Guide to the United Farm Workers Information Fair Collection
Processed by Karen Rosen in 2001 and Ernesto Bassi and Audrey Pearson in 2008; machine-readable finding aid created by Audrey
Pearson
Special Collections and Archives
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Phone: (949) 824-3947
Fax: (949) 824-2472
Email: spcoll@uci.edu
URL: http://special.lib.uci.edu
© 2008
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: United Farm Workers Information Fair collection
Date: circa 1959-1974
Collection Number: MS-R015
Collector: Newcomb, Robert L.
Extent:
2.6 linear feet
(4 boxes and 2 oversized folders)
Languages: The collection is in English.
Repository:
University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Abstract: This collection comprises fliers, reports, newsletters, photographs, bumper stickers, and ephemera compiled for use at the
United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) Information Fair held in San Fernando, California in 1969. The collection
is particularly strong in documenting the United Farm Workers (UFW) trade union and its formation; UFW-organized boycotts
and strikes, including the Delano Grape Strike from 1965 to 1966; and the working and living conditions of migrant agricultural
laborers. Other files document the economic and legal aspects of farm labor, ties between churches and the farm labor movement,
and the effect of pesticides on farm laborers. Approximately ten photographs by unidentified photographers depict UFW founder
and president Cesar Chavez and others at rallies; agricultural laborers, including children, at work; migrant camps; and medical
and dental clinics for laborers.
Important Information for Researchers
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
United Farm Workers Information Fair Collection. MS-R015. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine,
California.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Robert L. and Elizabeth E. Newcomb, date unknown.
Processing History
Processed by Karen Rosen, 2001. Additional materials processed by Ernesto Bassi and Audrey Pearson, 2008.
Historical Background
History
The California farm labor movement began in the 1960s when the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee began unionizing California
farm workers. The National Farm Workers Association was founded by Cesar Chavez, and later became the United Farm Workers
of America (UFW). In 1968 Chavez launched a boycott of California table grape growers and was successful in mobilizing consumer
support throughout the United States. In 1970 the UFW, with Chavez as president, became a member union of the AFL-CIO. Chavez
made people across the country aware of the struggles of farm workers for better pay and safer living conditions and succeeded
by using nonviolent tactics including boycotts, fasting, pickets, and strikes.
Biography/Organization History
Chronology
| 1962 |
Cesar Chavez founds the National Farm Workers Assocation. |
| 1966 |
Cesar Chavez and a band of strikers embark on a 340-mile pilgrimage from Delano to the steps of the state capitol in Sacramento
to draw national attention to the situation of farm workers.
|
| 1966-1967 |
A boycott and strike of the DiGiorgio Fruit Corp. forces the giant grape grower to agree to an election among its workers.
The workers vote for the United Farm Workers (UFW), led by Chavez.
|
| 1966-1967 |
The UFW strikes the Giumarra Vineyards Corporation, California's largest table grape grower. In response to the boycott other
grape growers allow Giumarra to use their labels. As a result, the UFW begins a boycott of all California table grapes.
|
| 1967-1970 |
Hundreds of grape strikers disperse across North America to organize an international grape boycott. Millions of Americans
rally to the farm workers' cause, called "La Causa."
|
| 1969 |
United Farm Workers Organizing Committee Information Fair in San Fernando, California. |
| 1970 |
As the grape boycott grows, most California table grape growers sign UFW contracts. |
| 1972 |
The UFW is chartered as an independent affiliate by the AFL-CIO, becoming the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO. |
| 1973-1975 |
According to a nationwide poll conducted by Louis Harris, 17 million Americans are boycotting grapes. Many are also boycotting
lettuce and Gallo wine.
|
Bibliography
Dunne, John Gregory.
Delano: The Story of the California Grape Strike . New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 1967.
Ferris, Susan.
The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Movement. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1997.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises fliers, reports, newsletters, photographs, bumper stickers, and ephemera compiled for use at the
United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) Information Fair held in San Fernando, California in 1969. The collection
is particularly strong in documenting the United Farm Workers (UFW) trade union and its formation; UFW-organized boycotts
and strikes, including the Delano Grape Strike from 1965 to 1966; and the working and living conditions of migrant agricultural
laborers. Other files document the economic and legal aspects of farm labor; ties between churches and the farm labor movement;
and the effect of pesticides on farm laborers. Approximately ten photographs by unidentified photographers depict UFW founder
and president Cesar Chavez and others at rallies; agricultural laborers, including children, at work; migrant camps; and medical
and dental clinics for laborers.
All items were collected by Robert L. and Elizabeth E. Newcomb. Robert was a senior lecturer at UC Irvine (UCI) in the Department
of Social Science until his retirement in 2006. In 1970 he taught a farm labor and business course at UCI. Elizabeth was
Coordinator of Volunteers for the UCI Health Education department.
Collection Arrangement
The collection is arranged topically. Materials are arranged alphabetically within each topical grouping.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Chavez, Cesar, 1927-1993 -- Archives.
United Farm Workers -- Archives.
Agricultural laborers -- California -- Archives.
Agricultural laborers -- California -- Labor unions -- Archives.
Vineyard laborers -- California -- Labor unions -- Archives.
Migrant agricultural laborers -- California -- Archives.
Boycotts -- California -- Archives.
Strikes and lockouts -- Vineyard laborers -- California -- Archives.
Delano Grape Strike, 1965-1966 -- Archives.
Labor leaders -- United States -- Archives.
Genres and Formats of Materials
Ephemera.
Photographic prints.
Occupations
Activists.
Contributors
Newcomb, Elizabeth E., collector.
Collection Contents
Church and religious aspects, clippings, letters, press releases, and reports
California Migrant Ministry
Box : Folder 1 : 1
General materials
1969-1970
Box : Folder 1 : 2
The Church and the Emerging Farm Worker's Movement, case study
1967
Box : Folder 1 : 4
Social problems
1965-1971
Health, education, and welfare
Box : Folder 1 : 6, 3 : 2-4
Reports, press releases, and fliers
1968-1969
Box : Folder 1 : 7-10, 3 : 5-6
Box : Folder 1 : 7
Clippings, general
1967-1970
Box : Folder 1 : 8, 3 : 5
Clippings, pamphlets, and reports on California Rural Legal Assistance
1967-1970
Box : Folder 1 : 9, 3 : 6
Clippings, press releases, and reports on labor laws
1965-1969
Box : Folder FB-34 : 5
Democracy on the Farm
undated
Box : Folder 1 : 10
Labor legislation reports
1966-1974
Box : Folder 2 : 1
Angel, Cheryl. Farm labor and business project, UC Irvine
1970
Box : Folder 3 : 7
Basta! La historia de nuestra lucha. Enough! The Tale of Our Struggle.
1966
Box : Folder 2 : 2
Fineberg, Richard.
Green Card Labor and the Delano Grape Strike
1968
Processing/Project Information
Item missing (May 2008).
Box : Folder 3 : 8
La Causa Publications. 1974 Catalog
1974
Box : Folder 3 : 10
UCSB.
Mexican-Americans: A Selective Guida to Materials in the UCSB Library
undated
Box : Folder 3 : 11
United Native Americans. "Warpath"
1968
Box : Folder 2 : 3
Pesticides, clippings, fliers, and reports
1966-1969
Box : Folder 2 : 4-6, 3 : 12-15
Box : Folder 1 : 5
Farm labor contractors list
1970
Box : Folder 1 : 6, 3 : 12-15
Box : Folder 2 : 7
Articles on Cesar Chavez
1969-1973
Box : Folder 3 : 17
Boycott factsheet and pledge
1968
Box : Folder 2 : 9, 3 : 18
Correspondence, fliers, and reports
1967-1975
Box : Folder 2 : 10, 4 : 3
Logos
undated
Physical Description: Includes logo on cloth banners and printed union labels
Box : Folder 2 : 10, 3 : 20
Photographic prints
undated
Box : Folder 2 : 11, 3 : 21
Box : Folder 2 : 11
Information fair materials
1969
