GLEN D. CAMP Jr. Correspondence

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Students
Series 19: STUDENTS
Glen D. Camp Jr., Student 1943-1945
Glen D. Camp Jr. Correspondence 1943-1947

Joe Bramlett Album – Students: Boys at the School, c. 1945-1946. (Photo by Arthur Dodd) [bram_-52.jpg]


TAGS: Glen D. Camp Jr., correspondence, boarding students, teachers, Alice Joy Keith, student applications, student autobiographies, Glen D. Camp Sr., Arthur W. Dodd, Burton Rogers, Hendy Iron Works, rations books, sugar stamps, counselors, student self-evaluation letters


GLEN D. CAMP Jr. Correspondence, 1943-1947

PMSS Boarding Student, September 1943 – May 1945

CONTENTS: Glen D. Camp Jr. Correspondence

[Note: All letters from PMSS staff are carbon copies, typewritten, unsigned and meant for the Office files. All other letters are handwritten. Some of the work reports and student evaluations by teachers were typed and others were handwritten. The following list of contents is in chronological order and not necessarily in order of the image numbers.]

1943

[001] July 31, 1943. STUDENT APPLICATION BLANK with handwritten entries.
Born in New Bedford, MA, on June 17, 1930. Last attended school at LaJolla, California. Ready to enter eighth grade.
Father: Glen D. Camp Sr. – physicist. Mother: Nyle Camp.
Names of three references are provided, including Mrs. Alice Joy Keith, Campbell, CA.

[002] through [002d] Student Application, continued; MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
[002, p. 1] Lived in La Jolla, CA, for one year; previously San Francisco, CA.
Father: Glen D. Camp Sr., 38 years old; born in California; has an advanced degree.
Mother’s maiden name; Nyle Pfiefer, 29 years old, born in California; college graduate; 
[002a, p. 2] His mother was a teacher before marriage; was a painter. 
Glen Jr. has 1 brother, Thomas Camp, age 4; and 1 sister. Sandra Camp, age 1. Grandmother, Mrs. Nellie Thompson, also lives in his home.
[002b, p. 3] Reads Boy’s Life, Wee Wisdom, Reader’s Digest, Saturday Evening Post. Would like to attend college.
[002c, p. 4] Has earned money as a paperboy and in the garden.
Likes to: To play ping-pong and swim; do carpenter work, read (fiction, travel, instruction adventure).
Favorite studies: Social Science, Crafts, Ph. Ed., English, Music.
Future occupation: Draftsman, paratrooper.
[002d, p. 5] Belongs to: Boy Scouts, Ping-Pong Club, Cub Scouts

[003] through [003f] HOME AND PARENTS RECORD. [003, p. 1] Father, age 39, born in Sacramento, CA; education BS, MA, Ph.D.; physicist; has lived in present community 1 year; previously lived in San Francisco, CA, for 7 years and Deep Springs, CA, for 2 years. Mother; Nyle Thompson, age 33, born in Mediapolis, Iowa; education BA.
[003a, p. 2] Mother’s occupation before marriage: Social Service Worker. Previously lived in San Francisco, CA for 7 years, then Chicago, IL for 4 years. Other children: Thomas, age 4, and Sandra, age 1, both in pre-school.
[003b, p. 3] Grandmother: Nellie Thompson. Family recreations: Radio, music, reading, swimming, picnics. 200 books in home.
[003c, p. 4] Parent describes the home they live in, which has a sewing machine, washing machine and vacuum cleaner. Washing is done by outside help.
[003d, p. 5] General description of home: “Crowded, inadequate — we are living in an area congested by influx of war workers, and I am here as a war research worker only for the duration.” Yard: “very small…a Victory Garden. We also have a large Victory Garden on a vacant lot.”
[003e, p. 6] PHYSICAL DATA, EDUCATIONAL DATA. Glen’s attitude towards school: “Enthusiastic — particularly enjoys shop, mechanical drawing, metal craft and similar subjects.” Are you planning to send him to college? “He must take part in choice.” For how long? “As long as he seems to be profiting by it — perhaps including graduate work.”
[003f, p. 7] INTERESTS. “Read, listen to radio, make things … camp out, swim, hike, fish.” Are there any things he would like to do very much that you do not want him to do? “Yes — diving for abalone, riding a surf board, camp out alone.
PARENT’S OCCUPATIONAL PREFERENCE FOR CHILD. “I would like him to learn as much as possible about various occupations so that he may choose wisely.” Would you like him to live in the city, town, or country? “No preference — wherever he feels he can lead a useful and happy life.”

[004] through [004c]. July 11, 1943. To Mr. [Arthur W.] Dodd from Alice Joy Keith, [004, p. 1] who will be sending a “sheaf of last-minute impressions & suggestions for curriculum committee for next year [written] during the weeks before & following graduation….” Asks Dodd and Mr. [Burton] Rogers consider a place next fall for “a young friend of mine, Glen D. Camp, Jr., a boy who needs very badly what Pine Mountain has to offer and who, I think, would be a credit to us in the end.” Provides Glen’s address in La Jolla, CA. [004a] “I’m drafting on turbines in the Hendy Iron Works…. It’s a delightful job in a very fine organization with congenial associates.”
[004b, p. 2] “Confidential note to Mr. Rogers about my young friend, Glen D. Camp, Jr.” Alice Joy Keith tells the story about young Glen’s life. His father, Dr. Glen Darwin Camp is an employee of the University of California radio research laboratory at La Jolla, CA. “His mother, a lovely artist, daughter of a Presbyterian minister in Berkeley, died suddenly, three years ago, of cancer.” This shock had adversely affected both father and son but both were very close. The father married a second time to “a very fine and understanding woman [who] has built up the boy’s health and quieted him considerably.” The stepmother eventually had two children of her own and saw that [004c, p. 3] she could no longer adequately attend to “Glennie.” When Alice Joy Keith offered to take him to PMSS, they were very interested. She describes him further and asked that a place at PMSS be saved for him. “He needs Pine Mountain seriously.”

[005] July 21, 1943. To Mrs. Alice Joy Keith in Sunnyvale, CA, from [unsigned, apparently, Dodd], who thanks her for her letter of July 11. Mentions his telegram, bean canning, Hendy, and Mr. Webb, who is taking a woodworking course at the University of Tennessee. Has a heavier load of student applications than in the past 6 years: 75 on the active waiting list. The Camp boy’s odds may be against him, “in the light of local area pressure…the new Woodworking instructor has 3 children and 2 are of high school age. This should contribute in a small way to the desirable fusion of cultures and experiences.”

The School still needs a dietician, bookkeeper and Far House house mother; “Mr. Pinkey (sic) [Roland F. Pinke] is going to take a class in auto-mechanics.” Asks Keith for suggestions for the school program; “Mr. Webb is planning to work as your assistant in the Biology class.”

[006] August 6, 1943. To Mr. Rogers from Alice Joy Keith. Encloses Glen’s questionnaires which Glen asked her to review. “…I would not have him take the place of a mountain boy …but, too, we always have admitted boys from other high school territory where we feel they will especially profit by our peculiar advantages; and it is with these that I wish Glen to compete in your consideration for a place. He has a fine heredity & cultural background but is handicapped now in many ways. I feel that with the right boost right now, in emotional and social adjustment, he will come through into a citizen to be proud of.”

She writes about her time in California: “Hendy’s work is pure fun, but I try to crowd in ranch work mornings & evenings, and that makes a full day.”

[007], [007a] August 15, 1943. Two-page letter to Mr. Rogers from Keith. [007, p.1] She writes how much it means to her that Glen would be accepted by PMSS, stating that Glen “is, in a figurative sense, my grandson.” Glen Sr., an orphan working on a highway bulldozer at age 16, was befriended by Alice’s adopted son who then had brought the friend to Alice for “mothering.” The boys attended college together and Alice was “still mothering at a distance. Glen Sr., Dr. Camp, has been a very dear son to me ever since. I nursed little Glen through his infancy. And so it means much to me that the father turned to me in this critical time of his son’s life….”
[007a, p.2] “…when this reaches you I’ll be deep in irrigation, one of the last big jobs remaining to be done here. Drafting at Hendy’s [Hendy Iron Works] is the play part of my day — morning & evening at home the real work comes.”

[008] August 20, 1943. To Mrs. Keith from [unsigned, possibly Dodd]. The Entrance Committee, having received her subsequent letters with additional information, has “decided to invite Glen to come.” Mr. Rogers will write to Glen Jr. about this decision. “The Committee felt that you were already aware of all the risks involved.…” He then writes about “curriculum matters,” mentioning Mr. Webb and Miss [Edith] Cold. Mentions two articles in Fortune magazine about Hendy Iron Works. 

 [009] August 21, 1943. To Mrs. Keith from [unsigned, possibly Mr. Rogers], who explains the decision-making concerning Glen Camp; that he would not only take a mountain boy’s place, but questioned “whether Pine Mountain would be as good for Glen, so far from home and his accustomed surroundings….” However, her second letter added more important considerations. He hopes the School will be good for Glen and added, “It ought to be good for us to have him here to do his bit, unconsciously of course, to off-set some of our provincialism.” He has sent an invitation and information to Glen and welcomes her back, accompanied by Glen.

[010] August 21, 1943. To Glen D. Camp Jr., La Jolla, CA, from [unsigned – Dodd?], Counselor, inviting him to “become a member of the Pine Mountain family in September.” Provides the School’s opening and Vesper service dates; asks him to send entrance fee and breakage deposit and to bring rations books and sugar stamps. Advises about clothing; encloses a medical examination blank and a dentist’s certificate form.

[013], [013a] N.D. Two-page letter to Mr. Rogers from Alice Joy Keith in Campbell, CA, [013, p.1] who anxiously awaits the School’s decision on accepting “Glennie.” She asks Rogers to ask Mrs. Brit Wilder, Mrs. Henry Creech, and Mrs. Columbus C[reech] if they will let Glen stay with them for cash or work until a place opens at the School due to drop-outs. [013a, p.2] She will be leaving Campbell, CA, on August 31 after Glen arrives from San Diego, 500 miles away. Typewritten note at end of letter: “Telegram sent August 27th: ‘Glen accepted boarder’” with handwritten note: “Please connect [?] last school bus Friday.”

[011] December 30, 1943. To Dr. Glen D. Camp, La Jolla, CA, from [unsigned], Counselor, sending the first of the end-of-semester reports “on Glen’s achievement and development at Pine Mountain.” Also encloses a letter from Glen Jr., which is a self-evaluation. Miss Smith reports that his musical aptitude is “far above average” and should have musical training; he is second in his Science class; and first in History and Civics. He demonstrated less interest in Bible reading and history, woodworking and industrial work. “House citizenship” is improving, which includes orderliness and cleanliness.

[012] through [012b] December 16, 1943. Three-page letter to “Father” from Glen Camp Jr. in which he reports [012, p.1] on his “progress and present standing at Pine Mountain,” Such as Music, taught by Miss Smith, [012a, p.2] Civics (including Geography and History), American History, and Science, which is his favorite and is taught by Mrs. Keith, [012b, p.3] Reading Bible and History, Home Economics. “My house conduct at first shouldn’t be discussed but I think I’m improving now.” He works hard on his farm job, overseen by Mr. [William] Hayes. “…[W]e have to keep busy or freeze.” His plans for improvement in the next term include: helping his housemother. He probably most enjoys choir and musical club; His leisure time is spent on the playground or Mrs. Keith’s lab, but mostly he is busy.

1944

[014] March 2, [no year]. “Copy” of a letter to Mr. Rogers from E. Cold, who questions the decision to have Glen Camp as a student, wondering if it is a change in policy “to include pupils from wider geographical areas”; or was he an “exceptional case so urgent as to be one of greater need than that of a boy or girl in these mountains.” Mentions Mr. [Malcolm] Arny’s stating that “this school is the only opportunity for many in this region to break through their handicaps into some enlightenment.”

[016] through [016d] May 25, 1944. Four-page letter to his father from Glen Camp Jr, who [016, p.1] comments positively about his teachers while he reports on his progress in music, Civics, history, [016a, p.2] science, electricity, pulleys, surveying, Reading Bible and History, shop, [016b, p.3] agriculture (“Before coming here I knew absolutely nothing of the tools the farmer uses.”), house conduct in Far House (“I think I could improve in courtesy.”). Of campus life, he most enjoyed Chapel and Choir [016c, p.4] and of events, he most enjoyed Swim and Field Day. Signed “Glenny.” 

[015] June 5, 1944. To Dr. Glen D. Camp, La Jolla, CA, from [unsigned], Counselor, who sends a report on Glen Camp Jr’s progress during the past semester & Glen’s letter to his parents.

Glen was highest in class in Civics; tied with two others for first place in Science; had problems with Home Economics. The counselor also reported on Glen’s improved progress in Music, Reading Bible and History and Woodwork. He showed excellent sportsmanship in Sports; at the head of the History class; and average in Agriculture where he was “seemingly interested but not always sticking to his work and spending too much time arguing with the boys he worked with.” His performance in Industrial work and dishwashing was fair; generally good in house citizenship.

[017] July 15, 1944. To Mrs. Alice Joy Keith from [unsigned, apparently, Mr. Rogers], who explains how the School decides to accept a number of extra students beyond capacity, causing “[t]he pressure of mountain boys is still greater than last year….[I]t would be impossible to say in the future that Glen was not occupying the pace of a mountain area boy. I want to leave it to your conscience to decide the various and confusing claims involved….” Ends by mentioning the presence of the Friends Work Camp.

[018] August 5, 1944. Two-page letter to Mr. Rogers from Alice Joy Keith, Campbell, CA., [018, p.1] who writes “I wish you & I might see eye to eye in the matter of admissions, but guess it’s not to be. I hope a place may be saved for Glen Camp this fall. His determination to return to Pine Mountain does not waver….The family situation in the south remains much as before & I feel my responsibility not lessened.” [018a, p.2] “Mr. Rogers, I have seen salvation held out to a little boy, seen him grasp at it with clumsy, fumbling, self-conscious fingers. I would not snatch it away before his grip has had time to firm, just to offer it to another boy whose reception of it is still problematic.” Mentions Dicky Baker, Miss Merrill, the Tuckers’ newsletter; asks that this letter be shared with Mr. Dodd or Mr. Webb.

[019] August 10, 1944. To Glen D. Camp Jr., La Jolla, CA, from [unsigned], Counselor, who tells him that, since he hasn’t sent in his entrance fees or shown intention to return, his place was given to another on the waiting list. If he is returning, he will be placed on a waiting list.

[020], [020a] August 17, 1944. Two-page letter to Mr. Rogers from Glen D. Camp Jr, stating [020, p.1] that his “first letter to you must have been lost. I intend to come back to Pine Mountain. [020a, p.2] The only thing that can keep me is if I am thrown off the train.”

[021], [021a] August 26, 1944. Two-page letter to Mr. Rogers from Glen D. Camp Jr. [021, p.1] “…[W]e finally got our train. We do not know what sort of entrance fee we are to pay.” He thanks Rogers and Mr. Dodd for finding a place for him to live [021a, p.2] at the Tuckers. “Tell Mr. Dodd I could not get him any abalones as they spoil soon.”

[023] through [023c] December 21, 1944. Four-page letter to “Dad” from Glen Camp Jr, who is sending an annual self-evaluation of his progress at Pine Mountain. [023, p.1] He lists his classes as Co-op, English, Woodworking, Biology, Economics and Mathematics. He describes his Co-op class, in which he becomes a co-op shopper who “goes to the metropolis of this region (a town of the staggering population [023a, p.2] of nearly 7,000 to purchase supplies for the campers.” He tells about his experiences in his other classes. [023b, p.3] Describes his work periods: The first 9 weeks he was with the grounds crew and during the next one, he butchered a hog. “There’s more to the farm than meets the eye.” [023c, p.4] The parts of campus life he particularly likes are shopping in Harlan, the Nativity Play and the farm. Mentions the evening program and mechanical drawing.

[022] December 30, 1944. To Mr. Glen Camp Sr, La Jolla, CA, from [unsigned], Principal, who is enclosing Camp’s son’s letter of self-evaluation for the first term. “…[H]e has grown in many ways. Physically, he is shooting up like a reed, emotionally, he is becoming more stable and more thoughtful of the rights of others, intellectually he is progressing normally and I might say rapidly because he sets a high standard for himself and reproaches himself if he falls short.” 

1945

[056] Jan 20 & 25; March 1, 1945. List of information about “Camp, Glen” and notes concerning meetings with him.

[024] February 3, 1945. Memorandum to Mr. [H.R.S.] Benjamin, Miss Merrill, Mrs. Keith, Glen Camp from [unsigned] Counselor. Because Glen is moving into Boys House for the rest of the academic year, he writes that Glen “should become an integral part of the house and its life and customs and that he will be expected to accept the rights and duties common to all members of the house and under the authority and responsibility of the housemother.” He will need to “be somewhat conscious of the probable adjustment needed for the more definite routine and schedule of house and campus life.”

[026] through [026c] May 24, 1945. Four-page letter to “Father” from Glen Camp, who details his progress in his classes. [026, p.1] “One of the finest things Pine Mountain has to offer the prospective student is work experience in which, I fear, I was sadly lacking.” [026a, p.2] “In my opinion, learning to ‘look at the other fellow’ is the most difficult task, as well as the most necessary in life. In dormitory life this skill needs constant use.” He believes he is making progress but needs to “study the home life of the ‘coal camp boys and girls’ so as to better understand them and their problems.” [026b, p.3] He describes the unique features of the School: work experience, co-op courses and store, … the opportunity of understanding Kentucky’s problems, economic, topographical, social and political, and opportunities for leadership.” He helped organize a study club that analyzes international problems and serves as editor [026c, p.4] Also unique are “the beauties of the lilies and rhododendrons.” He feels that Pine Mountain needs “more student participation and self-organization.” Too often “too much was organized from the top down.” 

[025] June 4, 1945. To Mr. Camp, La Jolla, CA, from [unsigned, li], Principal, who encloses a final report for the school year and Glen’s self-evaluation letter. Dodd reports that Glen was promoted to the third year of high school and “trusts that he may continue in a school next year where his abilities along scholastic lines will be challenged to the utmost.” He is weak in math but excelled in history and social studies and “did outstanding work in most of his studies….He is sensitive in a special sort of way to the needs of others and in due time it will become a part of his everyday living and show forth more brightly than at present.”

[027] July 16, 1945. To Arthur W. Dodd from Glen Camp Jr, who is not planning to attend PMSS next year and therefore asks for a transcript of his grades and his citizenship rating.

[028] [3rd image] August 20, 1945. La Jolla (CA) Junior-Senior High School requesting transcripts. [The item is marked with a “sent” date.]

Student Evaluations by Teachers, 1943-1945

[049] November 15, 1943 – January 28, 1944. Student evaluation by Home Economics teacher, Helen Kingsbury.
[052] December 8, 1943, and May 12, 1944. Student evaluation by Woodworking teacher, Glen P. LaRue.
[050] December 10, 1943. Student evaluation by Music teacher, G.P. Smith.
[048] December 17, 1943. Student evaluation by Science and Geography teacher, Alice Joy Keith.
[052] December 18, 1943. Student evaluation by Sports teacher, Arthur W. Dodd.
[051] December 22, 1943. Student evaluation by Reading, Bible, History teacher, Edith Cold.
[054] December 23, 1943. Student evaluation by the American History teacher, “Bishop.” “Command of English: superior (most remarkable in P.M. history, as I know it. … Efforts: Unceasing, always out to beat himself, never content with anything less than perfection.”
[047] December 24, 1943. Student evaluation by Civics teacher, B.B. Rogers. “Attitude & Interest: ideal; Effort & initiative: unusual; Participation in discussions: excessive.”
[055] April & May 1944. Student evaluation by Victory Garden teacher, William Hayes.
[029] December 19, 1944. Student evaluation by Woodworking teacher, G. P. LaRue.

[031] December 21, 1944. Student evaluation by English teacher, M.M. Sparrow. “Glen is widely read for a boy of his years, has an unusual vocabulary, understands what he reads, gets the finer shadings of character, and sees below the mere surface of the story. He is a great asset to the literature class. In all our work no one makes a great effort than he to do every assignment perfectly, and he is quite unsparing in condemning himself for any mistakes he makes. He does excellent work and keeps growing. He has changed much from last year – is a very likable, unassuming boy, who makes his contributions to the class in a modest way. I thoroughly enjoy having him in class.”

[032] DUPLICATE OF [033]
[034] December 21, 1944, and May 25, 1945. Student evaluation by Mathematics teacher, Alice Joy Keith. 
[035] December 21, 1944, and May 25, 1945. Student evaluation by Biology teacher, Alice Joy Keith. 
[033], [033a] December 22, 1944, and May 24, 1945. Two-page student evaluation by Co-op teacher, Gladys Hill. [033, p.1] “Glen does a lot of independent thinking….Glen has a better understanding of economic problems than anyone in the class.” [033a, p.2] “…has read practically every book in our co-op library … He still has trouble remembering appointments and loses his equipment almost daily.”

[030] 1944-1945 – 2nd semester. Student evaluation by teacher of Mechanical Drawing, A[bby].W. Christensen

Houseparent’s Appraisals, 1945

[045] December 23, 1943. Student appraisal by housemother, M.C. Crawford.
[046] May 26, 1944. Student appraisal by housemother, M. Elizabeth McBride.
[040] April 2, 1945 – May 25, 1945. Student appraisal by housemother, Josephine Merrill.
[036] May 25, 1945. Student appraisal by housemother, Josephine Merrill.

Work Report, 1943-1945

[041] September 7 – November 7, 1943. Student appraisal by supervisor of the Woodworking Shop, Glenn P. LaRue.
[042] November 9, 1943 – January 24, 1944. Student appraisal by supervisor of the Farm, William Hayes.
[043] January 29 – March 18, 1944. Student appraisal by Mrs. Webb, supervisor of the Kitchen, where he ran the dishwasher.
[037] September 5 to November 5, 1944. Student appraisal by Grounds Crew supervisor. [truncated].
[044] March 27 – May 26, 1944. Student appraisal by M. Elizabeth McBride, supervisor of Far House cleaning. “Sometimes permits his sociable nature to retard his work.”
[038] November 6, 1944 – January 21, 1945. Student appraisal by Farm (General) supervisor, William Hayes.
[039] January 22 – April 1, 1945. Student appraisal by Grounds Crew supervisor, S. Barry(?).

1947

[028] October 8, 1947. [1st image] Postcard to “Sir” from Glen D. Camp Jr in Holyoke, MA., requesting his PMSS transcript for his freshman and sophomore years, in preparation for applying to college. [2nd image] January 28, 1947. Request from Bethesda-Chevy Chase (MD) High School for his transcripts. Both items are marked with “sent” dates. [3rd image – see “CONTENTS: 1945” above.] 


GALLERY: Glen D. Camp Jr. Correspondence


See Also:
GLEN D. CAMP Jr. Student
– Biography