Window of the Cascade Locks Chapel designed by Kemper Nomland, CPS Camp 21. Background Civilian Public Service (CPS) was set up to provide alternative service for conscientious objectors during World War II. This unique church-state partnership established a program in which over 12,000 men performed "work of national importance" primarily in camps administered by the historic peace churches (the Brethren, Friends, and Mennonites). Lewis & Clark College Special Collections has extensive holdings that document the World War II CPS experience, in particular camps in the Pacific Northwest including Cascade Locks Oregon (Camp 21), Waldport Oregon (Camp 56), Fort Steilacoom Washington (Camp 51), and Buckley Washington (Camp 95). The collections include original publications, manuscripts, photographs, artwork, and oral histories.

Special Collections Civilian Public Service Holdings

This collection contains the following:

• The Papers of Kermit Sheets (conscientious objector, writer, actor, and printer interned at Waldport, Oregon). SEE FINDING AID FOR THE SHEETS COLLECTION.

• The Henry and Mary Blocher Collection of Civilian Public Service Photographs (photographs of Camp 51 Fort Steilacoom, Camp 21 Cascade Locks, and Camp 95 Buckley, Washington). VIEW SELECT IMAGES FROM THE BLOCHER COLLECTION.
SEE COMPLETE FINDING AID FOR THE BLOCHER COLLECTION.

• The Manche Langley Harvey Oral History Collection including recollections of CPS 56 at Waldport, Oregon, conducted by Eliza Jones in 2004.
SEE COMPLETE FINDING AID FOR THE MANCHE LANGLEY HARVEY COLLECTION.

• Waldport, Oregon Camp 56 Oral History Project Collection (conducted in 2003 by Siuslaw National Forest and the Portland State University History Department). SEE FINDING AID FOR THE WALDPORT CAMP 56 ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION. under construction.

Oregon CPS Oral History Collection (interviews conducted by Dave Werschkul in the early 1990s). SEE FINDING AID FOR THE OREGON CPS ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION. under construction.

• Kemper Nomland Collection of CPS Artwork. VIEW NOMLAND ARTWORK.
SEE COMPLETE NOMLAND COLLECTION FINDING AID.

• CPS Camp Newsletter Collection. SEE DIGITAL COLLECTION OF CPS NEWSLETTERS.
SEE COMPLETE FINDING AID FOR CPS NEWSLETTER COLLECTION.

• Walport Camp 56 Fine Arts Publications Collection. SEE FINDING AID FOR FINE ARTS PUBLICATIONS COLLECTION. under construction.

• Book Collection Relating to Pacifism and the CPS Experience. SEE FINDING AID FOR GENERAL PACIFISM COLLECTION. under construction.

• Miscellaneous Collected Materials Relating to CPS. SEE FINDING AID. under construction.