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The Compassionate Friends was founded in Coventry, England, in 1969, following the deaths of two young boys. With the encouragement of Reverend Simon Stephens, assistant chaplain of the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, the parents of the deceased children began meeting with other bereaved parents in their community. They decided to organize as a self-help group and began reaching out to newly bereaved parents.
Simon served in the Royal Navy during the 1970s and consequently met with bereaved parents throughout the world. Word of the Compassionate Friends spread; Paula and Arnold Shamres founded the first U.S. chapter in Florida in 1972 after reading about the organization in Time Magazine. The Compassionate Friends was incorporated in the United States as a non-profit organization in 1978; it continues to offer membership to all bereaved parents, siblings, grandparents, and other family members who are grieving the death of a child of any age, from any cause.
This collection consists of four series. The first series reflects the administrative activities of the Compassionate Friends from the 1970s until 2003. Series two holds correspondence, the in-house newsletter, "Friends" Caring and Sharing from 1971-1995, the national newsletter from 1978-1995, and the sibling newsletter from 1990-1994. The third series holds restricted materials, namely letters of inquiry from bereaved parents. The final series consists of media. Photographs, video, and audio cassettes of meetings, conferences, and self-help guides from 1978 to 2000 comprise the core of this series.
Access restrictions — Redaction. Series III contains restricted personal information that must be redacted. Access requires two weeks advance notice. Access Restrictions — Confidential Information. By donor request. For Series III and for box 13 folder 145 patrons must sign a Confidentiality Agreement form and agree to maintain the confidentiality of the subjects/persons mentioned. Reproductions are not allowed. All research notes are subject to review by Special Collections and University Archives for compliance. Access Restrictions -- Permission. Boxes 27, 28, 29 and box 13 folder 144 require written Donor permission before accessing. Please email lib-spec@uic.libanswers.com. Access restrictions -- Closed. Box 13 folders 136, 137, and Box 15 folder 167 has been restricted by the donor and is closed to researchers until 70 years past the date of creation.
Use restrictions -- Reproduction. By donor request. Reproduction is not allowed for Box 1 folder 6; box 8 folder 77-78; box 10 folder 90; Box 11 folder 108; Box 11 folder 115; Box 13 folder 145; Box 14 folder 153, 155-157; Box 14 Folder 162; Box 15 folder 168. Use Restrictions -- Inaccessible media. Series IV contains original media materials. Please consult Special Collections staff for use.
The Compassionate Friends records, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago
Accession No. 1988.008.ms. Acquired 1998-05-15
Released on 2020-03-18.