The American Friends Service Committee’s Aid During the Spanish Civil War: Children and Art Amidst War

Abstract

This thesis reveals and uncovers how the American Quakers were instrumental in relief efforts during the fall of the Spanish Republic and through Franco’s Spain. The purpose is to show that the American Quakers strived to help those in need while still maintaining their religious identity during times of crisis and conflict. My research draws upon primary sources, letters, artwork, committee reports, memos, diaries, memoirs, and direct commentary from Quakers in the relief effort, as recorded by newspapers and journals. The totality of these sources suggests that the relief that the American Friends provided was, and still is, celebrated as a monumental achievement in humanitarian work. By focusing on the Quakers as they dealt with Spanish children, this research highlights the important role the Friends took on in ensuring the health and welfare of many refugee and displaced children before, during, and after the Spanish Civil War.