Oral Histories

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1. Interview of Joe Passen

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Communist Party
Literature
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...
Biographical Note:
Member of the Communist Party and union organizer.

2. Interview of Angela Ward

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Communist Party
Literature
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...
Biographical Note:
Member of the Communist Party and the Independent Progressive Party. Organizer for the Office and Professional Employees Union and the Utility Workers Organizing Committee of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).

3. Interview of Bill Bailey

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Communist Party
Literature
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...
Biographical Note:
Member of the Communist Party. Served with the Republican forces of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War.

4. Interview of James L. Daugherty

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Length:
13.3 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Union organizer and president of the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 1414. President of the California Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and member of the Communist Party.

5. Interview of Victoria A. Fromkin

Topic:
Social Movements
UCLA and University of California History
Communist Party
UCLA Faculty
UCLA Administration
Length:
13.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
UCLA vice chancellor of graduate programs and professor of linguistics. Activist and member of the Communist Party.

6. Interview of Alfred Lewis Levitt

Topic:
Social Movements
Communist Party
Film and Television
Length:
10.65 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the recollections of selected individuals in Los Angeles who were affected by the Hollywood blacklist during the Joseph R. McCarthy-J. Edgar Hoover era.
Biographical Note:
Screenwriter who was blacklisted in the post-World War II Hollywood blacklist.

7. Interview of Elizabeth Poe Kerby

Topic:
Social Movements
Film and Television
Communist Party
Length:
3 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the recollections of selected individuals in Los Angeles who were affected by the Hollywood blacklist during the Joseph R. McCarthy-J. Edgar Hoover era.
Biographical Note:
Journalist who wrote articles exposing the post-World War II Hollywood blacklist.

8. Interview of Rossana Perez

Topic:
Social Movements
Latina and Latino History
Central Americans in Southern California
Community Activism
Length:
9 hrs
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
This series of interviews includes activists who were involved in founding and sustaining organizations in the Central American community in the 1980s. It examines the participants' activism and political persecution in Central America, their immigration to the U.S., and the ways they organized t...
Biographical Note:
Immigrant from El Salvador who worked with El Rescate and Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero. Participated in founding of the Department of Central American Studies at California State University, Northridge.

9. Interview of Michelle Katz

Topic:
Social Movements
Environmental Illness
Length:
1 hr
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness is a collection of interviews with over seventy individuals living in the U.S. and Canada whose family history, occupation, art practice, or activism have brought them into direct contact with illness experience and disability relate...
Biographical Note:
Interviewed for the UCLA Center for the Study of Women’s Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness series. Diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Run support group for people with MCAS in East Bay, California.

10. Interview of Douglas A. Martin

Topic:
Social Movements
UCLA and University of California History
Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement
UCLA Administration
Length:
8.2 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Co-founder and executive director of the Westside Center for Independent Living and disability services coordinator for the city of Culver City. Special assistant to the chancellor and ADA/504 compliance officer at UCLA.

11. Interview of Bernita Walker

Topic:
Social Movements
Women's Issues
Length:
3.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Women’s Activist Lives in Los Angeles is a series of interviews done by graduate research assistants under the auspices of UCLA’s Center for the Study of Women. The series addresses the diverse ways in which women’s social movement activities affected public policy and transformed civic institut...
Biographical Note:
Co-founder and executive director of Project Peacemakers, Inc., which provides support for those escaping domestic abuse. Executive director of the Jenesse Center, which helps African American women who have been abused.

12. Interview of John Bright

Topic:
Social Movements
Communist Party
Film and Television
Length:
1.9 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the recollections of selected individuals in Los Angeles who were affected by the Hollywood blacklist during the Joseph R. McCarthy-J. Edgar Hoover era.
Biographical Note:
Screenwriter and co-founder of the Screen Writers Guild who was blacklisted in the post-World War II Hollywood blacklist.

13. Interview of Edna Whitehouse

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Communist Party
Literature
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...
Biographical Note:
Member of the Communist Party.

14. Interview of John Nichols

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Communist Party
Literature
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...

15. Interview of Frank Wilkinson

Topic:
Social Movements
Civil Liberties
Length:
58.75 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Civil liberties activist. Executive director of the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation and the First Amendment Foundation.

16. Interview of LaRee Caughey

Topic:
Social Movements
Civil Liberties
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Publisher of works about racially segregated education in Los Angeles with husband John Caughey.

17. Interview of Rachel Tilsen

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Communist Party
Literature
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...
Biographical Note:
Daughter of leftist novelist and journalist Meridel Le Sueur.

18. Interview of Jeff Corey

Topic:
Social Movements
Communist Party
Film and Television
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the recollections of selected individuals in Los Angeles who were affected by the Hollywood blacklist during the Joseph R. McCarthy-J. Edgar Hoover era.
Biographical Note:
Actor and acting teacher who was blacklisted in the post-World War II Hollywood blacklist.

19. Interview of Susan Molloy

Topic:
Social Movements
Environmental Illness
Length:
3.25 hrs
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness is a collection of interviews with over seventy individuals living in the U.S. and Canada whose family history, occupation, art practice, or activism have brought them into direct contact with illness experience and disability relate...
Biographical Note:
Interviewed for the UCLA Center for the Study of Women’s Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness series. Lives with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Disability policy activist in California and Arizona. Connected with the Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council (S...

20. Interview of Tillie Olsen

Topic:
Social Movements
Literature
Communist Party
Labor Movement
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...
Biographical Note:
Novelist and short story writer.

21. Interview of Walter Millsap

Topic:
Social Movements
Llano Cooperative Colony
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Member of the socialist community the Llano Del Rio colony. Head of the Llano Co-Operative Association and founder of United Cooperative Industries.

22. Interview of Chloe Durand

Topic:
Social Movements
Environmental Illness
Length:
1.5 hrs
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness is a collection of interviews with over seventy individuals living in the U.S. and Canada whose family history, occupation, art practice, or activism have brought them into direct contact with illness experience and disability relate...
Biographical Note:
Interviewed for the UCLA Center for the Study of Women’s Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness series, an artist and disability advocate from Canada who uses photography, performance, and poetry to bring awareness to those who suffer from environmental illnesses.

23. Interview of Ann Giagni

Topic:
Social Movements
LGBT Movement
Women's Issues
Length:
8.25 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Women’s Activist Lives in Los Angeles is a series of interviews done by graduate research assistants under the auspices of UCLA’s Center for the Study of Women. The series addresses the diverse ways in which women’s social movement activities affected public policy and transformed civic institut...
Biographical Note:
LGBTQ activist and board member of the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives.

24. Interview of William J. Fadiman

Topic:
Social Movements
Communist Party
Film and Television
Length:
1.75 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Story editor and producer.

25. Interview of Ava Marleow

Topic:
Social Movements
Environmental Illness
Length:
1.75 hrs
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness is a collection of interviews with over seventy individuals living in the U.S. and Canada whose family history, occupation, art practice, or activism have brought them into direct contact with illness experience and disability relate...
Biographical Note:
Interviewed for the UCLA Center for the Study of Women’s Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness series, an individual with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, involved with Pure Food Campaign (now called the Organic Consumers Association). Advocate for MCS awareness.

26. Interview of Elinor Glenn

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Length:
6.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Co-founding officer of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and president of the United Public Workers Local 246. General manager for GM at Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 434.

27. Interview of Martha Roth

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Communist Party
Literature
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...

28. Interview of Meridel Le Sueur

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Literature
Communist Party
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...
Biographical Note:
Leftist novelist and journalist.

29. Interview of Reeva Olson

Topic:
Social Movements
Communist Party
Literature
Labor Movement
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...
Biographical Note:
Business representative of the Office and Professional Employees International Union.

30. Interview of Alice McGrath (1984-85)

Topic:
Latina and Latino History
Social Movements
Sleepy Lagoon Case
Civil Liberties
Length:
16.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Activist. Executive secretary for the Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee and volunteer for the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).

31. Interview of Loretta Starvus Stack

Topic:
Social Movements
Literature
Communist Party
Labor Movement
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...
Biographical Note:
Organizing secretary for the California State Communist Party.

32. Interview of Ruth Maguire

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Communist Party
Literature
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by Constance Coiner, a faculty member at SUNY Binghampton and a former graduate student at UCLA, as background for her book Better Red: The Writing and Resistance of Tillie Olsen and Meridel Le Sueur. They were donated to UCLA after her death by her husband, Stephe...
Biographical Note:
Member of the Communist Party.

33. Interview of William C. Aston

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Length:
7.1 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Machine shop worker and chair of the United Automobile Workers, Local 887.

35. Interview of Roy Brewer

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Trade union leader and international representative for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). President of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals and vice-chairman of the Council Against Communist Aggression.

36. Interview of Seniel Ostrow

Topic:
Social Movements
Civil Liberties
Length:
14 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Civil rights activist and owner of the Sealy Mattress Company.

37. Interview of Sam Rosenwein

Topic:
Social Movements
Civil Liberties
Length:
6 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Lawyer, educator, and executive secretary of the National Lawyers Guild.

38. Interview of John Delloro

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
These interviews were conducted by UCLA professor Karen Brodkin and are part of a larger study of a cohort of labor and immigrant worker organizers in Los Angeles who began their activism in the latter 1990s. The interviews deal with the life paths that led interviewees to full-time activism and...

39. Interview of Abraham L. Wirin

Topic:
Social Movements
Civil Liberties
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California.

40. Interview of John W. Caughey

Topic:
Social Movements
Civil Liberties
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
UCLA professor of history. Civil rights activist involved with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

41. Interview of Donald Gordon

Topic:
Social Movements
Communist Party
Film and Television
Length:
1.5 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the recollections of selected individuals in Los Angeles who were affected by the Hollywood blacklist during the Joseph R. McCarthy-J. Edgar Hoover era.
Biographical Note:
Story editor who was blacklisted in the post-World War II Hollywood blacklist.

42. Interview of Barbara Nestor

Topic:
Social Movements
Communist Party
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Chair of the Southern California chapter of the Communist Party.

43. Interview of Jack B. Tenney

Topic:
Politics and Government
Social Movements
Film and Television
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
U.S. senator from 1943 to 1955 and 38th district California State Assembly member from 1936 to 1942. Head of the California Senate Factfinding Subcommittee on Un-American Activities ("Tenney Committee") and leader of anti-communist investigations.

44. Interview of Stanley K. Sheinbaum

Topic:
Social Movements
Civil Liberties
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Human rights activist and member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Advisory Council. Organizer of the Daniel Ellsberg Pentagon Papers defense team and president of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners.

45. Interview of William B. Elconin

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Social worker and union organizer for the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE).

46. Interview of Wyndham Mortimer

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Vice-president of the United Automobile Workers union and member of the Communist Party.

47. Interview of Paul Russo

Topic:
Social Movements
Labor Movement
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Union organizer for United Automobile Workers Local 72.

48. Interview of Karen Brodkin

Topic:
UCLA and University of California History
Social Movements
UCLA Faculty
Length:
11 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Women’s Activist Lives in Los Angeles is a series of interviews done by graduate research assistants under the auspices of UCLA’s Center for the Study of Women. The series addresses the diverse ways in which women’s social movement activities affected public policy and transformed civic institut...
Biographical Note:
UCLA professor of anthropology. Activist for LGBTQ rights and labor unionization.

49. Interview of Mary Davenport

Topic:
Social Movements
Communist Party
Film and Television
Length:
2.25 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series preserve the recollections of selected individuals in Los Angeles who were affected by the Hollywood blacklist during the Joseph R. McCarthy-J. Edgar Hoover era.
Biographical Note:
Wife of screenwriter Waldo Salt, who was blacklisted in the post-World War II Hollywood blacklist.

50. Interview of Lester Rodney

Topic:
Social Movements
Journalism
Communist Party
Length:
3 hrs.
Language:
English
Audio:
Biographical Note:
Sports journalist and editor for the Daily Worker. Member of the Communist Party.