The Administration subseries documents the functions of the director, Board of Trustees, and staff of Camp Woodland as they relate to the operation of the Camp. Materials include annual reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, litigation, counselor in training handbooks, as well as documents related to the Larkin Committee and an investigation of Norman Studer and Camp Woodland for possible subversive activities and ties to the Communist Party. The annual reports provide fiscal summary data related to the operation of the Camp, including, but not limited to, tuition costs, expenditures, operating costs, tax liability, fixed assets and accumulated depreciation, and accumulated funds. These reports were prepared by certified public accountants and record the fiscal state of Camp Woodland in great detail. The folder entitled "Board of Director's Dispute" documents an effort by three of Camp Woodland's founders and Board members - Mrs. Ferber, Mrs. Sydney, and Mrs. Abramson - to separate themselves, legally and financially, from the Camp. It is unclear what precipitated the dispute, but ultimately, it appears there were philosophical differences as well as divergent financial interests.
Of particular interest are the folders pertaining to the Larkin Committee's investigation of Norman Studer and Camp Woodland as having sympathetic ties with the Communist Party. During the early months of 1955, the Joint Legislative Committee on Charitable and Philanthropic Agencies and Organizations of New York (also known as the Larkin Committee after Committee Head State Senator Edward Larkin) investigated the possibility of subversive training and indoctrination of children in Communist-established summer camps. In the report, Studer was specifically "identified as a long-time member of the Communist Party." Studer was also accused of having "purposely hired Communists as his assistants at the camp." One of the possible assistants being alluded to may have been Pete Seeger, who is also identified in this report as being "Pro-Communist." Studer testified before the Committee in August 1955; however, formal charges were never filed against Studer nor Camp Woodland. When testifying, Studer invoked the Fifth Amendment when asked about Communist Party membership, answered other questions and read a prepared statement. The files include Studer's statement, subpoena, related correspondence (including hate mail sent to Studer), newsclippings, and Committee resolutions and a final report.
There also are a small number of documents related to Camp Hilltop where Norman Studer served as director of education before helping to found Camp Woodland.