Student Peace Union (U.S.)

Founded at University of Chicago in 1959 as an organization of young people who believed that neither war nor the threat of war can be successfully used to settle international disputes; headquartered in Chicago until 1964 when SPU office was closed down and re-opened in New York; Feb. 1967 merged with Campus Americans for Democratic Action to become Independent Student Union.

From the description of Records, 1959-1967. (Swarthmore College, Peace Collection). WorldCat record id: 154691397

The Student Peace Union (SPU) was an intercollegiate student group organized in 1959 to study the causes of war and to seek constructive alternatives and coordinate the work for peace among young people. It merged with the College Peace Union in 1960. The founders and leaders of the SPU were associated with the Trotskyist Young Peoples Socialist League and pacifists associated with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the American Friends Service Committee. The SPU took a "Third Camp" position, criticizing the foreign policies of both the United States and the Soviet Union. SPU membership peaked in 1962 at 3500, but declined with the rise of the New Left and Students for a Democratic Society, and dissolved in 1964.

From the description of Records, 1959-1964. (New York University). WorldCat record id: 81402833

Founded at University of Chicago in 1959 as an intercollegiate student group which believed that neither war nor the threat of war could any longer be successfully used to settle international disputes; merged with the College Peace Union in 1960; membership peaked in 1962 at 3500; Philip G. Altbach was national chairman; headquartered in Chicago until 1964 when SPU office was closed down and re-opened in New York; Feb. 1967 merged with Campus Americans for Democratic Action to become Independent Student Union.

From the description of Student Peace Union records, 1959-1967. (Swarthmore College, Peace Collection). WorldCat record id: 28415350

Photocopied collection of records pertaining to the Student Peace Union, an intercollegiate student group organized in 1959 “to study the causes of war and seek constructive alternatives,” and “to coordinate the work for peace among students and young people.” Later (1960) merged with College Peace Union. The founders and leaders of the SPU were associated with the Young Peoples Socialist League and pacifists associated with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the American Friends Service Committee. The SPU took a “Third Camp” position, criticizing the foreign policies of both the United States and the Soviet Union. SPU membership peaked in 1962 at 3500, but declined with the rise of the New Left and Students for a Democratic Society, and the organization dissolved in 1964.

Sources:

From the guide to the Student Peace Union Records, 1959-1964, (Tamiment Library / Wagner Archives)