Access
Use
Acquisition Information
Preferred Citation
Biographical Note
Scope and Content of Collection
Title: Margaret E. Hill papers
Date (inclusive): 1940-1949
Collection Number: 79071
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
5 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 9 envelopes, 4 motion picture film reels, 3 phonorecords
(5.5 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Press releases, bulletins, correspondence, pamphlets, clippings, brochures, photographs, motion picture film, and phonorecords,
relating to fundraising in southern California for World War II relief activities. Sound use copies of sound recordings available.
Creator:
Hill, Margaret E.
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1979.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Margaret E. Hill papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
Margaret E. Hill graduated from Mills College in 1922 and received advanced degrees from Western Reserve University and the
University of Grenoble. In 1935 she moved to Los Angeles to teach French at the Marlborough School. From 1942 to 1947 she
held positions in relief organizations in the Los Angeles area, serving as the southern California chairman of American Relief
for France, executive secretary of the United Nations War Relief Council for Southern California, and vice-chairman of the
Los Angeles County War Chest. To commemorate her relief work, Hill was decorated by the French government with the Legion
of Honor in 1947. After the United Nations War Relief Council was dissolved in December 1947, Hill resumed her teaching career
at the Anoakia School for Girls in Arcadia, California. She retired in 1967.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Margaret E. Hill papers document her years working for World War II relief organizations in southern California. The papers
consist of press releases, bulletins, correspondence, pamphlets, clippings, brochures, photographs, motion picture film, and
phonorecords.
As chair of American Relief for France in Southern California, Hill was primarily responsible for fundraising. Her projects
for the organization, including the city of Los Angeles's adoption of Calais and Argentan, are documented in the
American Relief for France file. She also led a program to send packages to French orphans after the war; files about this initiative include dossiers, lists,
and photographs of the children served. In gratitude, the city of Calais sent Hill albums of photographs and children's drawings,
all of which can be found in the
Oversize material file.
In July 1942 Hill represented French relief at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations War Relief Council (UNWRC). The
Council was incorporated in California to coordinate the activities of relief agencies for China, Czechoslovakia, France,
Greece, Holland, Norway, the Philippines, and Poland. After being appointed executive secretary in 1943, Hill ran a fundraising
campaign that included radio programs publicizing relief efforts, transcripts and recordings of which are included in the
United Nations War Relief Council and
Sound recordings files.
As a coordinator of relief efforts throughout southern California, Hill collected and received
Photographs,
Films, and
Printed Matter produced by other World War II relief agencies.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sound recordings
Motion pictures
International relief
World War, 1939-1945 -- Civilian relief
World War, 1939-1945 -- California
United Nations War Relief Council for Southern California