetthhooddoollooggyy
SSuuzzaannnnee KKeesslleerr RRuummsseeyy
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA PRESS
Tuscaloosa
The University of Alabama Press
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487- 0380
uapress.ua.edu
Copyright © 2021 by the University of Alabama Press
All rights reserved.
Inquiries about reproducing material from this work should be
addressed to the University of Alabama Press.
Typeface: Adobe Garamond
Cover images: Photograph and postcard from the family
of Ben and Miriam Kesler; courtesy of the author
Cover design: Lori Lynch
Cataloging- in- Publication data is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN: 978- 0- 8173- 2090- 4
E- ISBN: 978- 0- 8173- 9348- 9
To the Tribe of Benjamin: brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, grandkids,
great- grandkids, great- great- grandkids, first cousins, second cousins,
and I think we’re approaching third cousins. This is for all of us.

Contents
List of Figures ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
Chapter 1. Conduit and Platform 9
Chapter 2. Beginnings (Early Life) 21
Chapter 3. Conscription, Nonresistance, and Civilian Public Service 35
Chapter 4. Leaving and Nesting 43
Chapter 5. Ben’s Work and Camp Life at Sideling Hill 60
Chapter 6. Miriam’s Story—the First Six Months 76
Chapter 7. Finances and Interpersonal Conflicts 96
Chapter 8. The Holidays 111
Chapter 9. Transition to Rhode Island 121
Chapter 10. Archives, Family History, and the Personal 134
Chapter 11. Conditions of the State Hospital in 1943 145
Chapter 12. Daily Life at the State Hospital 168
Chapter 13. Finances and More Conflicts 180
Conclusion 191
Notes 199
Bibliography 207
Index 211

Figures
1. Ben and Miriam on their wedding day, April 5, 1942 34
2. Ben’s draft card 36
3. Ben’s first postcard to Miriam after departing for CPS work, 1942 47
4. A view of CPS Camp #20, Wells Tannery, Pennsylvania, 1942 63
5. Residential cabin at CPS Camp #20 66
6. Laborers at CPS Camp #20 68
7. Laborers at CPS Camp #20 planting trees 69
8. Chorus of CPS Camp #20 75
9. Postcard sent by Ben on his travels to Goshen, Indiana, 1943 129
10. Postcard Ben sent from Toledo, Ohio, 1943 130
11. Postcard Ben sent from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1943 130
12. Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases,
CPS Camp #85, 1944 138
13. Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases, 2017 139
14. Miriam serving food at CPS Camp #85 158
15. Medical treatment agreement 160