John Birch Society Collection

1960s


Descriptive Summary

Title: John Birch Society Collection
Dates: 1960s
Collection Number: Consult repository
Creator/Collector: Sidney Gally.
Extent: 1 box
Repository: Pasadena Museum of History
Abstract: The John Birch Society Collection consists primarily of a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and books regarding the organization.
Language of Material: English

Access

Collection open for research.

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Research Library and Archives, Pasadena Museum of History.

Preferred Citation

John Birch Society Collection. Pasadena Museum of History

Acquisition Information

L2011-04-29. Donated by Mr. Sidney Gally of Pasadena, California.

Biography/Administrative History

The John Birch Society is an American political advocacy group that supports anti-communism, limited government, a Constitutional Republic and personal freedom. It was founded in 1958 by Robert W. Welch, Jr. The society was named for John Birch, a captain in the US Army who was supposedly murdered by Chinese Communists 10 days after VJ Day. It first came to the widespread attention of Pasadenans in reporter Bill Sumner's newspaper column of February 10, 1961 in the Pasadena Star-News. Southern Californian congressmen John H. Rousselot and Edgar W. Heisstand were members of the John Birch Society. the Society is still active with local chapters in all 50 states. The organization owns American Opinion Publishing, which publishes the journal The New American.

Scope and Content of Collection

The John Birch Society Collection consists of a scrapbook of newspaper clippings primarily from the Pasadena Star News and the LA Times from 1961. Book, The Blue Book of the John Birch Society, 4th printing, 1961, by Robert Welch. Book, The John Birch Society in California Politics, by Bryan W. Stevens, 1966.

Indexing Terms

limited government
anti-communist
Cold War
Constitutional Republic
Brown, Edmund G.(Edmund Gerald) -- 1905-1996
Rousselot, John H. -- 1927-2003
Kerr,Clark -- 1911-2003
Birch,John -- 1918-1945
ACLU
John Birch Society
California
U.S.
newspaper clippings
books (2)
Governor Edmund G. Brown Congressman John H. Rousselot Chancellor Clark Kerr Captain John Birch