Contributing Institutions Collection Guides Browse Map About OAC

What are Collection Guides?

> Home > Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research

Collection Guide

∞ https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf0c6000rg/

Collection Title:

Collection Number:

Get Items:

Frances Robman Eisenberg Papers: Blacklisted Teachers in Los Angeles, 1928-1995

MSS 038

No online items

Contact Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research

View entire collection guide

Printable Guide [HTML]

Search this collection

Table of contents

Collection Contents

Series 1. Teaching and Tutoring - Blacklist Years, 1945-1994

Physical Description: 2 boxes, 2 oversize items, 16mm film and VHS videotape

Scope and Content Note

The largest series in the collection contains material relating to Eisenberg's teaching and tutoring career including materials directly related to her reassignment, firing and court cases, along with correspondence (students, parents, and others), student papers, articles by and about Eisenberg. Included in this series are materials from Fairfax and Canoga Park reunions at which Eisenberg was honored. Also included in this series is a 16mm film (also in VHS format), The Man Who Hated Children, produced by the Teachers' Defense Committee (TDC), a TDC protest sign, and a pillow commemorating the protest around Eisenberg's transfer from Canoga Park.

Within the series files are divided into teaching (including reunion materials) and post-teaching (tutoring and other materials). Teaching materials include both material related to her teaching (class materials, correspondence and student papers) and to her reassignment and dismissal (court documents, hearing transcripts, and correspondence with lawyers). Reunion materials include official reunion commemorative books from both Canoga High School and Fairfax High School reunions, correspondence, a personal tribute book given by a class, a copy of remarks given by Eisenberg at a reunion, and other material. See also Lyn Nofziger clipping in Series 4. Tutoring materials include letters Eisenberg sent out when she was first establishing herself as a tutor, and a sampling of papers by her tutorees. Also included in this series is a copy of Eisenberg's FBI file, which she requested in 1977. The letter requesting the file appears in the Abraham Minkus Collection.

Box-folder 1/1-1/6

Hearing and Legal Documents

Box-folder 1/1

Transfer from Canoga Park to Fairfax -- Documents in Legal Case, 1949-1954

Box-folder 1/2

Copies of California Un-American Hearing Reports -- Excerpts, 1947-1959

Box-folder 1/3

Testimony in re: Canoga Park: Joint Fact Finding Committee on Un-America Activities in California: October 19 and 19, 1946: State Building, Los Angeles, 1946

Box-folder 1/4-1/5

Hearing Canoga Park High School: October 15, 16, and 17, 1946: In the Matter re: Blanche Bettington; Frances Eisenberg [2 folders], 1946

Alternative Form of Materials Available

Document fragile please use photocopied version found in Los Angeles Teachers Union Collection, 1933-1982

Physical Description: (2 boxes),

Contributing Institution: Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research

Box-folder 1/6

Suit for Reinstatement, etc. (Including 1982 Settlement), 1978-1987

Box-folder 1/7

Teaching Materials -- Senior Problems Curriculum, etc., 1945-1954

Box-folder 1/8

Hunter's Call-- Canoga Park High School Newspaper, 1945

Box-folder 1/9

Autograph Book -- Canoga Park [Tribute/Farewell?], [1950?]

Oversize Item 5

Teachers' Defense Committee Sign, n.d.

Film Storage 1

The Man Who Hated Children, n.d.

Physical Description: 16 mm film

Alternative Form of Materials Available

A VHS Videocassette version is available for viewing. Video tape is located in Video Storage.

Box-folder 1/10

Paper written for City College Class -- The Negro in American Literature,1952

Box-folder 1/11-1/13

Correspondence

Box-folder 1/11

Francis Solnit, Former Student, 1952-1954

Box-folder 1/12

Students and Others -- Support, 1940-1950

Box-folder 1/13

1960s and Later, 1962-1990, n.d.

Box-folder 1/14

Student Paper, 1952-1953

Box-folder 2/1

Canoga Park and Fairfax High School Reunions, 1958-1995

Box-folder 2/2

Fairfax High 30th -- Eisenberg Tribute Book, 1983

Oversize Item 4

Commemorative Photographic Pillow, n.d.

Box-folder 2/3

Tutoring -- Correspondence and Sample Student Papers, 1957-1995, n.d.

Box-folder 2/4-2/5

Activities -- Speeches, Letters

Box-folder 2/4

1943-1965, n.d.

Box-folder 2/5

To Whom It Does Concern and Correspondence with Phil Kerby, 1983

Box-folder 2/6-2/9

Projects by others about Eisenberg Case, 1980-1994

Box-folder 2/6

Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute Book -- Correspondence, 1984-1987

Box-folder 2/7

Lynn Laredo Video Documentary -- Correspondence, 1987

Box-folder 2/8

A Matter of Loyaltyand Martha Kransdorf -- Correspondence, 1987-1994

Box-folder 2/9

Miscellaneous Papers, 1980-1994

Box-folder 2/10

Frances R. Eisenberg's FBI File -- FOIA, 1956-1973

Series 2. US-China People's Friendship Association, 1973-1986, n.d.

Physical Description: 6 folders

Scope and Content Note

Besides a small collection of flyers and other notices, this series contains materials pertaining to the in-service training workshop for teachers, "Roots of Chinese-American Culture: Exploring the New China," which Eisenberg arranged and taught through the Los Angeles Board of Education. It also includes a notebook containing minutes from the West Los Angeles Chapter of the USCPFA (1974-1976).

Box-folder 2/11

Reports, Correspondence, etc., 1973-1986, n.d.

Box-folder 3/1

Articles/Reports by Eisenberg, 1974-1983

Box-folder 3/2-3/3

LAUSD In-Service Training

Box-folder 3/2

Proposal and Background, 1980

Box-folder 3/3

Class Materials, Evaluations, Reports, 1980

Box-folder 3/4

Flyers/Newsletters, 1975-1977

Box-folder 3/5

Westside-Los Angeles Chapter -- First Minutes, 1974-1976

Series 3. Other Causes and Activities, 1928-1995, n.d.

Physical Description: 8 folders

Scope and Content Note

This series includes materials documenting other interests and activities of Eisenberg, especially later in life. It includes information from the Los Angeles Southwest Community College, which she supported, and extensive records from her 90th birthday party, which was a fund-raiser for KPFK Radio. Other organizations and actions mentioned are the strike against Canter's Restaurant ["Speeches and Articles" folder], Sunset House, and the Coalition for Economic Survival (CES) [both in "Miscellaneous Correspondence" folder]. Also included in this section are two files on friends of Eisenberg, the artist Charles White and author Shirley Graham.

Box-folder 3/6

Personal and Family Documents, 1928-1980

Box-folder 3/7

82nd Birthday -- Los Angeles Southwest Community College Benefit, 1987-1990

Box-folder 3/8

90th Birthday Celebration -- KPFK Benefit, 1995

Box-folder 3/9

Speeches and Articles, 1980-1991, n.d.

Box-folder 3/10

Miscellaneous Correspondence, Clippings, Awards, 1968-1995

Box-folder 3/11

Cards, Postcards, Memorial Programs, 1977-1995, n.d.

Box-folder 3/12

Shirley Graham, 1976, n.d.

Box-folder 3/13

Charles White, 1962-1992

Series 4. Clippings, Photographs, and Art, 1971-1995, n.d.

Physical Description: 1 box, 3 oversized items

Scope and Content Note

This series spans the collection chronologically and includes clipping files on the blacklist, education, and other issues, as well as photographs of Eisenberg, friends and family. Of special interest are the two sets of clippings on former Canoga Park student and later indicted presidential aide, Lyn Nofziger. The photographs (mostly snapshots) include four small photo albums (three have been removed from the albums but kept in order), which show her 90th birthday party, the Canter's strike and other events. There is a small collection of family photographs, which include two photographs, perhaps of Eisenberg as a child or Eisenberg's parents. One album includes photographs of the Eisenberg son who died serving in World War II. Also included in this series is a pillow made from a photograph protesting her reassignment from Canoga Park, a series of prints, some dedicated to Eisenberg by Gary [Eisenberg?], and a child's artwork.

Box-folder 4/1-4/3

Clippings

Box-folder 4/1

Teachers' Cases in California, 1961-1980

Box-folder 4/2

Miscellaneous Blacklisting, 1960-1977

Box-folder 4/3

Lyn Nofziger, 1987-1988

Box-folder 4/4-4/11 , Oversize Item 1

Photographs

Box-folder 4/4

Older Family Photos, n.d.

Box-folder 4/5

Shirley Graham and Africa, n.d.

Oversize Item 1

Portrait -- Unidentified African-American Young Man, n.d.

Box-folder 4/6-4/9

Albums

Box-folder 4/6

Bernard Eisenberg's Grave and Canter's Protest (Red), 1991

Box-folder 4/7

#1 -- Unidentifed [disbound, kept in original order], n.d.

Box-folder 4/8

#2 -- Partially Identified [disbound, kept in original order], n.d.

Box-folder 4/9

90th Birthday Party -- created by sister-in-law, Millie Robman, 1995

Box-folder 4/10

Eisenberg and Identified Photos, 1971-1994, n.d.

Box-folder 4/11

Unidentified, n.d.

Oversize Items 2-3

Artwork 1992, n.d.

Oversize Item 2

Portfolio of Prints by Gary [Eisenberg?] n.d.

Oversize Item 3

Child's Collage/Drawing -- "Matt" 1992

Collection Contents

Teaching and Tutoring - Blacklist Years, 1945-1994

US-China People's Friendship Association, 1973-1986, n.d.

Other Causes and Activities, 1928-1995, n.d.

Clippings, Photographs, and Art, 1971-1995, n.d.