Camp Kennebec Alumni Collection

 

1910-2021

 

SCRC 8

 

Camp Kennebec alumni

 

3.5 linear feet (10 boxes + 1 map folder) including 2 VHS and 2 audio cassettes, 700 KB (1 .txt file)

 

Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

 

Materials in English.

Detailed Collection Information 

 

Camp Kennebec, an overnight summer camp for boys ages 9-18, was established in 1906 in North Belgrade, Maine, by three Philadelphians, Louis Fleisher, Charles Edwin Fox, and Milton Katzenberg. In July 1907, the first campers arrived at Camp Kennebec, located on Salmon Lake. Campers hailed from east coast and mid-west cities, including Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Cincinnati, and Chicago. Although Camp Kennebec wasn’t explicitly a Jewish camp, many of the campers and staff were Jewish. Members of the camp faculty, referred to as “uncles,” were university educated men, recruited from the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Michigan, Swarthmore, and similar institutions. The faculty provided specialized instruction in woodsmanship, nature studies, manual training, hygiene, first aid, and literature. Campers slept in army tents and engaged in a variety of competitive athletics including swimming, rowing, canoeing, baseball, and tennis. Other activities included a camp orchestra, dramatic society, camera club, and horseback riding. Faculty-led wilderness trips varying from a day to two weeks were also common. In 1920, on the opposite shores of Salmon Lake, Kennebec Junior was established for boys under the age 13, and, in 1925, Camp Kennesuncook was established in Chesuncook, Maine, for boys, age 16 and over.  

 

As early as 1924, alumni and faculty of the Kennebec camps organized reunions and established an alumni association to foster relationships among former campers and provide scholarships. From 1965 until 1999, the Kennebec Alumni Foundation served these purposes in a more formal capacity. The camp ceased operated in 1991 when it was turned into the Maine Golf Academy. After the Alumni Foundation’s dissolution, various camp alumni continued to organize periodic alumni reunions in Philadelphia.

 

The collection consists of materials gathered by alumni campers of Camp Kennebec during organized reunions for the purpose of long term preservation. The records consist primarily of yearbooks, camp publications, photo albums, reunion planning documents, and souvenirs.

This collection includes preserved versions of the organization’s website, available through Archive-It.

 

The collection is arranged into 14 series as follows:

 

Series 1: Publications and printed matter, 1912-1977            

Series 2: Camp activities, 1910-1972

Series 3: Yearbooks, 1925-1990

Series 4: Photographic materials, 1911-1975

Series 5: Camp Alumni, 1952–2007

Series 6: Alumni association, circa 1959-2011

Series 7: Souvenirs, 1949-2007, undated

Series 8: Website versions in Archive-It, 2014-2021

Series 9: Accession 2016-34, 1944-1950, undated

Series 10: Accession 2020-13, 1937, 1940

Series 11: Accession 2020-23, 1955-1965

Series 12: Accession 2020-24, 2001-2007, undated

Series 13: Accession 2021-11, 1920-1929

Series 14: Accession 2021-13, 1964-1967

 

Series 1: Publications and printed matter, 1912-1977, is arranged alphabetically and includes documents produced by the camp administration and publications about the camp’s operation and history.

 

Series 2: Camp activities, 1910-1972, is arranged alphabetically and consists of materials produced by campers documenting the various activities they engaged in. This series contains audiovisual and sound recordings.

 

Series 3: Yearbooks, 1925-1990, is arranged chronologically, with the yearbook content representing the most comprehensive material in terms of its coverage of the camp’s operation.

 

Series 4: Photographic materials, 1911-1975, is arranged chronologically and contains photo albums, loose photographs, negatives, and color slides of various camp activities.

 

Series 5: Alumni, 1952-2007, is arranged alphabetically by last name of camp alumnus and includes correspondence to and from camp and staff alumni, reminiscences of camp events and activities, certificates, and photographs.

 

Series 6: Alumni association, circa 1959-2011, is arranged chronologically and consists primarily of reunion planning communications and programs. Photographs taken at alumni reunions are included in this series. A portion of the correspondence in this series is accessible in electronic format.

 

Series 7: Souvenirs, 1949-2007, undated, consists of cloth pennants, key chains, refrigerator magnets, fabric patches, a pendant necklace, and a camp knife with the Camp Kennebec logo.

 

Series 8: Website versions in Archive-It, 2014-2021, contains preserved versions of the Camp Kennebec Alumni website. To access these sites, see the Temple University Special Collections Jewish Archives Archive-It web page: https://www.archive-it.org/collections/4280

 

Series 9: Accession 2016-34, 1944-1950, undated, is an accrual of records donated in 2016 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains camp publications and yearbooks, photocopies of camper correspondence and photographs, a fabric patch, and swimming medals.

 

Series 10: Accession 2020-13, 1937, 1940, is an accrual of records donated in 2020 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains architectural drawings of the recreation hall for Camp Kennebec Junior and the bell tower given by the 30th anniversary alumni, both designed by Bernard B. Rothschild. Also included is correspondence to Rothschild regarding the bell tower.

 

Series 11: Accession 2020-23, 1955-1965, is an accrual of records donated in 2020 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains three Kennebecamper yearbooks.

 

Series 12: Accession 2020-24, 2001-2007, undated, is an accrual of records donated in 2020 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains a reunion poster photo collage, the Kennebec 100 Yearbook, and the 1963 Camp Kennebec Sr. Moose River Trip on DVD.

 

Series 13: Accession 2021-11, 1920-1929, is an accrual of records donated in 2021 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains a photograph album. Photos depict campers, counselors, camp activities, and the camp environment around Camp Kennenbec. Some photos have captions or contextual information noted.

 

Series 14: Accession 2021-13, 1964-1967, is an accrual of records donated in 2021 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains three Kennebecamper yearbooks, 1964, 1966, and 1967.

 

 

 

A record for this collection is available in Temple University’s online library catalog: https://librarysearch.temple.edu/catalog/991036440439703811

 

Research Access 

Collection is open for research.

 

This collection may be housed off-site at the Library Depository, and require up to two business days to retrieve. Please review the finding aid and be prepared to identify specific materials to be retrieved. Contact the Special Collections Research Center in advance of your visit, so that materials may be relocated to the reading room for research. 

 

Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy. Certain digital files may also be inaccessible. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

 

Accruals
Additions to this collection are expected. Websites are captured using Archive-It periodically, and the latest additions may not yet be included in this finding aid. For information on material–physical and digital, including captured websites–that may have been added since the last finding aid update, please contact the Special Collections Research Center.

 

The Camp Kennebec Alumni Collection is the property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The donors have not assigned their rights to Temple University Libraries.  Other creators’ intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to them or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.  

 

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Camp Kennebec Alumni Collection, SCRC 8, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

 

Alumni of Camp Kennebec maintain the following website http://www.kennebecalumni.com  which includes a small portion of digitized material from this collection.

 

 

 

Donated by Milton Snellenburg in 2007; Edward Block, Victor Frank, Andrew Kirwn, Art Loeb, Bob Rossheim, Tom Wilson Weinberg, and others, in 2011 and 2016; Richard Rothschild, Robert J. Stern, and Janet Stotter in 2020; Nancy Wolmark-Yudkowsky and Robert J. Stern in 2021, with possible future accruals. A portion of this collection previously administered by the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center, acquired by Temple in June 2009.

 

Collection processed and finding aid prepared in 2012 by Jessica M. Lydon, Project Archivist. Finding aid revised in July 2016 by Jessica M. Lydon, Associate Archivist. Finding aid reformatted and patron and administrative information updated in January 2020. Accruals added to collection and finding aid revised in September 2020 by Jessica M. Lydon, Associate Archivist. Further accruals added to collection and finding aid revised in May 2021 by Casey Babcock, Associate Archivist.

 

 

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in Temple University’s electronic catalog:

 

Personal/Family Names: 

Block, Edward

Fleisher, Louis M.

Langsfeld, Morton

Wilson Weinberg, Thomas A.

 

Subjects: 

Camps--Maine--Kennebec County

Jewish youth -- United States

Outdoor recreation -- Maine

 

Places: 

Allagash (Me.)

Chesuncook (Me.)

Katahdin, Mount (Me.)

North Belgrade (Me.)

 

Material Types: 

Architectural drawings

Audiocassettes

Born digital

Correspondence

Photographs

Slides

Sound recordings

VHS (™)

Video recordings

Web sites

Yearbooks 

Series 1 is arranged alphabetically and includes documents produced by the camp administration and publications about the camp’s operation and history.

 

1          1          Across My Fifty Years as a Camp Director          1962

1          2          Camp catalog          undated

1          3          Camp enrollment form          1912

1          4          Greetings from Kennebec after 25 Years          1931

1          5          History of Camp Kennebec          1973

1          6          History of Camp Kennebec          1977

1          7          Honor Society obligation          undated

1          8          Kennebec Totem          1936

1          9          Louis M. Fleisher Master Camper          circa 1969

1          10          Newspaper clippings          1972, 1982, undated

1          11          Race circular          undated          

 

 

Series 2 is arranged alphabetically and consists of materials produced by campers documenting the various activities they engaged in. This series contains audiovisual and sound recordings.

 

1          12          Activity log book          1910

1          13          Adventures of Kennebec Camps VHS cassette          undated

1          14          Camp songs and sheet music          1962, undated

1          15          Dramatic scripts          1965, undated

1          16          First section show audio cassettes          1971–1972

 

 

Series 3 is arranged chronologically, with the yearbook content representing the most comprehensive material in terms of its coverage of the camp’s operation.

 

2          1          Camp Kennebec Yearbook          1925

2          2          Kennebecamper          1929

2          3          Kennebecamper          1930

2          4          Kennebecamper          1931

2          5          Kennebecamper          1932

2          6          Kennebecamper          1933

2          7          Kennebecamper          1934

2          8          Kennebecamper          1935

2          9          Kennebecamper          1936

2          10          Life at Kennebec          1937

2          11          Kennebecamper          1938

2          12          Kennebecamper          1939

2          13          Time at Kennebec          1940

3          1          Kennebecamper          1941

3          2          Kennebecamper          1942

3          3          Kennebecamper          1943

3          4          Kennebecamper          1945

3          5          Kennebecamper          1946

3          6          Kennebecamper          1947

3          7          Kennebecamper          1948

3          8          Kennebecamper          1949

3          9          The Playbill presented by the Kennebecamper          1951

3          10          Kennebecamper          1952

3          11          Kennebecamper          1957

3          12          Kennebecamper          1958

3          13          Kennebecamper          1959

3          14          Kennebecamper          1960

3          15          Kennebecamper          1961

3          16          Kennebecamper          1962

3          17          Kennebecamper          1963

3          18          Kennebecamper          1968

3          19          Kennebecamper          1969

4          1          Kennebecamper          1972

4          2          Kennebecamper          1973

4          3          Kennebecamper          1974

4          4          Kennebecamper          1975

4          5          Kennebecamper          1976

4          6          Kennebecamper          1977

4          7          Kennebecamper          1978

4          8          Kennebecamper          1979

4          9          Kennebecamper          1980

4          10          Kennebecamper          1981

4          11          Kennebecamper          1982

4          12          Kennebecamper          1983

4          13          Kennebecamper          1984

4          14          Kennebecamper          1985

4          15          Kennebecamper          1986

4          16          Kennebecamper          1987

4          17          Kennebecamper          1988

4          18          Kennebecamper          1989

4          19          Kennebecamper          1990

 

 

Series 4 is arranged chronologically and contains photo albums, loose photographs, negatives, and color slides of various camp activities.

5          1          Photo album          1911

5          2          Photo album           1916-1930s

5          3          Gordon Block Jr. photo album          1926-1927

9                    Photo album          1930s

9                    Kennebec Junior photo album          1936

5          4          Mt. Katahdin trip photo album          1938                 

6          1          Edward Block photo album #1          circa 1938

6          2          Edward Block photo album #2          circa 1938

6          3          Color slides          1974–1975

6          4          Miscellaneous photographs          1954, undated

6          5          Miscellaneous negatives          undated

6          6          Negatives for Kennesuncook and Kennebec Junior postcards          undated

 

 

Series 5 is arranged alphabetically by last name of camp alumnus and includes correspondence to and from camp and staff alumni, reminiscences of camp events and activities, certificates, and photographs.

 

6          7          Dorff, Martin R.          1964

6          8          Goldenberg, Alan          1952

6          9          Lese, William M.          2007 

6          10          Strasburger, Art          undated

6          11          Wilson Weinberg, Thomas A.          1956-1972

 

 

Series 6 is arranged chronologically and consists primarily of reunion planning communications and programs. Photographs taken at alumni reunions are included in this series. A portion of the correspondence in this series is accessible in electronic format.

6          12          Scholarship report          circa 1959

6          13          Correspondence          1961, 1994-1999

6          14          60th reunion attendance list          1967

6          15          70th anniversary reunion          1977

6          16          75th anniversary reunion          1982

6          17          Big 80 anniversary reunion          1987

6          18          Donation and membership list          1989, undated

6          19          85th reunion correspondence          1992

6          20          Camp sign photographs          2000

Morton Langsfeld email correspondence.txt file          2000–2001

6          21          Morton Langsfeld correspondence          2000–2001, 2007, 2011

7          1          Reunion committee correspondence          2000–2001

7          2          Reunion program and attendance list          2001

7          3          Reunion photographs          2001

7          4          Reunion VHS cassette          2001

7          5          Kennebec reunion          2004

7          6          100th anniversary reunion          2007

 

 

 

8          Cloth pennants, key chains, refrigerator magnets, fabric patches, a pendant necklace, and camp knife          1949-2007, undated

 

 

Series 8 contains preserved versions of the Camp Kennebec Alumni website. To access these sites, see the Temple University Special Collections Jewish Archives Archive-It web page: https://www.archive-it.org/collections/4280

 

Series 9 is an accrual of records donated in 2016 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains camp publications and yearbooks, photocopies of camper correspondence and photographs, a fabric patch, and swimming medals.

 

7          7          Kennebec Totem (photocopy of September 1985 issue)          undated

7          8          Songbook: Camp Kennebec and Kennebec Junior          undated

7          9          Kennebecamper          1944

7          10          Life at C. K.          1950

7          11          Ralph Blum 1907 correspondence and photographs (photocopies)          undated

8          Fabric patch and swimming medals          undated

 

 

Series 10 is an accrual of records donated in 2020 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains architectural drawings of the recreation hall for Camp Kennebec Junior and the bell tower given by the 30th anniversary alumni, both designed by Bernard B. Rothschild. Also included is correspondence to Rothschild regarding the bell tower.

 

M40          A          Bernard B. Rothschild architectural drawings and correspondence          1937-1940

 

 

Series 11 is an accrual of records donated in 2020 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains three yearbooks.

 

7          12          Kennebecamper          1955, 1956, 1965

 

 

Series 12 is an accrual of records donated in 2020 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains a reunion poster photo collage, the Kennebec 100 Yearbook, and the 1963 Camp Kennebec Sr. Moose River Trip on DVD.

 

7          13          1963 Camp Kennebec Sr. Moose River Trip DVD          undated

7          14          Kennebec 100 Yearbook          2007

9          Reunion poster photo collage          2001

 

 

Series 13: Accession 2021-11, 1920-1929, is an accrual of records donated in 2021 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains a photograph album. Photos depict campers, counselors, camp activities, and the camp environment around Camp Kennenbec. Some photos have captions or contextual information noted.

 

10                    Photograph album          1920-1929

 

 

Series 14: Accession 2021-13, 1964-1967, is an accrual of records donated in 2021 after the collection was initially arranged and described. This series contains three Kennebecamper yearbooks, 1964, 1966, and 1967.

 

7          15          Kennebecamper          1964, 1966, 1967