Historical Note
Acquisition Information
Access to Collection
Scope and Content
Preferred Citation
Publication Rights
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Community Service Organization. History Project records
creator:
Community Service Organization.
Identifier/Call Number: M1669
Physical Description:
6 Linear Feet
(10 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1955-2009
Abstract: The Community Service Organization History Project papers includes oral history interviews and other media as well as files
from the CSO itself, especially pertaining to its Bakersfield Chapter, 1955-2002.
Physical Location: Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36-48 hours in advance. For more
information on paging collections, see the department's website: http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/spc.html.
Language of Material: Most of the materials in this collection are in English. Some of the correspondence and other records are in Spanish.
Historical Note
The Community Service Organization was an important California Latino civil rights organization, most famous for training
Cesar Chavez. It was founded in 1948 by Fred Ross, Antonio Rios and Edward Roybal to empower immigrants through such programs
such as voter registration drives, citizenship classes, lawsuits and legislative campaigns.
The Community Service Organization focused on voter registration drives, citizenship classes, lawsuits and legislative campaigns.
The chapters of the CSO also created and ran substance abuse treatment programs, college scholarships, summer camps, death
benefit societies and credit unions. CSO also created substance abuse treatment programs, college scholarships and credit
unions.
Acquisition Information
Purchased, 2009 and 2013. Accession 2009-081 and 2013-195.
Access to Collection
Open for research. Audio-visual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
Scope and Content
15 oral history interviews : 13 DVDs, 2005-2009; Fred Ross memorial : 2 DVDs, 1992; "The Leadership Lessons of the CSO" :
3 DVDs. Files pertaining to the history project, 1997-2009. Files primarily pertaining to the Bakersfield Chapter of the
CSO, 1955-2002.
Bakersfield Chapter materials include correspondence, Committee reports, financial reports, memorandums, Board Meeting minutes
and agendas, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, member lists, and by-laws.
Preferred Citation
Community Service Organization. History Project records. M1669. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Publication Rights
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Community Service Organization.