James Richardson Papers on the Ku Klux Klan in Southern California, 1910-1985 (Bulk 1975-1985)
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt8t1nf3dv No online items Finding Aid for the James Richardson papers on the Ku Klux Klan in Southern California, 1910-1985 (bulk 1975-1985) Processed by Krystal Appiah in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Kelley Wolfe Bachli, 2008; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé. UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Manuscripts Division Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library Box 951575 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/ © 2009 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. 1818 1 Descriptive Summary Title: James Richardson papers on the Ku Klux Klan in Southern California Date (bulk): 1910-1985 (bulk 1975-1985) Collection number: 1818 Creator: Richardson, James, 1953- Extent: 5 document boxes (2.5 linear ft.)1 shoe box. Abstract: Research materials, notes, transcripts and audio cassette interviews relating to the Ku Klux Klan group based in Southern California in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These materials were created, collected and assembled by James Richardson (b. 1953), who was a journalist and investigative reporter for The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.) and other California newspapers. The collection contains Richardson's materials for his investigative reporting on the Ku Klux Klan in Riverside. This includes Richardson's coverage of the 1980 43rd Congressional District election between Republican Clair Burgener and Democrat Tom Metzger, the leader of the Ku Klux Klan in California. The only material in the collection with no connection to the Ku Klux Klan is Richardson's reporting of the conspiracy and perjury trial of San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock. Language: Finding aid is written in English. Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections. Los Angeles, California 90095-1575 Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information. Restrictions on Access COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information. Restrictions on Use and Reproduction Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright. Provenance/Source of Acquisition Gift of James Richardson, August 8, 2008. Processing Note Processed by Krystal Appiah in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Kelley Wolfe Bachli, 2008. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], James Richardson papers on the Ku Klux Klan in Southern California (Collection 1818). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA. UCLA Catalog Record ID UCLA Catalog Record ID: 6291056 Biography The bulk of the collection relates to the Ku Klux Klan group based in the Riverside-San Bernardino area in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These materials were created, collected and assembled by James Richardson (b. 1953), who was a journalist and investigative reporter for The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.) and other California newspapers. During this period, the Ku Klux Klan had three branches in California, with the Riverside-San Bernardino group probably being the largest. The Riverside-San Bernardino area "Realm of California" branch was initially part of the national organization "Knights of the Ku Klux Klan," but split from the group in 1979 after disputes between Klan leader Thomas Metzger and Grand Wizard David Duke. Metzger then created the separate organization "Ku Klux Klan of California" (also referred to as the "California Knights of the Ku Klux Klan") and appointed himself State Director. In 1980, Metzger made headlines when he won the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives with over 40,000 votes in a San Diego-area district. The Democrats disavowed his candidacy, instead endorsing incumbent four-term Republican Clair Burgener. Metzger lost by over 200,000 votes, which was 86 percent of the vote. Scope and Content 1818 2 The collection contains Richardson's notes, transcripts and audio cassettes of interviews, and research materials for his investigative reporting on the Ku Klux Klan in Riverside. This includes Richardson's coverage of the 1980 43rd Congressional District election between Republican incumbent Clair Burgener and Democrat Tom Metzger, the leader of the Ku Klux Klan in California. The only material in the collection with no connection to the Ku Klux Klan is Richardson's reporting of the conspiracy and perjury trial of San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock. Organization and Arrangement The original arrangement of the creator was maintained during processing. The only exceptions are for the notebooks and audio cassette tapes which had no discernable order. The notebooks are arranged alphabetically by subject and the cassettes are arranged chronologically. Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog. Subjects Richardson, James, 1953- –Archives. Ku Klux Klan (1915- )–California Box 1, Folder 1 Willis, George 1978-1981 Box 1, Folder 2 Richardson, James--article draft 1980 March Box 1, Folder 3 Interviews--miscellaneous 1980-1981 Scope and Content Note Transcripts and typed notes of interviews with Ku Klux Klan members and public officials. Box 1, Folder 4 New Yorker 1985 July 8 Box 1, Folder 5 Ku Klux Klan--rallies 1981-1982 Scope and Content Note Clippings. Box 1, Folder 6 Ku Klux Klan--publications 1979-1981 Box 1, Folder 7 Ku Klux Klan--clippings--Southern newspapers 1975-1980 Box 1, Folder 8 Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai B'rith 1979-1980 Scope and Content Note Reports and newsletters. Box 1, Folder 9 Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai B'rith 1979-1982 Scope and Content Note Clippings of Ku Klux Klan activities. Box 1, Folder 10 Anti-Ku Klux Klan activities 1980, undated Scope and Content Note Press releases, clippings, event announcements. Box 1, Folder 11 Klanwatch Intelligence Report 1981-1983 Box 1, Folder 12 Dope ring 1980, undated Box 1, Folder 13 Interviews--Metzger, Tom and Subject "Y" 1979 November, 1980 February Box 1, Folder 14 Ku Klux Klan--leaflets and pamphlets 1982, undated Box 2, Folder 1 Metzger, Tom--notes undated Box 2, Folder 2 Ku Klux Klan--post-election update 1981 July-August Scope and Content Note Clippings, California state report, handwritten notes 1818 3 Container List Box 2, Folder 3 Duke, David undated Scope and Content Note Pamphlets Box 2, Folder 4 Magazine articles 1980 Box 2, Folder 5 Ku Klux Klan--handbook undated Box 2, Folder 6 43rd Congressional District election--clippings 1980 March-November Box 2, Folder 7 Ku Klux Klan and National Socialist Party--clippings 1981 Box 2, Folder 8 43rd Congressional District election--campaign trail 1980 October Scope and Content Note Richardson's notes on Burgener and Metzger. Box 2, Folder 9 Ku Klux Klan--notes 1980 July 23 Box 2, Folder 10 Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations 1980 December Scope and Content Note Report Box 2, Folder 11 Richardson, James--book proposal 1980 Scope and Content Note Richardson's correspondence and notes to Doubleday editor. Box 2, Folder 12 Metzger, Tom--clippings undated Box 2, Folder 13 Richardson, James--California Journal article 1980 September Box 2, Folder 14 Ku Klux Klan--press releases 1978-1980 Box 2, Folder 15 Ku Klux Klan--government records 1980-1981 Scope and Content Note Motor vehicle registrations and court records involving Ku Klux Klan members. Box 2, Folder 16 Ku Klux Klan--internal grievances 1978-1981 Box 2, Folder 17 Johnson, Paul 1979-1980 Scope and Content Note Riverside City Council candidate with alleged involvement with Ku Klux Klan. Box 2, Folder 18 Ku Klux Klan--clippings 1977-1979 Box 2, Folder 19 Ku Klux Klan--clippings and photographs 1980-1982 Box 3, Folder 1 Ku Klux Klan--demonstration undated Scope and Content Note Notes. Box 3, Folder 2 Ku Klux Klan--Fresno 1980 January Scope and Content Note Clipping. Box 3, Folder 3 Pepper, George 1910-1911, 1980-1985, undated Scope and Content Note Handwritten notes, transcript of interview with James Richardson, correspondence with Ku Klux Klan members, photocopy of Encyclopedia Britannica entry for "Negro." Box 3, Folder 4 Howard, Dovard--shooting 1980, undated Scope and Content Note Notes, clipping. 1818 4 Container List Box 3, Folder 5 43rd Congressional District election--election night 1980 November Scope and Content Note Notes, election returns, clippings, campaign materials. Box 3, Folder 6 Burgener, Clair--campaign materials 1974, 1980, undated Box 3, Folder 7 43rd Congressional District election--primary election 1980 March-September Scope and Content Note Interviews, notes, clippings relating to primary election and responses to Metzger's victory. Box 3, Folder 8 43rd Congressional District election--Democratic Party resolutions 1980 Box 3, Folder 9 Metzger, Tom--campaign literature 1980 Box 3, Folder 10 Metzger, Tom--campaign financial reports 1980 October-December Box 3, Folder 11 National Minority Advisory Council on Criminal Justice 1979 October Scope and Content Note Transcript of proceedings at which Tom Metzger spoke. Box 3, Folder 12 Dent, Robert 1980 October Scope and Content Note Probation officer report for murder conviction of fellow Ku Klux Klan member. Box 3, Folder 13 Ku Klux Klan--Southern California activities 1977-1980, undated Scope and Content Note Clippings, interviews, notes. Box 4, Folder 1 Ku Klux Klan--photographs 1980-1981, undated Box 4, Folder 2 Thompson, Jerry--clippings 1980 Scope and Content Note Articles of Tennessean newspaper reporter who went undercover as Ku Klux Klan member.