Orser, W. Edward2022-04-202022-04-201977Orser, Edward. “Involuntary Community: A Case History of a Civilian Public Service Camp During World War II,” Maryland Historical Magazine, Spring, 1977, 132-146.http://hdl.handle.net/11603/24605IN MAY 1941 TWENTY-SIX IDEALISTS RETREATED INTO THE WOODS OF PATAPSCO State Park near Baltimore to form a community of pacifists in a nation on the verge of war. While the camp they established resembled many experiments in intentional community, these men were conscientious objectors who had been assigned as draftees under the Selective Service Act of 1940 to do "work of national importance under civilian direction." The Patapsco camp, the first for conscientious objectors in American history, lasted for slightly over one year until it was transferred to the Maryland Eastern Shore in August 1942. By that time the Civilian Public Service system was in full operation, with other camps spread throughout the country. For its one year of existence the Patapsco camp (C.P.S. #3) represented an unusual experiment in cooperative pacifist living and service within the context of wartime compulsory service, a fascinating instance of involuntary community.15 pagesen-USThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.Patapsco State Parkpacifistsconscietious objectorsPatapsco camp (C.P.S. #3)involuntary communitySelective Service SystemSelective Training and Service Act of 1940Text