National United Committee to Free Angela Davis Records M0262
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c87p95nk No online items Guide to the National United Committee to Free Angela Davis Records M0262 Franz Kunst Department of Special Collections and University Archives 2021 Green Library 557 Escondido Mall Stanford 94305-6064 [email protected] URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc Guide to the National United M02621951 1 Committee to Free Angela Davis Records M0262 Language of Material: Multiple languages Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives Title: National United Committee to Free Angela Davis records source: National United Committee to Free Angela Davis Identifier/Call Number: M0262 Identifier/Call Number: 1951 Physical Description: 250 Linear Feet (489 boxes, 11 oversize folders) Date (inclusive): circa 1970-1972 Abstract: The records of the National United Committee to Free Angela Davis consists overwhelmingly of support letters, most sent from East Germany and the Soviet Union, which the group used to demonstrate global opinion about her conspiracy trial in California. The collection also contains some of the organization's administrative records, publications and correspondence with a variety of other political organizations. There is a small amount of material by Davis herself. Conditions Governing Access Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy. Preferred Citation [identification of item], National United Committee to Free Angela Davis records (M0262). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif. Related Materials Related Collections, Stanford Libraries M2086 Freiheit für Angela Davis ephemera collection, 1971-1972 https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/10765144 M0308 Mary Timothy collection of Angela Davis trial material, 1972-1974 https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4083164 M1032 Herbert Aptheker papers https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084973 MSS PHOTO 0216 Michelle Vignes collection, 1966-1974 contains photographs taken during 1969 press conference at Mills College https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/5504726 MSS PHOTO 0283 Susanna Lucia Lamaina photographs of former Black Panther Party members, 1984-2015 https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/8814876 SC0539 Donald T. Carlson papers, 1952-1995, contains files on the guest professorship st Stanford in 1976 https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4501489 M0864 Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation Inc. collection, 1968 -1994 https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084258 M2680 Elbert "Big Man" Howard papers (forthcoming) MISC 374 Free Street; Free Huey poster, 1968 https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084175 MISC 593 Jean Genet Letters to David Hilliard and Charles Garry, 1970-1972 https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084887 Related Collections, Other Archives Harvard University, Schlesinger Library. Papers of Angela Y. Davis, 1937-2017 University of Central Florida. Angela Y. Davis collection University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections. Angela Davis ephemera collection Claremont Colleges. Angela Davis materials, 1970-1972 University of California Santa Cruz Special Collections and Archives. Thorne (John E.) papers Conditions Governing Use While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. Scope and Contents The records of the National United Committee to Free Angela Davis (NUCFAD) consists overwhelmingly of support letters, most sent from East Germany and the Soviet Union, which the group used to demonstrate international outrage concerning Angela Davis' conspiracy trial in California. The collection also contains some of the organization's administrative records, publications and correspondence with a variety of other political organizations. There is a small amount of material by Guide to the National United M02621951 2 Committee to Free Angela Davis Records M0262 Davis herself. This collection was created in the course of a massive defense campaign following the capture and trial of Angela Davis. She was accused of abetting an attempted jailbreak at the Marin County courthouse, but it was clear that she was equally on trial as a Communist, as a Black woman, and as a public intellectual advocating revolution. Material is almost entirely from the period surrounding her trial and the events prior to it - from 1970 to 1972. The collection contains hundreds of boxes of support letters, cards and petitions from around the world, the bulk of which are the results of state-led efforts in Communist Bloc countries (such as East Germany's "Million Roses" campaign). These were retained by the Committee to quantify public opinion, and original organizing and counting was conducted by NUCFAD. Further ordering may have been done by library staff upon the collection's receipt not long after the jury found Davis innocent, and this order was maintained while fully processing the collection. A project running concurrently with the organizing of letters from the GDR and USSR has resulted in a very granular geographic description based on postmarks and return addresses for thousands of letters. Cyrillic has been included in the listing for most Russian locations. Correspondents from the United States are also sorted by state, although letters identified as being from incarcerated and military correspondents are filed separately. Europe is represented very heavily in the campaigns, especially the other Communist countries of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. Support was also strong in France, Italy, West Germany, Finland, and Belgium. The majority of Commonwealth letters come from Australia. Davis was relocated several times before her trial started, and it is remarkable how many letters successfully arrived at NUCFAD offices, especially considering how vague many of the addresses are. Many letters were also addressed to Judge Richard Arnason and the Santa Clara District Court as well as lawyers, sheriffs, governor Reagan, and president Nixon. Often, support letters arrived in bulk mailings sent by schools, worker and youth groups, factory collectives and similar institutions. Packages and tubes contained a variety of hand-drawn and printed posters, collages, artwork, proclamations, banners and cloth petitions. Many children are compelled to draw images of Davis (and in the case of the Million Roses campaign, red flowers). Some of these packages also contained magazines, books, and gifts. Although selected examples are sometimes separated from the many boxes of nearly identical pre-printed cards, letters have been generally kept under country of origin. Many of the letters are unopened. it should also be noted that there is often only a single folder of letters from most of the countries listed. NUCFAD's administrative files include memoranda, notes, publications and correspondence related to fundraising, Free Angela campaigns, and press access to Davis. There is also material related to the trial from her legal team, including minutes, briefs, and correspondence. Although the collection contains very little of Davis's own work or writing, there are a few letters and draft statements, as well some family-related letters. There is also an annotated typescript copy of her book "If They Come in the Morning." Along with newspaper and magazine clippings about Davis, there is a great deal of printed political material in the collection, including books, magazines, pamphlets, newsletters, posters, handbills, and related items. Most are filed in their own series, although some are located under their country of origin. For better or worse, Angela Davis was and continues to be an icon of radical politics and Black struggle. This collection serves as a snapshot of an important three years in her life, as reflected in movements around the world. Processing Information Collection processed by Paul Lowood, Natasha Porfirenko, and Gurudarshan Khalsa. Subjects and Indexing Terms African Americans -- History -- 20th century African American women political activists Women political activists -- United States -- History African American intellectuals -- Political activity Women political prisoners -- United States Trials (Conspiracy) -- United States -- California Communism and African Americans National United Committee to Free Angela Davis Davis, Angela Y. (Angela Yvonne), 1944- Guide to the National United M02621951 3 Committee to Free Angela Davis Records M0262 Series 1. National United Committee to Free Angela Davis (NUCFAD) legal & administrative files, corr... 1.1. NUCFAD publications Series 1. National United Committee to Free Angela Davis (NUCFAD) legal & administrative files, correspondence & publications Scope and Contents Files have been mostly kept as they were, with a few folders added later. Contains NUCFAD publications (including newsletters, bulletins, press releases, brochures & booklets, fliers & posters), some also in draft form ; staff correspondence, including with Fania Davis Jordan (Angela's sister: see also AYD family and elsewhere) ; legal files (small but important set of documents, mostly assembled by defense lawyer Margaret Burnham)