Collection of American right wing pamphlets, 1926-1981, bulk 1950s-1970s

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Summary

Creators:
Bolerium Books
Abstract:
Collection of 1950s-1960s right wing political and religious ephemera ranging from economic conservatism to extreme hate speech.
Extent:
12 Linear Feet (22 boxes, 1 flat box)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], Collection of American right wing pamphlets (M2867). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection of political and religious ephemera was obtained from a San Francisco dealer who assembled the material from the estates of various Southern Californians activists. Content ranges from economic conservative viewpoints such as free enterprise and small government to racist, antisemitic, and other hateful expression, but the majority are anti-Communist and Christian Nationalist in nature. Most are from the 1950s and 60s, but there is material from the 1930s through the 1980s as well as a small file from 1914.

The ephemera consists of mailers, fliers & handbills, article photocopies (often heavily annotated), pamphlets, books, magazines, newsletters, reports, transcripts, typescripts, and related items. Much of the material comes from churches and religious organizations.

The collection, which arrived unsorted, was sorted into various series as follows (please note that series are general groupings and subjects overlap between them):

Series 1 contains material filed by distributor, publisher or author. In many cases these are reprints from other sources, revealing an editorialized information network much like contemporary internet practice.

Series 2 contains material filed more or less by subject, and in many cases without clear authorship or source printed. Series 3, 4 & 5 are also filed by subject, but with more detailed description.

Series 6 contains a variety of generally liberal and moderate religious and institutional publications. It is not clear which things were used by right groups as examples for commentary, and which were probably added later by the dealer in putting the collection together. Miscellaneous non-political publications are also filed here.

The final series is another instance of unrelated material that came with the collection; a group of multiple copies of article reprints, committee reports, state bills, and other printed ephemera concerning prenatal health, hygiene and clean milk legislation in Massachusetts circa 1914.

Acquisition information:
Purchase, 2012. Accession 2022-357.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.

Terms of access:

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], Collection of American right wing pamphlets (M2867). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, California.

Location of this collection:
Department of Special Collections, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6004, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
specialcollections@stanford.edu
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