Meryl and Manny Sunshine papers HLL.2019.026
Allison Ransom
Holt Labor Library at CSU Dominguez Hills
September 2020
Contributing Institution:
Holt Labor Library at CSU Dominguez Hills
Title: Meryl and Manny Sunshine papers
Creator:
Meryl Sunshine, 1931-2010
Creator:
Manuel Sunshine
Identifier/Call Number: HLL.2019.026
Physical Description:
5 Linear Feet
Physical Description:
5 boxes
(cartons)
Date (inclusive): 1950-2002
Date (bulk): ca. 1980-1995
Abstract: The collection contains the papers of Meryl and Manny Sunshine, socialist activists who were members of the Freedom Socialist
Party, Radical Women, the Committee for a Revolutionary Socialist Party, the Peace and Freedom Party, and other organizations.
It includes subject files, convention and conference materials, leaflets, photographs, bulletins, reports, memoranda, press
releases, minutes, publications, election materials, and draft proposals.
Language of Material: Collection material is in English.
Content Description
The Meryl and Manny Sunshine papers, 1950-2002, undated, comprise convention and conference materials, leaflets, discussion
bulletins, minutes, reports, memoranda, press releases, and subject files related to the activities and statuses of the Freedom
Socialist Party, Radical Women, and the Committee for a Revolutionary Socialist Party. Also included are membership documents,
election materials, leaflets, photographs, convention documents, minutes, by-laws, platforms, reports, publications, and draft
proposals regarding the Peace and Freedom Party, as well as one file regarding the incarceration of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Various
subject files concerning political committees, such as the Ad Hoc Committee to Aid Journalists of Principle, the Los Angeles
Conference on Revolutionary Regroupment, the Physicians Organizing Committee, and the Bay Area Supporters of the Mark Curtis
Defense are present. The collection contains materials from conferences held by political and labor organizations, such as
the Coalition of Labor Women and the Committees of Correspondence, as well as the "'Progressive Politics in a Conservative
Era,' West Coast Conference on Socialism and Activism," and a Jewish Feminist Conference, among others. Subject files concerning
women and employment, as well as international politics and the environment are also present.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research, except for three restricted files.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Allison Ransom in September 2020.
Preferred Citation
Custodial History
The Meryl and Manny Sunshine papers were donated to the Holt Labor Library in San Francisco, California between 2002 and 2019,
and were acquired by the Gerth Archives and Special Collections at California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2019.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series: Series I. Freedom Socialist Party, Radical Women, and the Committee for a Revolutionary
Socialist Party files, 1966-1993, undated; Series II. Peace and Freedom Party files, 1974-2000, undated; Series III. Political
and labor subject files, 1950-2002, undated.
Biographical / Historical
Meryl (1931-2010) and Manny Sunshine were socialist activists who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. They were members of
the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) until 1968, when they left the organization after it expelled Arne Swabeck, who was one
of its founders. In 1977, they joined the Freedom Socialist Party, which is a socialist feminist political party that was
founded by former members of the Seattle, Washington branch of the SWP. Meryl was also a member of Radical Women, a socialist
feminist organization that merged with the Freedom Socialist Party in 1973. Both Meryl and Manny were involved with the Committee
for a Revolutionary Socialist Party (CRSP), which was affiliated with the Freedom Socialist Party as well. While active in
the Freedom Socialist Party and its allied organizations, both Meryl and Manny were committed to trade union and working class
advocacy, revolutionary feminism, abortion rights, gay liberation, and racial justice. They were also involved with the Peace
and Freedom Party, which is a socialist organization that is committed to feminism and racial equality, as well as with various
Jewish activist organizations including the Jewish Peace Coalition.
Reference:
Sunshine, M. and M. (1978). From SWP to FSP- the odyssey of two radicals.
Freedom Socialist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Socialism -- United States -- 20th century
Labor unions -- United States -- 20th century
Women and socialism -- United States
Women -- Employment -- United States
Trotskyism -- United States
Peace and Freedom Party (Calif.) (1967-)
Freedom Socialist Party (U.S.) (1966-)
Committee for a Revolutionary Socialist Party
Series I. Freedom Socialist Party, Radical Women, and Committee for a Revolutionary Socialist Party files
1966-1993, undated
carton 1, folder 1-2
Article and book chapter photocopies
1978-1990, undated
carton 1, folder 3
Boot, Tom. "The Crusade Against the 'Clique'": what happened in San Francisco FSP/RW and why"
1992, March 1
carton 1, folder 4
Convention documents, Freedom Socialist Party
1988
carton 1, folder 5
Leaflets
1982-1986, undated
carton 1, folder 6
Letter and notices
1978-1990, undated
carton 1, folder 7-8
Memoranda and press releases
1982-1991, undated
carton 1, folder 9-11
Minutes and reports
1982-1992, undated
carton 1, folder 12-13
Newsletters, bulletins and pamphlets
1971-1987
carton 1, folder 14
Notes and writings
1989, undated
carton 1, folder 15
"On Criticism" by Meryl Sunshine, and S. Williams response
1992, undated
carton 1, folder 16
Radical Women memoranda, leaflets, bulletins, and notes
1971-1993
carton 2, folder 1
"Abortion rights," Radical Women
1985-1990
carton 2, folder 2
"A Decade of Socialist Feminism," Tenth Anniversary Conference, Radical Women
1978, January 27-29
carton 2, folder 3
A.I.D.S.
1986-1989, undated
carton 2, folder 4
Australia
1983, 1990-1991, undated
carton 2, folder 5
Bay Area Coalition Against Operation Rescue (B.A.C.A.O.R.)
1984-1990
carton 2, folder 6
Big Mountain Support Group
1985-1986, undated
carton 2, folder 7
"Black Struggle"
1984-1991
carton 2, folder 9
Clara Fraser Defense Committee and the Ad Hoc Coalition for Equal Opportunity at City Light (articles, leaflets, and notices)
1982-1983
carton 2, folder 10
Clinic Defense Committee (CDC)
1985, undated
carton 2, folder 11
Clinic Defense Committee (CDC) and The Committee to Defend Reproductive Rights
1983-1988
carton 2, folder 12
"Clique Fight," Freedom Socialist Party
1983-1993
carton 2, folder 13
Community Organizer's Workshop, sponsored by Radical Women and Freedom Socialist Party
1989, undated
carton 2, folder 14
"Computer materials" documents
1988-1993, undated
carton 2, folder 15
Comrades of Color caucus meeting and Radical Women open house
1982, undated
carton 2, folder 17
Elections
1982-1987, 1991
carton 2, folder 19
Educational reading materials
1988, undated
carton 2, folder 20-21
"Fascist Skinheads"
1988-1992, undated
carton 2, folder 22
"Foreign Alliances," Radical Women
1990, undated
carton 2, folder 23
The Freedom Socialist newspaper
1977, 1981-1983
carton 2, folder 24
"Freedom Socialist paper sales" documents
1988-1991
carton 2, folder 25
"Freeway Hall Case"
1986-1992, undated
carton 3, folder 1-2
"Freeway Hall Case"
1986-1992, undated
carton 3, folder 3
Fund Drive, Freedom Socialist Party
1988-1992
carton 3, folder 4
Israel and Palestine
1989-1992
carton 3, folder 5
"Labor" documents
1977, 1989
carton 3, folder 6
Leon Goodman letters to Meryl Sunshine
1991-1992
carton 3, folder 7
Letters to the editor,
San Francisco Examiner and
SF Weekly
1990-1992
carton 3, folder 9
Merle Woo Defense Committee
1982-1984
carton 3, folder 10
"Meryl's paper for Radical Women conference"
1989, undated
carton 3, folder 12
"Perspectives for Democracy and Socialism in the 90s," Committees of Correspondence conference materials, Berkeley, CA
1992, July 17-19
carton 3, folder 13
Public Forum, "The Chicano Struggle"
1989, undated
carton 3, folder 14
Resignations, Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women
1992, undated
carton 3, folder 15
"Revolutionary Integration," Black History Month forum readings
1983, 1992
carton 3, folder 16
"Saving our Jobs and Working Conditions," Labor Notes West Coast Conference, Oakland CA
1983, undated
carton 3, folder 17
The Second National Plenum of the Comrades of Color caucus, San Francisco Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women
1989, September 2-4
carton 3, folder 18
Second Trotskyist/Revolutionary Socialist Conference materials
1986-1987, undated
carton 3, folder 19
"Speeches" manuscripts and typescripts
1966, 1986-1995, undated
carton 3, folder 20
Trotskyist conference materials
1985, November 30- December 1
carton 3, folder 21
"Welcome Chris" party
1989
Series II. Peace and Freedom Party files
1974-2000, undated
carton 3, folder 22
By-laws, minutes, reports, platforms, draft propsal, membership documents, and discussion document
1982-1999
carton 3, folder 23
Convention documents, California Peace and Freedom Party
1974-1977
carton 3, folder 24
Election materials
1986-1996, undated
carton 3, folder 25
Leaflets and photographs
1983-1999, undated
carton 3, folder 26
Mumia Abu-Jamal mailings, petitions (blank) and "The Organizer" article
1999, undated
carton 4, folder 1
The Partisan newspaper of the Peace and Freedom Party of California
1994-1996, 1998, 2000
carton 4, folder 1
Newsletter of the State Central Committee, Peace and Freedom Party
1981, 1984
carton 4, folder 1
Peace and Freedom Party Newsletter
1988
Series III. Political and labor subject files
1950-2002, undated
carton 4, folder 2
Ad Hoc Committee to Aid Journalists of Principle
1992
carton 4, folder 3
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
1984-1988
carton 4, folder 4
Bay Area Supporters of the Mark Curtis Defense
1989
carton 4, folder 5
Bethlehem strike
1982, undated
Scope and Contents
Contains one black-and-white photograph of Manuel Sunshine
carton 4, folder 6
Bolshevik Tendency
1988-1993, undated
carton 4, folder 7
Bookstore and book ordering materials
1985, 1990, undated
carton 4, folder 8
Centro de Cambio
1981, undated
carton 4, folder 9
Coalition of Labor Women conference materials
1975, 1992-1993, undated
carton 4, folder 10
Committees of Correspondence convention documents and bulletins
1992-1994, undated
carton 4, folder 11
Constance Scott articles and reports
1994, undated
carton 4, folder 12
Crossroads: contemporary political analysis and left dialogue related documents
1991-1992
carton 4, folder 13
East Timor
1968, 1981-1982, 1992-1995
carton 4, folder 14
Computer Education, Regional Occupational Program
1991-1994, undated
carton 4, folder 15
Environmental and Agriculture
1970, 1991-1999, undated
carton 4, folder 17
Gordon Sunshine financial documents
1986-1987
Conditions Governing Use
Restricted.
carton 4, folder 18
"History Class Materials"
undated
carton 4, folder 19
"Infact: Nuclear Weaponmakers Campaign Update"
1990-1993
carton 4, folder 20
International Socialist and labor documents
1980-1989, undated
carton 4, folder 21
Jewish Feminist Conference materials
1982-1983
carton 4, folder 22
Jewish Peace Coalition
1989, 1992, undated
carton 4, folder 23
K101 radio station, Entertainment Connections, and Santa Monica High School Viking News mailings
1991-1994
carton 4, folder 24
Labor reports, leaflets, and bulletins
1981-1985, 1999
carton 4, folder 25
Los Angeles Conference on Revolutionary Regroupment
1977, undated
carton 4, folder 26
Meryl Sunshine birthday speech
1988, undated
carton 4, folder 27
Meryl Sunshine medical records
1985, 1994-1995, undated
Conditions Governing Use
Restricted.
carton 4, folder 28
"Options for Women Over 40," employment
1993-1997
carton 5, folder 1
"People's Park"
1991-1992
carton 5, folder 2
Physicians Organizing Committee (POC)
1993-1994
carton 5, folder 3-4
Political journals and bulletins
1966, 1982-2001
Scope and Contents
Contains
Notebooks for Study and Research, No. 19/20;
Scottish Workers Republic, Vol. 11, No. 111;
Proletariat: a class war publication, No. 4;
Solidarity Bulletin, No. 1;
North Coast Xpress, Vol. 7, No. 3;
Newsfront International, No. 268-269;
Workers Struggle, Vol. 3, No. 2-3;
El Nuevo Topo, No. 18 ;
Ink, No. 5;
Socialist Organizer Review, No. 2;
The Linus Pauling Institute Newsletter, 2001; "A neuropediatric approach to the diagnosis and management of school behavioral and learning disorders," from
Learning Disorders, Vol. 2
carton 5, folder 5
Political newspapers
1950, 1985-2002
Scope and Contents
Korean Independence, Vol. 8, No. 35;
Berkeley's Biko, Vol. 2, No. 12;
The Anti-WARrrior, Vol. 1, No. 3;
Pledge of Resistance Newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 2;
Green Consensus, No. 3;
News and Letters, Vol. 44, No. 6;
Workers Democracy, Vol. 1, No. 4;
for Peace and Solidarity, April 1987;
Workers World, Vol. 27, No. 6;
Street Sheet, March 2002;
The People, Vol. 110, No. 9, No. 111, No. 12;
The Organizer, Vol. 10, No. 6;
Independent Politics News, Issue No. 5;
Workers Vanguard, No. 734;
Socialist Action Vol. 19, No. 3
carton 5, folder 6-7
Political reports, leaflets, and notices
1956, 1981-2001
Scope and Contents
Contains one black-and-white photograph of an anti-McCarthyism protest. Also contains documents related to the International
Liaison Committee for a Worker's International (ILC), Internationalist Workers Party, Workers Socialist League, United Democratic
Front (UDF), Socialist Workers Party (SWP), Workers Struggle, Trotskyist International Liaison Committee, Committee for a
Revolutionary Socialist Party, Coalition against the Marcos Dictatorship/ Philippine Solidarity Network (CAMD/PSN), Labor
Party and Worker's International, Dennis Banks Defense Committee, and the Committee to Stop the Moral Majority and Fascism.
carton 5, folder 8
Post-White House Conference on Aging, San Francisco, CA
1995, September 15
carton 5, folder 9
"Progressive Politics in a Conservative Era," West Coast Conference on Socialism and Activism, U.C. Berkeley
undated
carton 5, folder 10-11
San Francisco State University academic documents and notes
1983-2000
carton 5, folder 12
San Francisco State University transcripts and records
1983-2000
Conditions Governing Use
Restricted.
carton 5, folder 13
Temporary Workers Union
1994-1997, undated
carton 5, folder 14-15
Tikkun: a bimonthly Jewish critique of politics, culture, and society conference materials
1988-1997
carton 5, folder 16
Trotskyist/Revolutionary Socialist conference materials
1986-1987
carton 5, folder 17
"Trotsky School" and other class materials
1984, undated
carton 5, folder 18
"Wages for Housework" leaflest and notices
1992, undated
carton 5, folder 19
"Women and Work" class materials
1978
