Description
The Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute (MCLI) Collections document twentieth century American legal battles over civil liberties,
human rights, labor rights, anti-war, peace law, nuclear proliferation and academic freedom. The collection is built around
a core collection of legal case files assembled by the institute since 1965 for legal researchers. The Meiklejohn Institute
has documented over 9000 civil liberties cases in a series of published guides: Civil Liberties Docket, Human Rights Docket, Human Rights and Peace Law Docket, and Human Rights Casefinder, 1953-1969, the Warren Court Era. Over 3000 or these cases have corresponding files in the cores collection. Case files may include all or a selection of
the following: legal briefs, memorandum, pleadings, court transcripts, case histories, research materials, correspondence,
news clippings, pamphlets, and attorney's drafts.
Background
The Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute (MCLI) was incorporated as an independent, non-profit organization in 1965 by Ann
Fagan Ginger in Berkeley, California. The Institute bears the name of innovative educator and scholar Alexander Meiklejohn,
a lifelong champion of civil liberties and social justice. Ginger established the unique center on human rights because she
thought that effective, innovative legal research, writing, and courtroom strategies should be shared among all lawyers and
clients in the constitutional law fields of civil liberties, due process, and civil rights.
Extent
183 Cartons, 71 Boxes; 2 Oversize Boxes; 2 Card File Boxes; 1 Oversize B Folder
Restrictions
Copyright has been not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the appropriate curator or the Head of Public Services for forwarding. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and the copyright.
Availability
Collection is open for research with the following exceptions: Series 1.3, 3.3, 6.2, 6.5, and 9.4 need processing review by
Public Services before they can be served to the public; Series 2.2, 4.1, 4.4, 5.1, 5.2, 7.3, and 9.2 need curatorial review
before they can be served to the public. Please see reference desk for an Application for Access to Restricted Material (ARM)
form. See on-line catalog record to determine availability.