Summary of the Collection
Elmer Maas Plowshares collection
MSS0094
1940s-2005
1970s-2005
Maas, Elmer
In English
8.5 LF
DePaul University Library
Special Collections and Archives
DePaul University Library
2350 N. Kenmore Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60614
3/27/E
The Elmer Maas Plowshares collection dates from the 1940s to 2005, with the majority of materials starting in the 1970s. The collection is separated into two series: Plowshares and Legal Research Files. The Plowshares series includes files about specific actions, general information about Plowshares, writings by Maas, photographs, and videos. The Legal Research Files include various files Elmer Maas maintained about legal topics such as justification and jury nullification.
Biographical Note
Elmer Maas, Philip Berrigan, and other peace activists started the Plowshares Movement in 1980 at the General Electric Plant in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (Plowshares Eight). Members of this movement targeted a specific site such as a military base or ammunitions factory in order to disarm the machines of war made or stored at these locations. The peace activists used hammers to damage the missiles, planes, and submarines and poured their own blood at the sites to represent the death and destruction of these weapons. The motto of the Plowshares Movement is "Swords into Plowshares" (Isaiah 2:4). Elmer Maas participated in a number of Plowshares actions including the Plowshares Eight, Plowshares Number Four, and Thames River Plowshares. Elmer Maas worked as a college professor, first at Kendall College in Evanston, Illinois, and then at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He began his non-violent resistance career by participating in the Selma march and Montgomery voter registration drives. Later, he became the de facto Plowshares historian. Because of this, his collection covers many different Plowshares actions, some with more material than others. He died on May 8, 2005 at the Community for Nonviolent Action in Voluntown, Connecticut.
Description of the Collection
The Elmer Maas Plowshares collection dates from the 1940s to 2005, with the majority of materials starting in the 1970s. The collection is separated into two series: Plowshares and Legal Research Files. The Plowshares series includes files about specific actions, general information about Plowshares, writings by Maas, photographs, and videos. The Legal Research Files include various files Elmer Maas maintained about legal topics such as justification and jury nullification.
Arrangement of the Collection
The Elmer Maas Plowshares collection is organized into two series: 1. Plowshares and 2. Legal Research Files.
Subject Headings
Maas, Elmer--Archives
Plowshares Eight (Group)--History--Sources
Peace--Religious aspects--Christianity--Archival resources
Nonviolence--History--20th century--United States--Sources
Pacifists--20th century--United States--Archives
Peace movements--History--20th century--United States--Sources
Protest movements--History--20th century--United States--Sources
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements--History--United States--Sources
Government, Resistance to--Religious aspects--Christianity--Archival resources
Nuclear warfare--Religious aspects--Christianity--Archival resources
Related Material
Daniel Berrigan papers
Jerome C. Berrigan papers
Philip Berrigan and Ellizabeth McAlister papers
The Berrigan Library
John McNamee papers
Collection on Peace Activism
Murray Polner papers
Hit & Stay (documentary) SpC. 959.7043 H674t2014.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research use.
The preferred citation is: Elmer Maas Plowshares collection, [Box#, Folder#], Special
Collections and Archives, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois.
Accession Information:
Donated by Liz McAlister, Accession 2006.31
Processing Information:
M. Cole 2008; C. Faison 2013; revised by P. Chavez 2018
Inventory
Series 001: Plowshares
1970s-2005
The Plowshares Series includes files about specific actions, general information about Plowshares, writings compiled by Maas, photographs, and videos. The bulk of the material documents specific actions, and these files are arranged chronologically according to the date of the Plowshare event. The files contain various types of material about the Plowshares events such as trial transcripts, newspaper clippings, and commentaries by peace activists. The file folder titles used by Elmer Maas were retained. Elmer Maas also used three-ring binders to organize materials about the various Plowshare events. These binders were taken apart and the contents were placed in file folders. This sometimes resulted in a binder's contents being split over two or three file folders. Elmer Maas also collected photographs and VHS tapes documenting some of the Plowshares actions and members of the Plowshares movement speaking about their activities.
This series is arranged chronologically by date of the Plowshares action. Biographical information about Elmer Maas and a list of Plowshares actions are listed at the beginning of the series, while videos are listed at the end of the series.
001.001
Elmer Maas Biographical Information: Memorial Article and Eulogy
2005 May
001.002
List of Plowshares Actions
2003 May
001.003-004
Plowshares Eight: Binder A
1981 March 03
001.005
Plowshares Eight: Newspaper Clippings
1981, 1990
001.006
Plowshares Eight: General Information
1989
001.007
Plowshares Eight: Transcript (3/4/1981)
1981 March 04
001.008
Plowshares Eight: Transcript (3/5/1981)
1981 March 05
001.009
Plowshares Eight: Transcript (3/6/1981)
1981 March 06
001.010
Plowshares Eight: Brief for Appellants
1981
001.011-014
Plowshares Eight: Miscellaneous
1980-1990
001.015
Plowshares Eight: Petition for Allowance for Appeal
1987-1988
001.016
Plowshares Eight: Brief for Appellee
1981
001.017-018
Plowshares Eight: Binder B
1988-1989
001.019
Plowshares Eight: Elmer Maas' General Binder
1980, 1987
001.020
Plowshares Number Four: General Information
1982-1985
001.021
Plowshares Number Four: Pretrial
1982-1983
001.022
Plowshares Number Four: Reports, Statements, Charges
1982-1983
001.023
Plowshares Number Four: Transcripts
1982-1983
001.024
Plowshares Number Four: Motions
1982-1983
001.025-026
Plowshares Number Four: Briefs
1983
001.027
Plowshares Number Four: Research
1983
002.001-002
Trident Nein Plowshares
1982-2002
002.003
AVCO Plowshares
1990
002.004-010
Griffiss Plowshares
1977-1985
002.011
Plowshares Number Seven
1983-1984
002.012-013
Pershing Plowshares
1984-1985
002.014-015
Trident II Plowshares: Volume I
1985
002.016-017
Trident II Plowshares: Volume II
1985
002.018
Trident II Plowshares: Volume III
1985
002.019-020
Trident II Plowshares: Frank Panopoulos Trial
1985-1986
002.021
Silo Pruning Hooks Plowshares: Transcript of Sentencing
1985 March 27
002.022
Silo Pruning Hooks Plowshares: General
1984-1987
002.023
Silo Pruning Hooks Plowshares: Newspaper Clippings
1984-1986
002.024
Plowshares Number Twelve
1985-1986
002.025
Pershings to Plowshares
1986-1987
002.026
Epiphany Plowshares
1987
002.027
Epiphany Plowshares: Photographs
1987 January
003.001
Paupers Plowshares
1987
003.002
Transfiguration Plowshares
1987
003.003-004
Nuclear Navy Plowshares: General
1988
003.005
Nuclear Navy Plowshares: Photographs
1988 April
003.006
Kairos Plowshares Too
1988 August
003.007-008
Thames River Plowshares
1989-1990
003.009
Doves of Peace Disarmament Action
1990
003.010
Anzus Peace Force Plowshares
1991
003.011
Darwin Plowshares
1991 August
003.012
Good Friday Plowshares Missile Silo Witness
1992 April
003.013
Harriet Tubman-Sarah Connor Brigade
1992 May
003.014
Good News Plowshares
1993 April
003.015
Pax Christi-Spirit of Life Plowshares: General
1993
003.016
Pax Christi-Spirit of Life Plowshares: Photographs
1993, 1997
003.017
Good Friday-April Fool's Day Plowshares
1994, 2001
003.018-021
Jubilee Plowshares West
1995-1996
003.022
Seeds of Hope - East Timor Ploughshares
1996
003.023
Trident Resisters Handbook
1996
003.024
Laurentian Shield Trident Elf Disarmament Action
1996
003.025
Prince of Peace Plowshares
1997 February
003.026
Bread Not Bombs Ploughshares
2000
003.027-028
Gods of Metal Plowshares: General
1998
003.029-030
Gods of Metal Plowshares: Binder
1998-2000
003.031-032
Minuteman III Plowshares
1998-2000
003.033-034
Plowshares vs. Depleted Uranium
1999-2000
003.035
Silent Trident Plowshares
2000-2001
003.036-037
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares: General
2000 September
003.038-039
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares: Binder A
1999-2001
003.040
Jubilee Ploughshares
2000 November
003.041
Pitstop Plowshares
2003
003.042
Riverside Plowshares
2003 May
004.001-002
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Defendant's Motions, Binder A
2002-2003
004.003
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Report to the Grand Jury
2002-2003
004.004-005
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Defendant's Motions, Binder B
2002-2003
004.006-007
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Defendant's Motions, Binder C
2003 February 21
004.008
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Hearing on Motions
2003 February 21
004.009
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Transcript of Proceedings, Volume I Part I
2003 March
004.010
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Transcript of Proceedings, Volume I Part II
2003 March
004.011
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Transcript of Proceedings, Volume II
2003 April 01
004.012
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Transcript of Proceedings, Volume IV
2003 April 03
004.013
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Transcript of Proceedings, Volume V
2003 April 04
004.014
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Transcript of Proceedings, Volume VI
2003 April 07
004.015-016
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Unsolicited Letters, Binder A
2003 May 20
005.001
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Unsolicited Letters, Binder A
2003 May 20
005.002-003
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Unsolicited Letters, Binder B
2003 May 22
005.004-005
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Response to Defendants Motion, Binder B
2003 June 04
005.006-007
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Pre-sentence Investigation Reports Binder
2003 July 07
005.008
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Pre-sentence Report Addendum
2003 July 17
005.009
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Transcript of Proceedings Hearing on Sentencing
2003 July 25
005.010-012
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Exhibit Binder A
circa 2003
005.013-015
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Exhibit Binder B
circa 2003
005.016
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Exhibit Binder C
circa 2003
005.017-018
Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares II: Appeal
2005 March
006.001
General Plowshares Information
1980-2003
006.002
Elmer Maas Correspondence and Clippings
1984-2002
006.003
Plowshares writings
1980-1985
006.004
The Berrigans
2001-2002
006.005
Elmer Maas General Binder, loose Berrigan photos
1970s-2000s
006.006-007
Elmer Maas General Binder, photos from various Plowshares actions
1980-2003
007
Photographs of various Plowshares Actions
1970s-1980s
008
Photographs of various Plowshares Actions
1980s-1990s
009.001
VHS: Mateo and Catholic Workers
1993 June
009.002
VHS: Aegis Plowshares/Doe White House/Pentagon
1994 August
009.003
VHS: USS Greeneville
1995 August
009.004
VHS: Various Plowshares Actions
1995-1997
009.005
VHS: Prince of Peace Plowshares
1997
009.006
VHS: East Timor Ploughshares-Seeds of Hope
undated
009.007
VHS: Pax Christi Plowshares
undated
009.008
VHS: Riverside Plowshares
undated
009.009
VHS: Sisters Jackie/Carol/Ardeth-Missile Attack
undated
009.010
VHS: Philip Berrigan Memorial
2003 March 02
009.011
VHS: ARISE 2003 Humanitarian Award Philip Berrigan
2003 May 04
009.012
VHS: Sisters Jackie, Carole, and Ardeth Speak on Missile Silo and Trial
2003 June 06
Series 002: Legal Research Files
1940s-2003
The Legal Research Files series includes the various files Elmer Maas maintained about legal topics such as justification and jury nullification. File folders include a wide range of materials, including publications, papers, trial transcripts, and newspaper articles.
The arrangement of this series reflects the original order of files maintained by Elmer Maas.
010.001
Justification/Model Penal Code
1960s-1980s
010.002
Justification/International Law
1980s-1990s
010.003
Nuclear Weapons and International Law
1980
010.004
Jurors' Duty as Community Conscience
undated
010.005
Jury Nullification
undated
010.006
Nuclear War, Citizen Intervention, and the Necessity Defense
1983, 1986
010.007
Necessity Defense
1980-1987
010.008
Nuclear Weapons and International Law (Richard Falk, et al.)
1987
010.009-010
Legal Miscellaneous
undated
010.011
Peace Litigation
1987
010.012
International Nuclear Law
1982-1999
010.013-015
International Court of Justice
1940s-1990s
010.016
Ground Zero Legal Files
undated
010.017
Miscellaneous Court Papers: Ellsberg
1979
010.018
Matthew J. Chachere, et al. Pre-Trial Brief
1979
010.019
German Actions
1984-1990
010.020
Weapons Systems
1980-1990, 2002
010.021
Representing Political Demonstrators in the District of Columbia
1988
010.022
Juries - FBI
1983
010.023
2002 Plowshares Hope and Resistance
2002
010.024
DeAntonio
1982
010.025
Pictures
2003 May