Finding Aid to the Corinne Gilb Collection
Finding aid prepared by Labor Archives and Research Center staff.
Labor Archives and Research Center
2006, revised 2015
San Francisco State University
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722
larc@sfsu.edu
Title: Corinne Gilb collection
Date (inclusive): 1951-1963
Creator:
Gilb, Corinne L.
Extent:
6.25 cubic feet
(16 boxes and 1 oversize box)
Collection number: larc.ms.0065
Accession number: 2005/002
Repository:
Labor Archives and Research Center
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
San Francisco State University
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722
(415) 405-5571
larc@sfsu.edu
Abstract: This collection documents Dr. Corinne Gilb's work in her position as the first Director of the Regional Cultural History Project,
the forerunner of the Regional Oral History Office (ROHO), at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). The collection
documents early methodology for conducting oral histories and includes interviews, conducted for the Institute of Industrial
Relations at UC Berkeley, of union members, employers, and professionals in the labor relations field. The histories describe
the daily work of typographers, teamsters, and retail clerks from the early 1900s to the 1950s, and provide a detailed history
of San Francisco Bay Area labor relations during that period.
Physical Location: Collection is available onsite.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English.
Availability
Collection is open for research.
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Labor Archives and Research Center. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the Labor Archives and Research Center as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Corinne Gilb Collection, larc.ms. 0065, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State
University.
Acquisition
The bulk of this collection was donated in 2004 by Dr. Gilb's daughters, Lesley Taplin and Tyra Gilb. Additional material
was received a year later and has been incorporated into the collection. Accession number 2005/002.
Processing Information
The collection was initially processed by Carol Cuénod in 2005 and 2006, with additional processing by Labor Archives and
Research Center staff in 2015.
Arrangement:
The materials have been arranged into six series. Series 1: Oral History Programs; Series 2: Oral History Manual; Series 3:
Interviews; Series 4: File Card Boxes; Series 5: Research Materials and Working Papers; Series 6: Clippings
Biographical Note
Dr. Corinne Lathrop Gilb (1925-2003), a native of Canada, came to the United States with her family at the age of 8. She attained
her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington, and her Ph.D. from Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
She then moved to California where she earned a master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley),
and attended Boalt Hall School of Law for 3 years. From 1953 to 1957, Dr. Gilb established and directed the Regional Cultural
Oral History Project, later known as the Regional Oral History Office (ROHO), at UC Berkeley. In 1957, she accepted a position
at the Institute of Industrial Relations at UC Berkeley where she was responsible for creating an oral history program in
the field of labor relations. Dr. Gilb conducted interviews not only with key figures in the labor movement, but also with
veteran workers, local union members, lawyers, judges, anthropologists, sociologists, and other active participants in labor
relations.
Between 1964 and 1968, Dr. Gilb taught courses in history both at Mills College and San Francisco State University. In 1969,
after returning from several months in Paris on a Guggenheim Scholarship, she was invited to join the history department at
Wayne State University in Detroit. During her tenure at Wayne State University, Dr. Gilb remained active as a writer and public
speaker and, from 1979 to 1985, also served as Planning Director for the City of Detroit.
After retiring from Wayne State University in 1994 as Professor Emeritus, Dr. Gilb and her husband, Tyrell Gilb, moved to
Atherton, California where she founded Atherton Press, Ltd. for academic publications.
Scope and Contents
This collection documents Dr. Corinne Gilb's work at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) in her position
as the first Director of the Regional Cultural (Oral) History Project, the forerunner of the Regional Oral History Office
(ROHO). The collection documents early methodology for conducting oral histories and includes interviews, conducted for the
Institute of Industrial Relations at UC Berkeley, of union members, employers, and professionals in the labor relations field.
The histories describe the daily work of typographers, teamsters, and retail clerks from the early 1900s to the 1950s, and
provide a history of San Francisco Bay Area labor relations during that period.
Series 1 and 2 contain correspondence, notes, legal forms, reports, and financial documents that describe Gilb's work at UC
Berkeley, in particular, the development of two oral history projects, an oral history manual, and the techniques necessary
for conducting oral histories for historical research. Series 3, Interviews, comprises twenty-four completed interviews edited
by Gilb for clarity and continuity, and by the interviewee for content. Many of the interviews are accompanied by an introduction,
table of contents, appendix and index; others include correspondence, notes by the interviewer, lists of prepared questions,
and news clippings and other supporting documentation. Drafts, partial interviews, and notes regarding potential interviews
are also included in this series. Series 4, File Card Boxes, contains handwritten note cards created by Gilb. These file
card boxes, divided by subject headings, contain interview questions, biographical information, contact information, and comments.
Series 5, Research Materials and Working Papers, consists of research materials collected by Gilb on labor unions and other
subjects such as education, communism, and nuclear disarmament. Also included in this series are copies and drafts of papers
written by Gilb after she left the oral history program. The last series, Clippings, includes clippings from various newspapers
spanning the years 1948 to 1970.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Labor -- California -- History -- 20th century.
Oral histories.
Strikes and lockouts -- California -- San Francisco.
Labor movement -- California -- History.
Labor union members -- United States -- Interviews.
Labor unions -- Organizing -- California.
Longshoremen's Strike, San Francisco, Calif., 1934.
Bombings -- California -- San Francisco
Pacific Maritime Association.
Mooney, Tom.
Retail Clerks International Union.
International Typographical Union.
University of California, Berkeley.
Billings, Warren K., 1883-1966.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Lapham, Roger D. (Roger Dearborn).
Regional Cultural History Project (University of California, Berkeley).
University of California, Berkeley. Institute of Industrial Relations.
Field, Sara Bard, 1882-1974.
Havenner, Franck, R.
Vail, Larry.
Tobriner, Mathew Oscar, 1904-1982.
St. Sure, Joseph Paul, 1902-1966.
Neylan, John Francis, 1885-1960.
Melnikow, Henry P.
Hodge, Frederick Webb, 1864-1956.
San Francisco Employers' Council.
Wirin, A.L.
Series 1:
Oral History Programs
1953-1960, undated
Extent: 15 folders (box 1, folders 1-15)
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Scope and Contents
Series contains correspondence, notes, financial documents, and reports related to the development of the Regional Cultural
History Project and Oral History Project at the Institute of Industrial Relations at UC, Berkeley. Includes grant application
materials and expense sheets related to equipment and travel.
box 1, folder 1
University of California Oral Histories proposal and report
undated
box 1, folder 2
Regional Cultural History Project
1955-1957
box 1, folder 3
Regional Cultural History Project correspondence
1955-1959
box 1, folder 4
Regional Cultural History Project legal forms
1955-1957
box 1, folder 5
University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Industrial Relations Oral History Program correspondence
1956-1960
box 1, folder 6
University of California, Los Angeles, Institute of Industrial Relations Oral History Program correspondence
1957-1960
box 1, folder 7
Articles and reports by Corinne Gilb
1954-1959
box 1, folder 8
Columbia University Oral History Program
1953-1958
box 1, folder 9
Forest History Foundation Oral History Project
1957-1958
box 1, folder 10
University of California Survey Research Center
1956
box 1, folder 12
Instructions for transcription format
undated
box 1, folder 14
Oral history equipment
undated
box 1, folder 15
Oral history questions
undated
Series 2:
Oral History Manual
undated
Extent: 2 folders (box 1, folders 16-17)
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Scope and Contents
Includes documents related to the process of compiling an oral history manual. Focuses on the research, preparation, and organizational
skills needed to conduct an oral history, as well as providing interview techniques, suggested questions, and rights information.
box 1, Folder 17
Oral History manual, draft
undated
Series 3:
Interviews
1908-1965
1955-1965
Extent: 72 folders (box 2, folders 1-6; box 3, folders 1-6; box 4, folders 1-8; box 5, folders 1-4; box 6, folders 1-6; box 7, folders 1-7; box
8, folders 1-6; box 9, folders 1-8; box 10, folders 1-5; box 11, folders 1-5; box 12, folders 1-5; box 13, folders 1-6)
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by interviewee.
Scope and Contents
Comprises transcripts of interviews and associated notes. Includes interviews with union members and leaders, employers, politicians,
elected officials, and lawyers, as well as professionals who worked in the field of labor relations. There are a variety of
documents associated with each oral history interview: correspondence, lists of questions, interview notes, first drafts,
edited drafts, and the final document, which may include assignment of copyright, an introduction, a table of contents, a
transcript of the interview, appendices, and an index.
All interviews are conducted by Corinne Gilb except where otherwise noted.
box 2, folder 1
Draft transcript, p. 1-200
1957
box 2, folder 2
Draft transcript, p. 201-404
1957
box 2, folder 3
Edited transcript with draft introduction
1957
box 2, folder 6
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
1957
box 3, folder 2
Interview questions, correspondence, and San Francisco News article, "Legal Blast" by Arthur Caylor.
1955
box 3, folder 3
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
1955
box 3, folder 4
Draft and final transcript
undated
Daniels, Woodie and Chris Maelstrom
Scope and Contents
Corinne Gilb and Jefferey Cohelan interview with two milk wagon drivers, members of International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Local 302 (Oakland, Calif.)
box 3, folder 5
Draft transcript of interview with Woodie Daniels
1957
box 3, folder 6
Draft transcript of interview with Chris Maelstrom
1957
box 4, folder 1
Final transcripts with introduction and table of contents
1957
Desepte, Warren G.
Scope and Contents
Corinne Gilb and David Selvin interview with Selvin Desepte, a grocery clerk and member of Retail Clerks Union Local 648 (San
Francisco, Calif.)
box 4, folder 3
Second draft transcript
1958
box 4, folder 5
Interview questions from Bob Knight
1955, July 15
box 4, folder 6
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
1955
Field, Sara Bard
Scope and Contents
Corinne Gilb and Professor James Caldwell interview with Sara Bard Field, noted poet and suffragist.
box 5, folder 1
Draft transcript with introduction
1953
box 5, folder 2
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
undated
Jinkerson, Claude and Maurice Hartshorn
Scope and Contents
Corinne Gilb and David Selvin interview with members of the Retail Clerks Union, Local 648.
box 5, folder 4
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
1958
box 6, folders 2-3
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
1946
box 6, folder 5
Interview questions on Pacific Coast Labor Bureau
1957-1963
box 6, folder 6
Draft transcript
1957-1963
box 7, folder 1
Volume I of final transcript with introduction and table of contents
1957-1963
box 7, folder 2
Volume II of final transcript
1957-1963
box 7, folder 3
Official biography from Western Conference of Teamsters
1958-1965
box 7, folder 4
Correspondence, notes, and interview questions
1958-1965
box 7, folder 5
Interview questions
1958-1965
box 7, folder 6
Draft transcript
1958-1965
box 7, folder 7
Draft transcript
1958-1965
box 8, folder 1
Draft transcript for interview
1963, December 23
box 8, folder 2
Draft transcript for interview
1965, February 9
box 8, folder 3
Draft transcript for interview
1965, July 6
box 8, folder 4
Draft transcript for interview
1965, July 12
box 8, folder 5
Volume I of final transcript with introduction and table of contents
1965
box 8, folder 6
Volume II of final transcript with appendices
1965
Neylan, John F.
Scope and Contents
Corinne Gilb and Walton Bean interview with John Francis Neylan, a former teamster and journalist who later became a lawyer
in San Francisco. Neylan negotiated the purchase of
San Francisco Call on behalf of William Randolph Hearst and, until 1937, remained general counsel for Heart's enterprises. In 1928 Neylan was
appointed to the Regents of the University of California where he served until his resignation in 1955. Includes correspondence,
interview notes, and a transcript, as well as minutes from the Board of Regents related to the loyalty oath imposed by the
University on all University employees.
box 9, folder 1
Correspondence and interview notes
1954-1961
box 9, folder 2
Interview questions and minutes of the Regents of the University of California
1954-1958
box 9, folder 3
Draft transcript with notes
1954-1958
box 9, folder 4
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and partial index
1955
box 9, folder 5
Correspondence, interview questions, pamphlets, and notes
1934-1956
Scope and Contents
Includes an address by Thomas J. Plant on NBC radio, January 16, 1937, in his position as Chairman of the Coast Committee
for the Shipowners. Also includes Plant's official statement before the National Longshoremen's Board regarding the 1934 Longshoremen's
strike.
box 9, folder 7
Final transcript with table of contents, introduction, and appendix
1956
St. Sure, Joseph Paul
General note
This oral history is located in LARC's Oral History Collection.
box 9, folder 8
Interview questions with alternative introduction
undated
box 10, folder 1
Partial index to oral history
undated
Silverthorn, G. A. "Fred"
Scope and Contents
Transcripts and notes related to Corinne Gilb and Jeffery Cohelan's interview with G.A. Silverthorn, Secretary-Treasureer
of the Milk Wagon Drivers Union, Local 302.
box 10, folder 2
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
1957
box 10, folder 4
Draft transcript
1958-1959
box 10, folder 5
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and appendix
1958-1959
box 11, folder 5
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
1958
box 12, folder 1
Interview questions and notes
1958-1959
box 12, folder 2
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
1958-1959
box 12, folder 3
Interview questions
1958-1959
box 12, folder 4
Draft transcript
1958-1959
box 12, folder 5
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
1958-1959
Wellstein, Fred and Steven Gilligan
box 13, folder 1
Correspondence, notes, and interview questions related to Milk Wagon Drivers
undated
box 13, folder 4
Final transcript with introduction, table of contents, and index
undated
Wirin, A.L.
Scope and Contents
Comprises correspondence and news clippings related to A.L. Wirin, prominant civil rights lawyer for the American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU). There are no interview notes or transcripts.
box 13, folder 5
Correspondence and news clippings
1953
Series 4:
File Card Boxes
undated
Extent: 2 boxes (box 14; box 15)
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
General note
Comprises two file card boxes containing handwritten notes divided by subject headings. The cards offer general subject information,
questions for interviews, notes, and biographical information related to the interviewees.
Box 14
File card box
undated
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Scope and Contents
Subject headings include: Interviews in Process; Ideas for Interviews; Addresses; People to Contact; Politics-Government;
Business; Architecture; Law; Agriculture; Associated Farmers; Food Processing; Raisin Industry; Peaches; Rice; Water and Power;
Industry; Shipping; Chamber of Commerce; Newspapers; Politics; Public Morals; Public Relations; Racial Minorities; Japan;
China; Greece; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Main Trends in California; Main Trends in United States; Business
Organizations.
Box 15
File card box
undated
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Scope and Contents
Subject headings include: Childhood; Education; Racial Minorities; Institutions-Bibliography; Interviewing; California; Politics;
Public Morals; Racial Minorities; University of California, Berkeley; Labor; Arbitration; Employers Organizations, Cannery
Labor; Central Labor Council; East Bay; Garment Workers; IWW; Grievance Procedures; Lawyers; Longshoremen; Los Angeles; Machinists;
Maritime Unions; Mooney Case; Labor People; National Rifle Association (NRA); Printing Trades; Railway Labor; Retail Clerks;
Strikes; Strike, 1919; General Strike, 1934; Strike, 1936; Strike, 1948; Union Rivalry; Union Structure; Labor Questions.
Series 5:
Research Materials and Working Papers
1951-1965, undated
Extent: 7 folders (box 16, folders 1-7)
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Scope and Content
Comprises pamphlets, booklets, flyers, bulletins, reports, and conference materials collected by Gilb on education, communism,
nuclear weapons, House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), and various unions. Also includes copies and drafts of papers
written by Gilb after she left the oral history program.
box 16, folder 1
HUAC and civil liberties materials
1951-1961
box 16, folder 2
Education and communism
1954-1962
Box 16, folder 3
Union bulletins and reports
1955-1958
Box 16, folder 4
Education and integration
1957, undated
Box 16, folder 5
Nuclear weapons and disarmament
1957-1959
Box 16, Carton 6
International Brotherhood of Teamsters conference materials
1959-1965
box 16, Folder 7
Corinne Gilb working papers
1965
Oversize-box 1
Series 6:
Clippings
1948-1970
Extent: 1 oversized items(Oversize box 1)
Arrangement
Arranged in chronological order.
Scope and Content
Clippings from various newspapers and bulletins including:
The Kennedy Convention Bulletin,
The Nation,
American Civil Liberties Union News,
Muhammad Speaks, and
Alert.
