Finding Aid for the Clifford E. Clinton Papers, 1934-1969

Processed by Dan Luckenbill; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
© 2003
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Finding Aid for the Clifford E. Clinton Papers, 1934-1969

Collection number: 2018

UCLA Library Special Collections

UCLA Library Special Collections staff



Los Angeles, CA
Processed by:
Dan Luckenbill, December 1973
Encoded by:
Caroline Cubé
Online finding aid edited by:
Josh Fiala, October 2003
© 2003 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Clifford E. Clinton Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1934-1969
Collection number: 2018
Creator: Clinton, Clifford E., 1900-1969
Extent: 13 boxes (6.5 linear ft.) 14 oversize boxes
Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Clifford E. Clinton (1900-1969) was a restauranteur active in Los Angeles politics. He was involved with the recall of Los Angeles mayor Frank Shaw and supported Fletcher Bowron as mayor of Los Angeles (1938), helped organize the Citizen's Independent Vice Investigating Committee (CIVIC), and was active in civic reform movements. Clinton ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1945. He was also involved with Community Food Service Centers, the development of multi-purpose food, and the Meals for Millions Foundation during World War II. The collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, publications, scrapbooks, radio scripts, photographs, and memorabilia related to Clinton's personal interests and business affairs, his restaurants, and Los Angeles politics, government, and social conditions.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library 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 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 Donald H. Clinton, 1973.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Clifford E. Clinton Papers (Collection 2018). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 964293 

Biography

Clifford E. Clinton was born in 1900; served in World War I; assumed management of father's six restaurants in San Francisco after marrying Nelda Patterson; moved to Los Angeles and founded the "Pacific Seas" Clifton's Cafeteria, 1931; later founded the Brookdale Cafeteria; became involved with Los Angeles politics in 1936 with John Anson Ford; involved with recall of Los Angeles mayor Frank Shaw and supported Fletcher Bowron as mayor of Los Angeles, 1938; helped organize the Citizen's Independent Vice Investigating Committee (CIVIC) and was active in civic reform movements; published brochure, The clock strikes twelve, 1945; ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1945; became involved with Community Food Service Centers, the development of multi-purpose food, and the Meals for Millions Foundation during World War II; died, 1969.

Biographical Narrative

Clifford E. Clinton was born in 1900 and died in 1969. His father was a restaurant owner and missionary; Clifford Clinton spent part of his childhood in China and early became acquainted with restaurant operations. He served in both World War I and World War II. Upon his discharge from service in World War I, he married Nelda Patterson. Shortly after, he assumed full management of his father's six restaurants in San Francisco.
In 1931, during the depression, Clinton moved to Los Angeles and founded what was to later become the "Pacific Seas" Clifton's Cafeteria. This cafeteria, and the later "Brookdale" Cafeteria, were operated according to his ideas of management, which included allowing guests to voice opinions on the quality of food and service via a publication distributed at the cafeterias, Food for Thot. Perhaps the most famous of the cafeteria slogans was "Dine free unless delighted." And there was a corollary statement to this: "Regardless of the amount of this check our cashier will cheerfully accept whatever you wish to pay--or you may dine free."
Clinton became involved in Los Angeles politics in 1936, when working with County Supervisor John Anson Ford in an investigation of waste in administering County General Hospital. Also in 1936, Ford suggested to Judge Fletcher Bowron that Clinton be nominated for the Grand Jury. It was during this period that Clinton, always a promoter of Los Angeles, decided that it should be cleaned up much the same way that New York was being cleaned up by Dewey and LaGuardia. He began a series of investigations into vice and gambling and prostitution. The Grand Jury refused to accept his findings, so he published a minority report, financed a radio program, "The People's Voice," and helped organize CIVIC, the Citizen's Independent Vice Investigating Committee. The culmination of his efforts through this organization was obtaining the recall of Mayor Frank Shaw. Fletcher Bowron, the man whom Clinton supported, became mayor and remained so from 1938 until 1953. During the next two years, a new district attorney, John Dockweiler, was elected and also a new city council, which was more receptive to the kinds of reforms which Clinton envisioned.
Not even Bowron lived up to Clinton's ideals for Los Angeles, so that in 1945, he published a brochure by Aldrich Blake called "The Clock Strikes Twelve." Clinton decided that he himself would run for mayor. This he did unsuccessfully in 1945. There were 16 candidates in the Primary, out of which Bowron was chosen and Clinton ran second.
His interest in Los Angeles and its politics did not wane. He supported the idea of putting in parking under Pershing Square. He investigated corruption in the administration of the Coliseum. And he organized tours of the city, so as to best present it to newcomers.
During World War II, he became interested in the problems of food waste and shortage and worked on these both during the service and after, when he became interested in Community Food Service Centers and the Meals for Million foundation and the development of Multi-Purpose Food.
The Clinton papers cover this entire range of activities. There are manuscript notes of his childhood experiences in China. There are detailed files and documents relating to CIVIC and its crusades. There are documents and campaign literature from the period of the Shaw recall and Bowron's and Dockweiler's elections. The files from Clinton's mayoralty campaign contain numerous broadcast scripts. There are files of general information about the city of Los Angeles and its history. Finally, there is a large file of materials pertaining to the operations of the cafeterias, including pictures and printed brochures from the now-destroyed Pacific Seas cafeteria, with its neon palm-trees and its rain-hut, where it "rained" every twenty minutes.

Scope and Content

Collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, publications, scrapbooks, radio scripts, photographs, and memorabilia related to Clinton's personal interests and business affairs, related to his restaurants as well as Los Angeles politics, government, and social conditions. Includes broadcast scripts from Clinton's mayoral campaign, detailed documents related to the activities of CIVIC, and material from Clifton's Cafeteria and the Brookdale Cafeteria. Also includes manuscript notes of Clinton's childhood experiences in China.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Clinton, Clifford E., 1900-1969--Archives.
Citizen's Independent Vice Investigating Committee (Los Angeles, Calif.).
Restaurateurs--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources.
Civic improvement--California--Los Angeles.
Los Angeles (Calif.)--Politics and government.

Items Removed from Collection

Fifteen 16" records, primarily KMTR broadcasts for mayoralty campaign:
  • KFI, March 31, 1945
  • One unlabeled
  • One unidentified station
    Date: April 1, 1945
  • One KMTR Apr 2, 19--
  • 2 with information on labels crossed out
  • KMTR, March 5,8,13,14,22,29, 1945; two records March 15, 1945
[Stored in UCLA Film and television archive in Hollywood (December 7, 1987)]

Related Material

The CIVIC Committee in the recall of Mayor Frank Shaw [thesis (M.A.)] / by Jerry Saul Caplan, 1947. Available at University Archives, UCLA.

 

Series Description

Box 1, Folders 1-4

Introduction to Clinton - portraits - biography, etc.

Box 1, Folders 5-6

Clinton and Grand jury probes, 1934-38.

Box 1, Folders 7-25

CIVIC - General history, organization files, photos and files on early muckraking activities; Federation for Civic Betterment - internal affairs, files and minutes up to Clinton's resignation.

Box 1, Folders 26-32

Shaw recall and campaign of Fletcher Bowron, 1938.

Box 2, Folders 1-7

Clinton activities, 1938-39.

Box 2, Folders 8-11

John Anson Ford - clippings, broadcasts, etc.

Box 2, Folders 12-20

Dockweiler vs. Fitts, District Attorney campaign, 1940 - clippings, publications, files on issues, etc.

Box 3, Folders 1-11

Dockweiler vs. Fitts campaign, continued.

Box 3, Folders 12-13

CIVIC activities, primarily 1941.

Box 3, Folders 14-15

Communism - clippings, relating to Fitts and Bowron.

Box 3, Folders 16-20

Later career of Fletcher Bowron - material from re-election campaign, 1941.

Box 4, Folders 1-10

Later career of Bowron, continued.

Box 4, Folders 11-16

Consumer's Council - notes, lists of members, minutes, clippings, etc. 1941-42.

Box 4, Folders 17-19

Mrs. Clinton's article and lawsuits arising from it, 1941-43.

Box 4, Folder 20

People of the state of California vs. Grant B. Cooper and Clifford E. Clinton - indictments, clipping, 1943.

Box 4, Folders 21-25

Clinton's activities during World War II - clippings, correspondence.

Box 4, Folders 26-29

Issues and activities, 1943-44 - Los Angeles sewers - state constitution - reactivation of CIVIC.

Box 5, Folders 1-14

Clinton's campaign for mayor, 1945 - files of information, radio material, printed campaign material.

Box 5, Folders 15-25

Activities, interests, issues, campaigns, 1945-51 - Pershing Square parking, Los Angeles Coliseum, political interests, etc.

Box 5, Folders 26-32

Items about the Clinton family and Clinton memorabilia - clippings, trip logs, unpublished manuscripts about Clinton's childhood.

Box 6, Folders l-3

Aldrich Blake - letters to Clinton, 1939-45; campaign literature for Clinton and Blake.

Box 6, Folders 4-6

Ernest Chamberlain - letters and memos to Clinton, 1941-45; Factfinders reports, 1939 and 1943.

Box 6, Folders 7-8

Harry Ferguson - letters to Clinton and miscellaneous writings, 1937-44.

Box 6, Folders 9-11

KRKD and KMTR broadcast scripts, mainly through July 1940.

Box 7, Folders 1-5

KMTR scripts, late July 1940 through October 15, 1940.

Box 8, Folders 1-2

KMTR and KMPC scripts, March-April 1941.

Box 8, Folders 3-6

KMTR scripts, April-November 1941.

Box 9, Folders 1-2

KMTR scripts, November-December 1941.

Box 9, Folders 3-4

KMTR, KNX and KHJ; KECA and KFI, February-March 1945.

Box 10, Folders 1-4

Clifton's - views, brochures, general clippings.

Box 10, Folders 5-7

Clifton's - policies: memos, printed material, etc.

Box 10, Folders 8-15

Clifton's - public relations: suggestions, correspondence, files on birthday cake policy, welcoming service, etc.

Box 10, Folders 16-23

Clifton's - The garden: views, printed material, etc.

Box 10, Folders 24-25

Clifton's - Food for thot: notes, letters, samples.

Box 10, Folder 26

Clifton's - race relations.

Box 10, Folders 27-28

Clifton's - "Pacific seas": material about its closing.

Box 10, Folders 29

Clifton's - Meals for millions.

Box 10, Folders 30-31

Clifton's - Food service training school.

Oversize Box 27, Folders 32-36

Clifton's - Food centers: plans, clippings, etc.

Oversize box 27

Article from Official detective stories, 1938.

 

Introduction to Clifford E. Clinton

Box 1, Folder 1

Portraits.

Physical Description: 9 photographs and one caricature.
Box 1, Folder 2

Biographical data written and/or assembled by Ernest Chamberlain.

Box 1, Folder 2

Narrative: "What shall I do ...?: a biographical study of Clifford E. Clinton."

Physical Description: 23pp. Carbon typescript. Marked "1947 only copy."
Box 1, Folder 2

Biographical and bibliographical notes.

Box 1, Folder 3

Carlson, Oliver. Clifford E. Clinton: a study from life. 1945.

Physical Description: 1Opp. Presentation copy to Clifford E. Clinton.
Box 1, Folder 4

Clippings.

Scope and Content Note

Includes "Derricks of faith," 1951 and Obituary clipping, 1969.
 

Clinton and Grand Jury Probes, 1934-38

Box 1, Folder 5

Special reports of the 1934 Los Angeles Grand Jury, Honorable Fletcher Bowron, judge presiding.

Box 1, Folder 6

Grand jury and vice probes. Clippings, 1937.

 

Civic - General History and Files

Box 1, Folder 7

"The CIVIC committee of Los Angeles: its background, activities and accomplishments." Foreword by Clifford E. Clinton. 1941.

Creator/Collector: Chamberlain, Ernest R.
Physical Description: 85pp. Carbon of typescript.
Box 1, Folder 7

--- ----. Another copy.

Physical Description: Corrected carbon, pp.23-83 only.
Box 1, Folder 7

Miscellaneous information pertaining to Clinton and CIVIC.

Box 1, Folder 8

History and activities, 1937 and some n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Material primarily from earliest years. Correspondence and notes.
Box 1, Folder 9

Internal affairs.

Scope and Content Note

Members' resignations; accounts of CIVIC; letters received by the organization, etc. (Heading is the original from Clifford Clinton's files. No attempt has been made to separate the material, except for newspaper clippings).
Box 1, Folder 10

Clippings concerning this member's resignation.

Creator/Collector: Burger, Louis
Box 1, Folder 11

Letters from him and statements by Clinton.

Creator/Collector: Burger, Louis
Box 1, Folder 12

Printed literature.

Box 1, Folder 12

L.A. County Grand Jury summary minority reports. Also, CIVIC committee's purpose ... plans ... organization [1937].

Physical Description: 7pp.
Box 1, Folder 12

A primer on political organization; prepared by Aldrich Blake, director of organization, Los Angeles CIVIC committee... c. 1939.

Physical Description: 16pp.
Box 1, Folder 12

CIVIC committee looks ahead: a new five-year program. April 1942.

Physical Description: 8pp.
Box 1, Folder 12

Other printed materials.

Box 1, Folder 13

Photos taken by CIVIC investigators.

Scope and Content Note

Los Angeles Police Department involved in bookmaking, also prostitution - location and inmates; also illegal pinball activities. Some photos have identifying information on the back.
Box 1, Folder 14

Statement signed by Laurel Ewing, concerning bookmaking. April 11, 1939.

Box 1, Folder 15

Notes and notes on meetings, c. 1938-42. Evidently used for CIVIC muckraking purposes.

Creator/Collector: City council
Box 1, Folder 16

Clippings, c. 1939-42.

Creator/Collector: City council
Box 1, Folder 17

Typed copies of conversations, newspaper articles, etc.

Creator/Collector: City hall

Scope and Content Note

Concerning City hall. Evidently used for CIVIC muckraking purposes.
Box 1, Folder 18

Clippings, 1937-39.

Creator/Collector: Clinton and CIVIC
Box 1, Folder 19

Material and correspondence.

Creator/Collector: Aldrich, Lloyd and the City Engineer's Office

Scope and Content Note

Assembled attempting to show how the office was related to political payoffs.
Box 1, Folder 20

Clippings about him. 1935 and 1941.

Creator/Collector: Aldrich, Lloyd
Box 1, Folder 21

Draft of radio broadcast by her, 1936.

Creator/Collector: Spliavalvo, Rheba Crawford (Evangelist, once associated with Aimee Semple McPherson, who also concerned herself with the Los Angeles political scene)

Scope and Content Note

Concerns police corruption.
Box 1, Folder 21

Letters concerning her.

Creator/Collector: Spliavalvo, Rheba Crawford
Box 1, Folder 22

Clippings. 1936-37 and 1965 (obituary).

Creator/Collector: Spliavalvo, Rheba Crawford
Box 1, Folder 23

3 holograph letters, September-October 1939.

Creator/Collector: Chandler, Mrs. Irene

Scope and Content Note

Concern Fitts, Kynette and Allen.
Box 1, Folder 24

Memorandum, February 9, 1938.

Creator/Collector: Federation for Civic Betterment ("outgrowth of CIVIC and associated self-appointed investigating committees")
Physical Description: 14pp. typescript.

Scope and Content Note

Describes aims of the organization and lists organizer, including Clinton.
Box 1, Folder 24

Draft constitution and by-laws of the Federation. n.d.

Creator/Collector: Federation for Civic Betterment
Physical Description: 6pp. Carbon typescript.
Box 1, Folder 24

Bowron for Mayor Committee; examination of recorded receipts and disbursements for the period from August 10-September 30, 1938.

Creator/Collector: Federation for Civic Betterment
Box 1, Folder 24

Miscellaneous material.

Creator/Collector: Federation for Civic Betterment

Scope and Content Note

Concerning the Raymond bombing case, recall of Mayor Frank Shaw, and aims of organization after the election of Bowron.
Box 1, Folder 25

Minutes of meetings, March-December 20, 1938.

Creator/Collector: Federation for Civic Betterment
 

Shaw Recall and Campaign of Fletcher Bowron, 1938

Box 1, Folder 26

Recall statement.

Physical Description: Typescript [5]pp.
Box 1, Folder 27

Portrait.

Creator/Collector: Bowron, Fletcher
Box 1, Folder 28

Campaign pledge.

Creator/Collector: Bowron, Fletcher

Scope and Content Note

Agreement to become candidate and statements on various issues.
Box 1, Folder 29

Typed notes on all mayors up until Shaw.

Creator/Collector: Mayors of Los Angeles

Scope and Content Note

Gathered as part of recall campaign[?].
Box 1, Folder 30

Letters to Clinton, March 1938-May 1939.

Scope and Content Note

Primarily offering help in the recall campaign; some congratulating him on his part in Bowron's success.
Box 1, Folder 31

Miscellaneous correspondence and printed campaign literature.

Scope and Content Note

Includes Clifford E. Clinton's Story: reasons for recall of Mayor Frank L. Shaw, [1938] 15pp.
Box 1, Folder 32

Newspaper clippings and typed notes on newspaper articles concerning Bowron and the recall, 1938.

 

Clinton Activities, 1938-39

Box 2, Folder 1

CIVIC and its support of Gray vs. Baumgartner, 12th. councilmanic district, 1939. Correspondence, notes, printed literature.

Box 2, Folder 2

Text of radio speech, anti-Clinton.

Creator/Collector: McLanahan, Meade
Box 2, Folder 3

Printed pamphlet of radio speeches. Los Angeles speaks.... Meade McLanahan fights Clintonism: five talks presented by your fellow citizen. 1939.

Creator/Collector: McLanahan, Meade
Physical Description: 31pp.
Box 2, Folder 4

Utley and traffic case against Clinton. Clippings, 1939. Typed notes. Photograph showing campaign poster used by Hyde: "Stop the horseplay of 'I wanna stay in jail' Clinton."

Box 2, Folder 4

Newspaper and magazine clippings about Clinton, 1939-40.

Box 2, Folder 5

Miscellaneous letters and telegrams from Buchta to Clinton and others. Correspondence about him.

Creator/Collector: Buchta, Joe
Oversize Box 27

"Bombing the lid off Los Angeles." Official detective stories. In eight parts, beginning May 25, 1938.

Creator/Collector: St. Cloud, Verne
Box 2, Folder 6

"The lid off Los Angeles." Liberty. In six weekly parts, November 11-December 16, 1939.

Creator/Collector: McKinney, Dwight F. and Fred Allhoff
Box 2, Folder 7

--- ----. November 11-December 16, 1939.

Physical Description: Photocopy of parts 2,3-4,6.
 

John Anson Ford

Box 2, Folder 8

Portrait and printed campaign brochure.

Box 2, Folder 9

Newspaper clippings. 1937 and 1939.

Box 2, Folder 10

Letters to Clinton, 1938-1944.

Box 2, Folder 10

Broadcast material, 1937.

Box 2, Folder 11

News releases while Supervisor, third district. January 1938-January 1942; some n.d.

 

Dockweiler vs. Fitts, District Attorney Campaign - 1940

Box 2, Folder 12

Letters and telegrams to Clinton, c. 1939-41.

Creator/Collector: Coyne, Bob

Scope and Content Note

Primarily concerned with gambling in Los Angeles; also mentions CAMOA; also Fitts.
Box 2, Folder 13

CAMOA and Proposition 12, late 1939.

Box 2, Folder 14

Newspaper clipping about Clinton's "Civic digest." Refers to CAMOA.

Box 2, Folder 15

Civic digest. Publication by Clinton. November and December 1939; January-February 1940. Supplements: April 1940 and April 29, 1940.

Scope and Content Note

Issued primarily to impart anti-Fitts information.
Box 2, Folder 16

"The life and ventures of Buron Fitts." Partly published in Civic digest.

Creator/Collector: Chamberlain, Ernest R.
Physical Description: Carbon typescript. Various paging.
Box 2, Folder 17

Newspaper clippings, 1936-37, 1939-40 and n.d.

Creator/Collector: Fitts, Buron
Box 2, Folder 18

General file of information.

Creator/Collector: Fitts, Buron

Scope and Content Note

Copies of his statements, ideas for slogans for Dockweiler's campaign, etc.
Box 2, Folder 19

Letters. From Clinton, October 9, 1940; to Clinton, July 19, 1940; letters to Fitts from an informer, October-November 1941.

Creator/Collector: Fitts, Buron
Box 2, Folder 20

Miscellaneous facts gathered for use in the campaign.

Creator/Collector: Fitts, Buron
Box 3, Folder 1

Typed notes from newspapers about bombing episode and signed statement by investigating officer.

Creator/Collector: Foster, L.R.
Box 3, Folder 1

The equalizer. Publication by Foster with anti-Bowron and pro-Fitts articles.

Creator/Collector: Foster, L.R.
Box 3, Folder 3

Campaign materials.

Creator/Collector: Dockweiler, John F.
Box 3, Folder 3

"Speaker's manual: John F. Dockweiler for District Attorney."

Box 3, Folder 3

Dockweiler Campaign Committee: statement of recorded receipts and disbursements as [of] August 14, 1940.

Box 3, Folder 4

Photos of campaign advertisements.

Creator/Collector: Dockweiler, John F.
Physical Description: 7 items.
Box 3, Folder 5

Letters and memos pertaining to his and Clinton's positions; souvenir program and menu of dinner in Dockweiler's honor, c. 1940-42.

Creator/Collector: Dockweiler, John F.
Box 3, Folder 6

Clippings, 1940 (election); 1941 (concerns Ed Mong); 1942 (concerns Grant Cooper).

Creator/Collector: Dockweiler, John F.
Box 3, Folder 7

Correspondence with Clinton after Dockweiler's election to office. November 1940-September 1941.

Creator/Collector: Dockweiler, John F.
Box 3, Folder 8

Newspaper clippings. November 1938; October and November 1940.

Creator/Collector: Del Gado, Pedro
Box 3, Folder 9

Broadcast material about hire; items concerning Clinton's trip to Mexico; copy of affidavit by Del Gado.

Creator/Collector: Del Gado, Pedro
Box 3, Folder 10

Originals of his and Ysidra Medina's affidavits, signed.

Creator/Collector: Del Gado, Pedro
Box 3, Folder 11

Clippings referring to Deputy District Attorney Eugene Williams, suing Clinton. Most clippings from October 1940.

Creator/Collector: Del Gado, Pedro
 

Civic Activities

Box 3, Folder 12

Civic challenge, c. 1939-41.

Scope and Content Note

Printed news releases covering the range of CIVIC's and Clinton's interests: city council, police reforms, gambling in Los Angeles, city engineering, prostitution, CAMOA, support of Bowron and denouncement of Fitts.
Box 3, Folder 13

CIVIC petitions to Grand jury. October 2 and November 4, 1941; Grand jury resolution, December 17, 1941.

 

Communism

Box 3, Folder 14

Notes and printed material. Some items refer to Fitts and Bowron. c. l936-39.

Box 3, Folder 15

Clippings from national magazines, c. 1938-47.

 

The Later Career of Fletcher Bowron and Clinton's Involvement

Box 3, Folder 16

Correspondence with Clinton and miscellaneous political statements, c. 1938-41.

Box 3, Folder 17

Notes on newspaper clippings, notes on speeches, c. 1938-41.

Box 3, Folder 18

Questionnaires (filled out) and public opinion survey taken by Ernest Chamberlain at the time of Bowron's campaign for re-election, 1941.

Box 3, Folder 19

"Campaign textbook and speakers manual - Citizens Committee to re-elect Mayor Bowron." (By Ernest Chamberlain?) Also miscellaneous notes about Bowron.

Box 3, Folder 20

Citizen's service digest. Published by Clifton's. Four weekly issues, February 14-March 7, 1941.

Box 4, Folder 1

Mimeographed summary of election poll by CIVIC.

Scope and Content Note

Discusses three mayoralty candidates, including Bowron.
Box 4, Folder 1

CIVIC (election) digest, n.d. Printed broadsheet, utilizing above material.

Box 4, Folder 2

Printed campaign literature.

Box 4, Folder 3

Photographs of campaign signs, pro- and anti-Bowron.

Physical Description: 5 items.
Box 4, Folder 4

Clippings, 1938-39, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1968 and n.d.

Box 4, Folder 5

Letter to Clinton concerning Fitts and miscellaneous material sent to Clinton and Bowron.

Creator/Collector: Goforth, Paul
Box 4, Folder 6

Luncheons honoring Mayor Bowron.

Box 4, Folder 6

Friday morning club, May 7, 1942: program and photos.

Box 4, Folder 6

Biltmore bowl, June 27, 1941: letter of organization and program.

Box 4, Folder 7

Bowron on Police Department unionizing. Memo and radio broadcast, 1943.

Box 4, Folder 8

"Recall attempt" of Bowron, 1949. Clipping and statement by Clinton.

Box 4, Folder 9

Program of Bowron's memorial service, September 14, 1968.

Box 4, Folder 10

Fletcher Bowron - he didn't want to be mayor. c. 1943-45.

Creator/Collector: Carlson, Oliver
Physical Description: 11pp.
 

Consumer's Council

Box 4, Folder 11

Miscellaneous notes, lists of members, mimeographed and printed matter; primarily December 1941-April 1942.

Box 4, Folder 12

Official records and minutes. January-April 1942.

Box 4, Folder 13

Clippings, mainly relating to charges that Consumer's Council was communistic.

Box 4, Folder 14

He who gets gypped. 1942.

Creator/Collector: Chamberlain, Ernest R.
Physical Description: 8pp.

Scope and Content Note

Also notes and lists concerning the pamphlet.
Box 4, Folder 15

Clippings, primarily December 1941-April 1942.

Box 4, Folder 16

Correspondence about Consumer's Council, November 1941-February 1942.

 

Mrs. Clinton's Article and Lawsuits Arising from it

Box 4, Folder 17

"My husband's death struggle with the vice czars of Los Angeles." True Story, January-February 1941.

Creator/Collector: Clinton, Nelda M. as told to Pauline Swanson
Box 4, Folder 18

Clippings concerning the various lawsuits brought by and against Clinton and Mrs. Clinton. October 1940; March 1941 and May 1943.

Box 4, Folder 19

Items relating to Clinton's suing Frank Shaw, his claims of misconduct of the case, and correspondence with the bar association. Printed District Court of Appeal opening brief. December 1941-July 1943.

 

People of The State of California vs. Grant B. Cooper and Clifford E. Clinton

Box 4, Folder 20

Copies of indictments; clipping from Hollywood Life (August 1943), which refers to Cooper and Clinton.

 

Clinton's Activities During World War II

Box 4, Folder 21

Clippings, 1942-43; copy of Food for Thot with "Notes from an Army camp.."

Box 4, Folder 22

Letters from Bowron and Dockweiler as recommendations for Clinton's becoming an Officer's Candidate. Other letters concerning his transfer of positions in the Army.

Box 4, Folder 23

Activities and projects, mainly revealed in correspondence, c. March 1942-August 1943.

Box 4, Folder 23

Letters to Mrs. Clinton, Aldrich Blake, and Ernest Chamberlain.

Box 4, Folder 23

Letters to others written by Chamberlain on Clinton's behalf.

Box 4, Folder 23

Copies of Food for Thot which contain articles written while in the service.

Box 4, Folder 24

Correspondence (1942) by Chamberlain with Time magazine concerning Benoit vs. Clinton case. Also notes and affidavits.

Box 4, Folder 25

Letters concerning Clinton and a position with the Federal Security Agency, 1943.

 

Issues and Activities, 1943-44

Box 4, Folder 26

Clipping about Los Angeles sewers, December 1943.

Box 4, Folder 27

Sewers of Los Angeles the story of: millions in damages, disease, pestilence, death...1943[?].

Creator/Collector: Blake, Aldrich and Ernest R. Chamberlain
Physical Description: [11]pp.
Box 4, Folder 27

"The sewers of Los Angeles." n.d.

Creator/Collector: Chamberlain, Ernest R.
Physical Description: 5pp. Carbon typescript.
Box 4, Folder 28

Constitution.

Scope and Content Note

Printed matter and clippings concerning the Federal and State constitution.
Box 4, Folder 29

Correspondence concerning the reactivation of CIVIC, April-October 1944.

 

Clinton's Campaign For Mayor, 1945

Box 5, Folder 1

Los Angeles mayors. Clippings, 1941-45.

Scope and Content Note

Apparently assembled at the time of Clinton's campaign.
Box 5, Folder 2

Los Angeles chronology. Notes by Chamberlain.

Box 5, Folder 3

Los Angeles - printed pamphlets.

Box 5, Folder 4

Los Angeles - statistics - general information.

Physical Description: Typed notes, clippings, maps.
Box 5, Folder 5

California historical description.

Physical Description: Notes.
Box 5, Folder 6

Letter from Clinton to Bowron, June 24, 1944.

Scope and Content Note

Stating he would support another candidate than Bowron in 1945, but did not care to run himself.
Box 5, Folder 7

Chamberlain, Ernest. "Clinton's campaign for mayor of Los Angeles, 1945." n.d.

Physical Description: 3pp. Carbon typescript.
Box 5, Folder 8

Newspaper clippings, October 1944 and March 1945.

Box 5, Folder 9

Printed campaign literature.

Box 5, Folder 10

The clock strikes twelve. March 1, 1945 (third printing) 14pp. First published January 1945.

Creator/Collector: [Blake, Aldrich]
Box 5, Folder 11

Memos from Chamberlain to Clinton.

Box 5, Folder 12

Radio material: spots and broadcasts.

Physical Description: Scripts and carbons, most with corrections.

Note

(See also: Mayoralty campaign broadcasts, box 8)
Box 5, Folder 13

Miscellaneous correspondence and ideas for slogans, etc.

Box 5, Folder 14

Carlson, Oliver. "Clifford Clinton and labor." n.d.

Physical Description: 10pp. Carbon typescript.
 

Activities, Interests, Issues, Campaigns: 1945-51

Box 5, Folder 15

Pershing Square parking.

Physical Description: Letters and memo.
Box 5, Folder 16

Pershing Square parking, December 1945-February 1946.

Physical Description: Clippings.
Box 5, Folder 17

Los Angeles Coliseum, by Ernest Chamberlain, 1945.

Physical Description: Notes and typescript.
Box 5, Folder 18

Los Angeles Coliseum, September 1944-December 1945.

Physical Description: Clippings.
Box 5, Folder 19

Connelly and labor, February-March 1946.

Physical Description: Clippings.
Box 5, Folder 20

Support of Proposition 11, "Fair employment practices," November 1945.

Physical Description: Notes, memos, printed literature.
Box 5, Folder 21

Citizen's Research Institute, 1945-46.

Physical Description: Correspondence and printed matter.
Box 5, Folder 22

Citizen's Research Institute, 1946.

Physical Description: Broadsheet and clippings.
Box 5, Folder 23

Correspondence with and about her, the widow of a former mayor of Los Angeles, 1947.

Creator/Collector: Mrs. Fred Eaton
Box 5, Folder 24

Correspondence, notes, and clippings.

Creator/Collector: Callicott, Ransom M.

Scope and Content Note

Relating to his bid for election to 12th. Councilmanic District seat and the history of former elections in the 12th. District.
Box 5, Folder 25

Correspondence and printed literature, 1946-51.

Creator/Collector: Clinton and Meals for Millions

Scope and Content Note

Includes items about Pearl Buck's novel, God's Men, whose protagonist was based partly on Clinton.
 

Items about the Clinton Family and Clinton Memorabilia

Box 5, Folder 26

Food for Thot containing article about Mrs. Clinton.

Box 5, Folder 26

Food for Thot containing a memorial article about Clinton's father; also typescripts of the article.

Box 5, Folder 27

Clippings about the Clinton family, 1944, 1946 and 1949.

Box 5, Folder 28

The Clintons' Christmas card, 1950.

Box 5, Folder 29

"Trip log." 1949-50.

Creator/Collector: Clinton, Nelda and Clifford
Physical Description: Mimeographed pages in loose-leaf binder.
Box 5, Folder 30

"The Clinton's trip log," chapters 54 and 55, August and October 1957.

Creator/Collector: Clinton, Nelda and Clifford
Box 5, Folder 31

Miscellaneous manuscript material, apparently never published. n.d.

Creator/Collector: Clinton, Clifford
Physical Description: Photostatic copy.

Scope and Content Note

Primarily concerns his childhood.
Box 5, Folder 32

"A service of memory for Clifford E. Clinton; November 24, 1959 at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood."

Abstract: Program of the service.
 

[Aldrich Blake, Ernest R. Chamberlain, Harry Ferguson]

Scope and Content Note

Three figures assumed a great importance in the crusades and campaigns and business matters of Clifford E. Clinton; and were associated with him throughout those activities. Clinton kept material in files under their names which span the entire chronology of his activities. No attempt has been made to separate the correspondence and writings of these men into the chronological order of the rest of the collection. To understand the workings of CIVIC, Clinton's campaign for mayor, etc., it is necessary to use these files along with the others. The only separation which was made was to separate clippings and to organize the bulk of letters.
 

Blake, Aldrich

Box 6, Folder 1

Letters, 1939-43. Primarily to Clinton.

Box 6, Folder 2

Letters, 1944-45. Primarily to Clinton. Many are concerned with Clinton's-mayoralty campaign.

Box 6, Folder 3

Miscellaneous campaign literature and printed pamphlets, for Clinton's mayoralty campaign and Blake's campaign for Councilman 11th. district, 1943.

 

Chamberlain, Ernest R.

Box 6, Folder 4

Letters, 1941-45; 1964; 1966 (to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Clinton); several n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Memos included with many letters, covering Clinton's wide range of business and political interests.
Box 6, Folder 5

Factfinders reports. Typescript explaining Factfinders, December 19, 1938. Printed brochure explaining Factfinders.

Box 6, Folder 6

Factfinders reports. Chamberlain's copies, 1939 and 1943.

 

Ferguson, Harry

Box 6, Folder 7

Letters to Clinton, writings, memos, miscellaneous printed materials, c. 1937-44.

Box 6, Folder 8

The People's day and The Knology news, publications by Ferguson, 1942-43.

 

Broadcast Scripts

Scope and Content Note

Clinton produced radio broadcasts to promote the ideas of CIVIC and, later, to support his own campaign for mayor of Los Angeles. These scripts should be used along with the material in the corresponding chronological files in order to understand his campaigns and interests.
Box 6, Folder 9

KRKD broadcasts, November 5 and August 27, 1940; May 1, 1941.

Box 6, Folder 10

KMTR broadcasts, July 8-July 15, 1940.

Box 6, Folder 11

KMTR broadcasts, July 16-July 21, 1940.

Box 7, Folder 1

KMTR, July 22-July 31, 1940.

Box 7, Folder 2

KMTR, July 31-August 5, 1940.

Box 7, Folder 3

KMTR, August 6-August 12, 1940.

Box 7, Folder 4

KMTR, August 13-August 26, 1940.

Box 7, Folder 5

KMTR, October 1-October 15, 1940.

Scope and Content Note

Final period in campaign for John Dockweiler for District Attorney.
Box 8, Folder 1

KMTR and KMPC. March 17-March 25, 1941. Concerning 1941 Municipal Primary.

Box 8, Folder 2

KMTR and KMPC. March 26-April 30, 1941. Concerning 1941 Municipal Primary.

Box 8, Folder 3

KMTR, April 22-April 31, 1941.

Box 8, Folder 4

KMTR, May 1-October 21, 1941.

Box 8, Folder 5

KMTR, October 22-November 6, 1941.

Box 8, Folder 6

KMTR, November 7-November 18, 1941.

Box 9, Folder 1

KMTR, November 19-November 28, 1941.

Box 9, Folder 2

KMTR, December 5-December 19, 1941.

Box 9, Folder 3

KMTR and KNX, February 26-March 2, 1945 (cut). Clinton's Mayoralty campaign.

Box 9, Folder 4

KMTR and KHJ, March 15-March ??, 1945 (cut). Mayoralty campaign.

Box 9, Folder 5

KMTR, KHJ, KNX and KECA, March 5-March 12, 1945 (cut). Clinton's mayoralty campaign.

Box 9, Folder 6

KMTR, KFI, KHJ and KNX, March 26-March 28, 1945 (cut). Clinton's mayoralty campaign.

 

Clifton's Cafeterias

 

General

Box 10, Folder 1

Pacific Seas cafeteria - views.

Physical Description: 2 photographs.
Box 10, Folder 2

Adventures in business, vol.5 no.14, October 27, 1947. Article with pictures of Clinton and Pacific Seas.

Box 10, Folder 3

General descriptive brochures and printed broadsheets and hand-outs.

Box 10, Folder 4

Newspaper and magazine clippings, 1943-1950 and n.d.

 

Policies

Box 10, Folder 5

"Memorandum on Clifton's policies." April 12, 1949.

Creator/Collector: Chamberlain, Ernest R.
Physical Description: 10pp. Carbon typescript.
Box 10, Folder 5

Letter from Edmond J. Clinton, July 13, 1951.

Box 10, Folder 6

Printed material.

Box 10, Folder 6

Clifton's operation manual. August 1941.

Physical Description: 76pp. (fourth printing).
Box 10, Folder 6

Don't say "It can't be done". A convention talk by Clifford E. Clinton, Hotel Astor, New York, 1939.

Physical Description: 31pp.
Box 10, Folder 6

Personnel policies for associates. November 1, 1955.

Physical Description: 58pp.
Box 10, Folder 7

Letter from Edmond J. Clinton to Paul Porter, Office of Price Administration, September 24, 1946.

 

Public Relations

Box 10, Folder 8

Suggestions. Typed notes, 1943[?].

Box 10, Folder 9

Notes, correspondence, publicity material for the free birthday cake policy.

Box 10, Folder 10

City welcome service - various proposals, 1938-41.

Box 10, Folder 11

Suggestions for Los Angeles tour map, 1945.

Box 10, Folder 12

Bibliography of articles about Clifton's; correspondence relating to published articles.

Box 10, Folder 13

Los Angeles Hospitality Service. Letter from Harry Davis, managing director of Clifton's Hospitality Service, n.d. Description of the service, by Chamberlain, n.d.

Box 10, Folder 14

Souvenir photo from Clifton's. Unidentified subjects; includes printed envelope in which photos were mailed.

Box 10, Folder 15

In your service: Clifton's, 1947-1955.

Physical Description: 16pp. Various printings.
 

The Garden

Box 10, Folder 16

The garden - views.

Physical Description: 4 photos and 4 negatives.

Scope and Content Note

Interior view, sculptor at work, etc.
Box 10, Folder 17

Page, Patricia, "The garden." December 15, 1944.

Physical Description: Carbon typescript.

Scope and Content Note

"For the use of receptionists and others in describing 'The garden,' its beginning, its purpose and development."
Box 10, Folder 18

"The garden, Clifton's..." n.d.

Physical Description: 35pp. Carbon typescript.

Scope and Content Note

Printed as The garden for meditation.
Box 10, Folder 19

Printed material.

Scope and Content Note

Includes:
Box 10, Folder 19

The garden for meditation. n.d.

Physical Description: 38pp. illustrated.
Box 10, Folder 20

"Codex - the man the poets knew." n.d.

Physical Description: 16pp. Carbon typescript.
Box 10, Folder 21

"The influence of one voice." By Ernest R. Chamberlain as suggested by C.E. Clinton. c. 1944.

Physical Description: 2pp. Carbon typescript.
Box 10, Folder 21

"Revised for final recording December 29, 1944.."

Box 10, Folder 21

Correspondence concerning its origin, June 1958.

Box 10, Folder 22

Clippings concerning "The garden" and "The influence of one voice." 1945, 1967 and n.d.

Box 10, Folder 23

Miscellaneous letters and manuscripts.

 

Food for Thot - Publication Distributed at Clifton's

Box 10, Folder 24

"The guest's voice" (column in publication), 1944.

Scope and Content Note

Typed description of the value and thought behind issuing the publication.
Box 10, Folder 24

Typed notes for inclusion in Food for Thot and "Guest's voice."

Box 10, Folder 24

Letters from patrons of Clifton's; most with dates answered, some with carbon of answering letter, 1944-45.

Box 10, Folder 25

Chamberlain, Ernest R. "Food for thot." April 1970.

Physical Description: 2pp. Carbon typescript.
Box 10, Folder 25

["Food for thot."] 35th. anniversary issue, January 19, 1967.

Physical Description: 2 copies.
 

Clifton's and Race Relations

Box 10, Folder 26

Primarily correspondence, 1944-47. Some printed pamphlets included.

 

"Pacific Seas" Cafeteria

Box 10, Folder 27

Memorandum from Chamberlain concerning the closing, June 3, 1960.

Box 10, Folder 28

Clippings concerning the closing, 1960.

 

Meals For Millions

Box 10, Folder 29

Typed notes, printed matter, mimeographed material, 1945-55.

 

Food Service Training School

Box 10, Folder 30

Printed material, primarily 1948.

Box 10, Folder 31

Course on public relations in food service, parts 3-11 and bibliography, 1948. Various paging.

 

Food Centers

Box 10, Folder 32

Post-war plans, primarily magazine clippings.

Box 10, Folder 33

Untitled carbon typescript describing Clifton's and Food service center concept. n.d.

Physical Description: 11pp.
Box 10, Folder 34

Newspaper clippings relating to Food center concept.

Box 10, Folder 35

Printed material.

Scope and Content Note

Includes:
Box 10, Folder 35

Introduction to the nation-wide community-center food-service program of Clifton's...September 15, 1943.

Box 10, Folder 36

Plans. Food lists, diagrams of serving areas, etc.

 

[Scrapbooks]

Scope and Content Note

Boxes 11-23 are scrapbooks of clippings, generally about political issues. The scrapbooks for 1935-1937 contain some family material.
Box 11

no.1: 1935, 1936, some 1937.

Box 11

no.2: 1936-November 2, 1937.

Box 11

no.3: November 2-December 25, 1937.

Box 12

no.4: January 13-27, 1938.

Box 12

no.5: February 8-20, 1938.

Box 12

no.6: February 16-April 15, 1938.

Box 13

no.7: April 16-May 26, 1938.

Box 13

no.8: May 25-July 22, 1938. Also, some clippings on lushing, 1935 & 1929.

Box 13

no.9: July 16-August 15, 1938.

Box 13

no.10: August 15-August 21, 1938. With 1935-1936 material.

Box 14

no.11: August 31-September 15, 1938.

Box 14

no.12: September 15-September 30, 1938.

Box 14

no.13: September 30-October 21, 1938.

Box 15

no.14: October 21-November 15, 1938.

Box 15

no.15: November 15-December 7, 1938.

Box 15

no.16: December 7, 1938-January 11, 1939.

Box 16

no.17: January 11-February 18, 1939.

Box 16

no.18: February 18-March 31, 1939.

Box 16

no.19: March 31-May 2, 1939.

Box 17

no.20: May 2-June 13, 1939.

Box 17

no.21: June 14-June 29, 1939.

Box 17

no.22: June 30-July 27, 1939.

Box 18

no.23: July 27-August 15, 1939.

Box 18

no.24: August 16-September 12, 1939.

Box 18

no.25: September 11-October 19, 1939.

Box 19

no.26: October 19-November 9, 1939.

Box 19

no.27: November 9-December 5, 1939.

Box 19

no.28: December 6, 1939-January 15, 1940.

Box 20

no.29: January 16-March 11, 1940.

Box 20

no.30: March 12-May 11, 1940.

Box 20

no.31: May 12-August 23, 1940.

Box 21

no.32: August 24-November 7, 1940.

Box 21

no.33: November 7, 1940-January 11, 1941 .

Box 21

no.34: January 12-April 30, 1941.

Box 22

no.35: May 1-October 27, 1941.

Box 22

no.36: October 28, 1941-March 11, 1942.

Box 22

no.37: March 11- June 20, 1942.

Box 23

no.38: June 21-March 29, 1943.

Box 23

no.39: March 29-June 1944.

Box 23

no.40: 1942-1945.

 

[Miscellaneous, v.d., 1937-1944]

Scope and Content Note

[Includes correspondence, reports, speeches and printed materials]
Box 24

Letters of appreciation, recall election, 1938.

Box 24

Investigators' reports, 1937-1941.

Physical Description: (4 folders).
Box 24

American Mercury, 1941.

Box 24

Investigation of General Hospital Food Service, 1936.

Box 25

Letters of abuse, criticism, apology, 1937-1939.

Box 25

Clinton, 1937-1942.

Box 25

Gambling & prostitution reports.

Box 25

Civic prostitution & gambling reports

Box 25

Grand jury, 1937.

Box 26

Radio speeches, 1938.

Box 26

Grand jury reports, 1937.

Box 26

Election materials, 1945.

Box 26

Reports from George Roth, 1938-1939.

Box 26

The Clock Strikes Twelve, c. 1944.

Box 26

Miscellaneous printed material.