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Richardson (James) papers on the Ku Klux Klan in Southern California
LSC.1818
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Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: James Richardson papers on the Ku Klux Klan in Southern California
Creator:
Richardson, James
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.1818
Physical Description:
2.2 linear feet
(5 boxes, 1 shoe box)
Date (inclusive): 1910-1985 (bulk 1975-1985)
Date (bulk): 1975-1985
Abstract: Research materials, notes, transcripts and audio cassette interviews relating to the Ku Klux Klan group based in Southern
California in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These materials were created, collected and assembled by James Richardson (b.
1953), who was a journalist and investigative reporter for
The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.) and other California newspapers. The collection contains Richardson's materials for his investigative
reporting on the Ku Klux Klan in Riverside. This includes Richardson's coverage of the 1980 43rd Congressional District election
between Republican Clair Burgener and Democrat Tom Metzger, the leader of the Ku Klux Klan in California. The only material
in the collection with no connection to the Ku Klux Klan is Richardson's reporting of the conspiracy and perjury trial of
San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
CONTAINS UNPROCESSED AUDIO MATERIALS: Audio materials are not currently available for access and will require further processing
and assessment. If you have questions about this material please email spec-coll@library.ucla.edu.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other 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.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of James Richardson, August 8, 2008.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
9962910563606533
[Identification of item], James Richardson papers on the Ku Klux Klan in Southern California (Collection 1818). UCLA Library
Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processed by Krystal Appiah in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Kelley Wolfe Bachli,
2008.
Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user
interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides
a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive
processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.
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The bulk of the collection relates to the Ku Klux Klan group based in the Riverside-San Bernardino area in the late 1970s
and early 1980s. These materials were created, collected and assembled by James Richardson (b. 1953), who was a journalist
and investigative reporter for The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.) and other California newspapers.
During this period, the Ku Klux Klan had three branches in California, with the Riverside-San Bernardino group probably being
the largest. The Riverside-San Bernardino area "Realm of California" branch was initially part of the national organization
"Knights of the Ku Klux Klan," but split from the group in 1979 after disputes between Klan leader Thomas Metzger and Grand
Wizard David Duke. Metzger then created the separate organization "Ku Klux Klan of California" (also referred to as the "California
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan") and appointed himself State Director.
In 1980, Metzger made headlines when he won the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives with over
40,000 votes in a San Diego-area district. The Democrats disavowed his candidacy, instead endorsing incumbent four-term Republican
Clair Burgener. Metzger lost by over 200,000 votes, which was 86 percent of the vote.
The collection contains Richardson's notes, transcripts and audio cassettes of interviews, and research materials for his
investigative reporting on the Ku Klux Klan in Riverside. This includes Richardson's coverage of the 1980 43rd Congressional
District election between Republican incumbent Clair Burgener and Democrat Tom Metzger, the leader of the Ku Klux Klan in
California.
The only material in the collection with no connection to the Ku Klux Klan is Richardson's reporting of the conspiracy and
perjury trial of San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock.
The original arrangement of the creator was maintained during processing. The only exceptions are for the notebooks and audio
cassette tapes which had no discernable order. The notebooks are arranged alphabetically by subject and the cassettes are
arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ku Klux Klan (1915- )–-California.
Richardson, James -- Archives