Frank del Olmo Collection, 1924-2004, bulk 1970-1996

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Summary

Creators:
Olmo, Frank del, 1948-2004
Abstract:
Frank del Olmo (1948-2004) was a journalist, editorial columnist, and editor for the Los Angeles Times specializing in Latin American affairs and local Latino community concerns. Over his thirty-four year career with the Times, del Olmo advanced from intern to assistant editor, and ultimately served as director of the Times-Mirror Foundation. He was a founding member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and he served on the board of directors for the Committee to Protect Journalists. The collection documents this career through his research and working files, which includes articles, fact sheets, interview notes, maps, memoranda, newspaper clippings, press releases, story proofs, studies, reports and related documents written and collected by Frank del Olmo while covering stories for the Los Angeles Times.
Extent:
78.67 linear feet and 10.52 Gigabytes
Language:
Multiple languages and English, Spanish; Castilian
Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Background

Scope and content:

The Frank del Olmo Collection documents the career of columnist and editor Frank del Olmo through his writing, research, and working files. Materials cover the bulk of his career with the Los Angeles Times, from 1970-2004, and document such topics as the Chicano Student Youth Movement and Chicano Moratorium, Discrimination, Drugs and Gang Activity, the Incorporation of East Los Angeles, Education, Human Rights Violations, Illegal Aliens, Immigration Policies, Latinos in American Politics, Mexican Americans/Latinos of Los Angeles, Minorities in the Press, Police Brutality, United Farm Workers Movement, and U.S.-Mexico/Latin American Relations. The collection has been divided into four major series: Writings of Frank del Olmo (1968-2004), Research Files (1924-2004), Professional Development (1972-2004), and Ephemera (1971-1996). Each series has been further subdivided into subseries.

Series I, Writings of Frank del Olmo, includes articles and research written by del Olmo. It has been divided into two subseries: Reporter's Notebooks (1968-2004), and Los Angeles Times Newspaper Clippings Files (1970-2003). The Reporter's Notebooks are del Olmo's notes on topics ranging from Central America to the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the East Los Angeles School Walkouts, and are filed alphabetically by subject. The Los Angeles Times Newspaper Clippings File documents del Olmo's columns and contains articles as they appeared in the Los Angeles Times. These clippings are filed chronologically.

Series II, Research Files, consists of del Olmo's research for his articles or editorials. The series has been divided into nine subseries that correlate to broad topics of interest to del Olmo. Autism (1994-2004) documents del Olmo's efforts to educate himself and his readers on the topic of Autism, and includes information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and the possible links between autism and vaccination. Files consist of correspondence, reports, and clippings, and are filed alphabetically. California & Los Angeles (1924-2003) includes stories written or researched by Mr. del Olmo covering state and local issues. Topics include the history of East Los Angeles, street gangs, and Spanish language media. Materials include correspondence, clippings, court documents, memoranda, story proofs, and reports. The subseries is filed in alphabetical order. Education Issues (1963-2003) consists of materials associated with the education of children, and includes material concerning the Los Angeles Board of Education, Los Angeles Unified School District, and the Belmont Learning Complex (renamed the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center). It includes campaign literature, correspondence, clippings, newsletters, and story proofs, and is in alphabetical order.

Immigration Issues (1931-2004), includes reference files covering corruption in the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), border crime, guest worker programs, and immigration legislation and reform movements. Of particular interest are the files related to the INS's Operation Clean Sweep to combat corruption within the agency. The subseries includes correspondence, court documents, clippings, memoranda, reports, and story proofs, and is filed in alphabetical order. International-Latin Affairs (1938-2003), contains a broad set of documents relating to international and Latin affairs, including material regarding revolutionary human rights movements in Central and South America and Mexico, and a selection of working papers related to the issues of agriculture, economic development, employment, health and human services, international aid, labor migration, and mechanization. It includes correspondence, clippings, memoranda, news releases, reports, and story proofs. It is filed alphabetically. Labor Issues (1963-2000), provides information about numerous issues including agricultural labor, the garment industry in Los Angeles, and the organization of illegal workers. Records also cover del Olmo's research on Cesar Chavez, the 1960's Grape Boycott, and the Blue Goose Growers Strike. Materials include correspondence, clippings, court documents, reports, and story proofs. The subseries is filed in alphabetical order.

People in the News (1969-2000), documents the work of important Latino civic and community leaders and other figures that appear in del Olmo's writing. The subseries includes correspondence, clippings, court documents, newsletters, reports, and story proofs, and is filed alphabetically. Political Issues (1965-2004), documents various political issues relating to the Latino community in the United States, especially in California, New Mexico, and Texas. Major topics covered in this series include insurance reform and water resources in California. It includes campaign literature, correspondence, clippings, press releases, reports, and story proofs, and is filed alphabetically. Chronological Files (1980-2001), consists of del Olmo's preliminary research for articles or editorials that were under consideration, and primarily includes correspondence and newspaper clippings. This subseries includes material regarding education, Spanish-language television, Latin America, local and national politics, and other topics on which Mr. del Olmo often commentated and is filed chronologically. Where materials were grouped together by topic they remain together and are filed by the most current date.

Series III, Professional Development, documents del Olmo's involvement with the Los Angeles Times and various professional organizations. The series has been divided into two subseries. Charitable and Professional Associations (1978-2004) documents Frank del Olmo's association with charitable and professional organizations, including workshops and speeches attended and presented in a professional capacity as well as honors received. Organizations include the California Chicano News Media Association, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the Times-Mirror Foundation. The series is arranged alphabetically by association. The Los Angeles Times (1972-2004) documents del Olmo's time as Editor at the Los Angeles Times and includes some operational material. The subseries is arranged alphabetically.

Series IV, Ephemera, consists of press passes and pins from del Olmo's various reporting assignments during his time with the Los Angeles Times. The passes reflect coverage of sports organizations and events, politics, conferences, and the activities of the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Biographical / historical:

Frank del Olmo (1948-2004) was a journalist, editorial columnist, and editor for the Los Angeles Times specializing in Latin American affairs and local Latino community concerns. Del Olmo's career with the Times would span 34 years. During that time he went from intern to assistant editor and served as director of the Times-Mirror Foundation. His career also included a Distinguished Achievement in Writing "Emmy" in 1976 for the KNBC-TV documentary, "The Unwanted," a 1984 Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for Meritorious Public Service for the 27 article series "Southern California's Latino Community," and a 1987 Nieman Fellowship for excellence in journalism. He was a founding member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and served on the board of directors for the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Acquisition information:
01/20/1995
Processing information:

April Feldman, 2013.

Arrangement:

Series I: Writings of Frank del Olmo, 1968-2004

Subseries A: Reporter's Notebooks, 1968-2004

Subseries B: Los Angeles Times Newspaper Clippings File, 1970-2003

Series II: Research Files, 1924-2004

Subseries A: Autism, 1994-2004

Subseries B: California & Los Angeles, 1924-2003

Subseries C: Education Issues, 1963-2003

Subseries D: Immigration Issues, 1931-2004

Subseries 1: Working Files on Immigration, 1966-1996

Subseries 2: Subject Files, 1931-2004

Subseries E: International-Latin Affairs, 1938-2003

Subseries 1: Working Files by Country, 1938-2003

Subseries 2: Subject Files 1989-2003

Subseries F: Labor Issues, 1963-2000

Subseries G: People in the News, 1969-2000

Subseries H: Political Issues, 1965-2004

Subseries I: Chronological Files, 1980-2001

Series III: Professional Development, 1972-2004

Subseries A: Charitable and Professional Associations, 1978-2004

Subseries B: The Los Angeles Times, 1972-2004

Subseries 1: del Olmo As Editor, 1994-2004

Subseries 2: Operational Material, 1972-2003

Series IV: Ephemera, 1971-1996

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Location of this collection:
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330, US
Contact:
(818) 677-4594
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