Camp Midvale/Nature Friends of America Oral History Collection
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Abstract
Camp Midvale, located near Ringwood, New Jersey, was purchased by the Nature Friends of America in 1930. The U.S. branch of this organization was founded by German-American socialists and trade unionists in 1910 to provide workers with outdoor recreational opportunities. Interviewees describe life at the camp, hiking and other activities, the immigrant experience, and political activities. The collection's thirty-five interviews were conducted by Andy Lanset and were used to create the radio documentary "Camp Midvale: An Oral History," which is also included in the collection. Indexes are available for many interviews.
Historical/Biographical Note
Camp Midvale, located in Ringwood, New Jersey, was one of 400 camps worldwide established by the Nature Friends, whose U.S. branch had been founded in 1910 by German-American socialists and trade unionists. The organization's goals were to preserve wildlife and to provide workers with affordable outdoor recreation. Camp Midvale's 150 acres, with a clubhouse and hiking trails, was purchased in 1930 and served as a hub for Nature Friends' activities on the East Coast.
Nature Friends offered a political perspective, combining ecological "nature love" with progressive sympathies. "Fascist convictions" were outlawed in their by-laws. Hikers raised funds for such causes as the Scottsboro Boys, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, the Committee for the Protection of the Foreign Born, the Committee to Release the Rosenbergs, and the civil rights movement. Placed on the Attorney General's list of subversive organizations in 1947, Nature Friends saw its members severely harassed. Camp Midvale was given to the Ethical Culture Society in 1968 in hope that it would be preserved as an ecological retreat.
Camp Midvale, located in Ringwood, New Jersey, was one of 400 camps worldwide established by the Nature Friends whose U.S. branch had been founded in 1910 by German-American socialists and trade unionists. The organization's goals were to preserve wildlife and to provide workers with affordable outdoor recreation. Camp Midvale's 150 acres, with a clubhouse and hiking trails, was purchased in 1930 and served as a hub for Nature Friends' activities on the East Coast.
Nature Friends offered a political perspective, combining ecological "nature love" with progressive sympathies. "Fascist convictions" were outlawed in their by-laws. Hikers raised funds for such causes as the "Scottsboro Boys", the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, the Committee for the Protection of the Foreign Born, the Committee to Release the Rosenbergs, and the civil rights movement. Placed on the Attorney General's list of "subversive organizations" in 1947, Nature Friends saw its members severely harassed. Camp Midvale was given to the Ethical Culture Society in 1968 in hope that it would be preserved as an ecological retreat.
Arrangement
Collection arranged alphabetically by interviewee surname.
Scope and Contents note
Oral history interviews conducted by Andy Lanset, freelance radio producer and oral historian, with funding from the New Jersey Historical Commission in 1987 and 1988. Interviews document the scope of Nature Friends' activities. The resulting one hour documentary program was broadcast on WBAI, WFMU, WFUV in 1988, entitiled "Camp Midvale: An Oral History", which is also included. All interviews are open for research and many have indexes.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Content open to users without restriction. Entire collection has been digitized. Researchers must use access compact disks.
Use Restrictions
Copyright held by Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 998-2630
Fax: (212) 995-4225
E-mail: tamiment.wagner@nyu.edu
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date; Camp Midvale/Nature Friends of America Oral History Collection; OH015; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Andy Lanset.
About this Guide
Processing information
Interviews originally recorded on cassette. Entire collection digitzed in 2011-2012 to create digital preservation masters and access compact disks.
