Nova Scotia Committee to Aid American War Objectors, MS-10-7 A Guide to the Archives of Nova Scotia Committee to Aid American War Objectors Prepared by Joanna Bair and Kathryn Harvey 2005 Dalhousie University Archives
5th Floor Killam Library, 6225 University Ave., Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4H8

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Draft resisters

January 2007KAH: added prefercite amd corpname elements, subject heading The Archives of Nova Scotia Committee to Aid American War Objectors: A Guide Dalhousie University Archives Collection Number: MS-10-7 Collection processed and finding aid created by Joanna Bair, April 2004 Finding aid edited and electronic version prepared by Kathryn Harvey, August 2005 Collection Level Description Nova Scotia Committee to Aid American War Objectors fonds 1962–1976 25 cm of textual records Administrative History

The Nova Scotia Committee to Aid American War Objectors (NSCAAWO) was formed in 1970 with the main objective of providing information and support for American 'draft-dodgers' attempting to emigrate to Canada. The Nova Scotia Committee to Aid American War Objectors also assisted newcomers integrate into Canadian society by helping them obtain employment and housing. Richard Lind, a Dalhousie student, was the primary contact person and organizer throughout NSCAAWO's existence.

Some of the organizational activities such as counselling were performed in the Chaplain’s office at Dalhousie University. In addition to counselling, the Committee mounted both awareness and fundraising campaigns. The Nova Scotia Committee to Aid American War Objectors maintained strong affiliations with several groups, most notably the Halifax Friends (Quakers)--running a 'Friends House' that offered temporary accommodations to new immigrants--the Toronto Anti-Draft Programme, and the Canadian Coalition of War Objectors.

The organization also used the name Halifax Committee to Aid War Resistors beginning in 1972. The organization became inactive in 1975.

Custodial History

The collection was in the custody of Richard Lind, the director of the Nova Scotia Committee to Aid American War Objectors, until it was donated to the archives in 1978.

 Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

 Scope and Content

The fonds consists primarily of correspondence (1970-1974). Other materials include documents regarding American draft laws, Canadian immigration laws and counselling notes on immigrants. Administrative records (1970-1974) include press releases, financial documents and newspaper clippings.

 Arrangement

The arrangement structure has been imposed by the archivist since the materials came in with no logical order.

 Access Restrictions

All records are open.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Nova Scotia Committee to Aid American War Objectors fonds, MS-10-7, Box [box number], Folder [folder number], Dalhousie University Archives and Special Collections, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

 Combined Series and File Level Descriptions Administrative Records Administrative Records 1970-1974 4 cm of textual records Scope and Content

Material in this series includes press releases, financial documents, newspaper advertisements taken out by NSCAAWO, and notes regarding the counsel given to draft-dodgers.

 Arrangement

The series is arranged alphabetically by type of record.

 File Level Descriptions 1.5 Communications with the press, community and affiliated organizations 1970-1974 2.2 Counselling records 1970-1972 2.1 Financial documents 1972-1974 Correspodnence Correspodnence 1970-1976 7 cm of textual records Scope and Content

The bulk of this series is correspondence from Americans requesting information on emigration to Canada. Some replies are attached. Also included in this series is the personal correspondence of the director Richard Lind and a series of letters from G. E. Amenta, an American facing deportation from Canada.

 Arrangement

The series is arranged chronologically according to the type of correspondence.

 File Level Descriptions 1.6 Personal correspondence 1970-1976 2.7 Organizational correspondence 1970-1974 2.3 Requests for help or information on how to emigrate 1970 2.4 Requests for help or information on how to emigrate 1971 2.5 Requests for help or information on how to emigrate 1972 2.6 Requests for help or information on how to emigrate 1973-1974 2.8 Correspondence with Amenta, G.E. 1974 Draft Counselling Records Draft Counselling Records 1968-1972 4 cm of textual records Scope and Content

This series includes notes and records from a 1972 conference on counselling draft-dodgers. Other materials include directories for organizations involved in aiding and counselling draft-dodgers.

 Arrangement

This series is arranged chronologically.

 File Level Descriptions 2.10 Counselling material 1968-1972 2.9 Notes, counselling material, and correspondence 1971-1972 2.11 Directories ca. 1971 Immigration Reference Materials Immigration Reference Materials 1962-1974 10 cm of textual records Scope and Content

This series consists of material relating to immigration law and practices in Canada during the Vietnam War.

 Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

 File Level Descriptions 1.3 Canadian Immigration Acts 1962-1973 1.1 Department of Manpower and Immigration publications 1967-1971 1.4 Newspaper clippings 1969-1977 1.2 Various organizations that aided American draft-dodgers 1968-1973

Includes fact sheets and interpretations of Canadian immigration policies.