Finding Aid for the Currin V. Shields Papers, 1953-1957

Processed by Dan Luckenbill; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
© 2004
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Finding Aid for the Currin V. Shields Papers, 1953-1957

Collection number: 2058

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division



Los Angeles, CA
Processed by:
Dan Luckenbill, August 1975
Encoded by:
Caroline Cubé, June 2004
Online finding aid edited by:
Josh Fiala, June 2004
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Currin V. Shields Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1953-1957
Collection number: 2058
Creator: Shields, Currin V.
Extent: 1 box (0.5 linear ft.)
Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Currin V. Shields (b.1918) was an instructor at Yale University (1947-50), assistant professor at UCLA (1950-60), and professor, head of the department of government and director of the Institute of Government Research at the University of Arizona (1960- ). He was also active in local Democratic organizations and the California Democratic Council (CDC) serving as co-chairman of CDC's Political Action Committee (1955-57) and president of the West Valley Democratic Club (1957). His publications include Democracy and Catholicism in America (1958) and Democratic government in America (1965). The collection consists of correspondence, publications, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, and ephemera relating to Democratic political organizations and activities in California and the nation.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Restrictions on Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Gift of Currin V. Shields.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Currin V. Shields Papers (Collection 2058). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 4233773 

Biography

Currin V. Shields was born on February 18, 1918 in LaPorte, Indiana; AB, University of Nebraska, 1941; Ph.M, University of Wisconsin, 1943; Ph.D, Yale University, 1950; instructor, Yale University, 1947-50; assistant professor, UCLA, 1950-60; professor, head of the department of government, and director of the Institute of Government Research, University of Arizona, beginning in 1960; was active in local Democratic organizations and the beginnings of the California Democratic Council (CDC); served as co-chairman of CDC's Political Action Committee (1955-57) and became president of the West Valley Democratic Club in 1957; publications include Democracy and Catholicism in America (1958) and Democratic government in America (1965).

Biographical Narrative

Currin Vance Shields (1918- ) was a professor of political science at UCLA and was active in local Democratic organizations and the beginnings of the California Democratic Council. He was president of the West Valley Democratic Club in 1957 and co-chairman of CDC's Political Action Committee, 1955-1957.
These papers were a gift to the library from Mr. Shields and can be used in connection with the other CDC collections housed in the Department of Special Collections, collections which document California grass roots politics of the 1950s and 1960s.

Scope and Content

Collection consists of correspondence, publications, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, and ephemera relating to Democratic political organizations and activities in California and the nation. Organizations include the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee, the West Valley Democratic Club, and the California Democratic Council (CDC).

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Shields, Currin V.--Archives.
California Democratic Council.
Political science teachers--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources.
Political activists--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources.


 

Personal Political. [1953-1957]

Scope and Content Note

Materials not relating directly to any organization of which Shields was a member.
Box 1, Folder 1

Correspondence. 1953, 1957.

Box 1, Folder 2

Letters concerning and typescripts of statements on politics. 1955 and n.d.

Box 1, Folder 3

Pertaining to low-level campaign organization for Kefauver for president. 1955.

Creator/Collector: Kefauver, Estes

Scope and Content Note

Includes letter from Kefauver.
Box 1, Folder 4

Miscellaneous campaign and political mailing sent to Shields. 1955, 1957, and n.d.

 

Democratic Central Committee and Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee, [1955-1957 and n.d.]

Box 1, Folder 5

Memos, announcements, copy of By-laws, etc. 1955-1957 and n.d.

 

West Valley Democratic Club, [1955-1957]

Box 1, Folder 6

Calendar and announcement of meetings. 1955-1957.

Box 1, Folder 7

Newsletter. Title varies; usually called: West Valley Democrat. 1953-1957.

Physical Description: Incomplete.
 

Other Valley Democratic Organizations, [ca. 1955-1957]

Box 1, Folder 12

By-laws, mimeographed mailings. ca. 1955.

Creator/Collector: West Valley Forum for Democratic Women
Box 1, Folder 13

Includes samples of newsletters from Democratic Club and Van Nuys Democratic Club. ca. 1956-1957.

Creator/Collector: Miscellaneous Groups
 

22nd Congressional District, California Democratic Council, [1955-1957 and n.d.]

Box 1, Folder 14

Organizational materials. Standing rules, Executive council; form for roster; By-laws, etc. 1955.

Box 1, Folder 15

Agendas, announcements, and minutes of General meetings and Executive board. 1955.

Box 1, Folder 16

Agendas, announcements, and minutes of General meetings and Executive board. 1957.

Box 1, Folder 17

Correspondence. 1956-1957 and n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Primarily concerning delegates to CDC conventions.
Box 1, Folder 18

Miscellaneous. Memos, correspondence, rosters for CDC convention delegates, etc. ca. 1955-1957.

 

California Democratic Council, [1955]

 

Convention, Fresno. 1955 (2nd annual)

Box 1, Folder 19

Rosters of delegates from 22nd CD.

Box 1, Folder 20

Announcement, programs, etc.

Box 1, Folder 21

Correspondence. May-December 1955.

Creator/Collector: Political Action Committee
Box 1, Folder 22

Proposal by Currin Shields.

Creator/Collector: Political Action Committee
Box 1, Folder 23

Includes copy of CDC Constitution and By-laws as amended to March 20, 1955.

Creator/Collector: By-laws Committee
Box 1, Folder 24

Drafts of resolutions, resolutions published after convention, etc.

Creator/Collector: Miscellaneous Committees
 

Convention, Long Beach. 1957 (called Fifth annual on printed program)

Box 1, Folder 25

Rosters of delegates from 22nd CD.

Box 1, Folder 26

Printed programs, By-laws, etc.

Box 1, Folder 27

Memos, drafts, resolutions, etc.

Creator/Collector: Political Action Committee
Box 1, Folder 28

Legislative letter. Mimeographed newsletter from Frank Hart, chairman of Committee on Political Action. April-May 1957.

Creator/Collector: Political Action Committee
Box 1, Folder 29

Miscellaneous memos, resolutions, reports, etc.