Papers of the Center on Conscience and War, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and founded in 1981 as a component of Pax Christi USA, to deal with questions related to conscription, conscientious objection, and alternative service. Papers include correspondence and collected articles of Dr. Gordon Zahn, 1918-2007, professor of Sociology, Loyola University of Chicago, 1953-1968, the University of Massachusetts at Boston, 1967-1980 (emeritus 1980-2007), and co-founder and director of the Center on Conscience and War. Also included are subject files, administrative records and correspondence of the CCW staff, including Robert Nee, Michael Hovey, and Richard Hudak, responding to inquiries and distributing printed material supporting the Center's cause. Correspondents include Bryan Hehir, Governor Michael Dukakis, Sargent Shriver, as well as other peace organizations, including National Interreligious Board for Conscientious Objectors, Pax Christi USA, the Commission on Catholic Community Action, and the United States Catholic Conference Department of Social Development and World Peace.

Subject files include notes and scripts for slide shows, bibliographies, educational materials, curricula collected and distributed by the center, and correspondence, drafts of papers, and records of meetings concerning the Selective Service System, alternative service programs, and military chaplains and conscientious objectors. Also included are materials andcorrespondence pertaining to diocesan surveys and diocesan programs concerning conscientious objectors.

Administrative records include telephone bills, invoices and bills, and personnel files. Included are resumes for the position of coordinator of the draft counseling office.