Léon R. Yankwich papers, 1909-1959

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Summary

Creators:
Yankwich, Léon R. (Léon René), b. 1888
Abstract:
Léon René Yankwich (1888-1975) was a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court (1927-35) and in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of California (1935-64). He presided over one of the first cases under the Smith Act, as well as cases involving the ownership of the Elk Hills oil fields, and the Hollywood 10. He also contributed many articles to law reviews and published books. The collection consists of Yankwich's correspondence, manuscripts of speeches, photographs, memorabilia, legal papers, books, and other printed material including manuscripts for his books It's libel or contempt if you print it and The nature of our freedom.
Extent:
103 Linear Feet (206 boxes and 26 oversize boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Léon R. Yankwich Papers (Collection 538). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts of speeches, photographs, memorabilia, legal papers, books, and other printed material by Léon R. Yankwich, pertaining to his career as a lawyer, judge, and author. Includes transcripts of trials, legal briefs, articles, drafts of books, newspaper clippings, and other printed materials relating to copyright law and other legal subjects. Includes manuscripts for his books It's libel or contempt if you print it and The nature of our freedom.

This register lists contents of Judge Leon Yankwich's papers as packed by him for the Library. It is a temporary means of locating material that may be called for. The collection will have to be sorted and arranged.

JVM (August 6, 1959)

Biographical / historical:

Léon René Yankwich was born on September 25, 1888 in Jassy, Roumania; LLB, Williamette University in 1909; JD (1926), LLD (1929), Loyola University (Los Angeles); came to the U.S. in 1907; admitted to California and Oregon bar, 1909; practiced law in Modesto, California (1909-16) and Los Angeles (1916-27); judge, Los Angeles County Superior Court, 1927-35; judge, U.S. District Court of the Southern District of California, 1935-64; presided over one of the first cases under the Smith Act, as well as cases involving the ownership of the Elk Hills oil fields, and the Hollywood 10; contributed many articles to law reviews; published books include It's libel or contempt if you print it (1950) and The nature of our freedom (1950); he died on February 9, 1975.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Léon R. Yankwich, 1959.

Gift of Peter E. Yankwich, 1975.

Processing information:

Processed by James V. Mink, August 1959; additions processed by Dydia Delyser, May 1989.

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

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Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Material regarding Yankwich's federal judgeship appointment.
  2. Los Angeles Superior Court correspondence files.
  3. U.S. District Court correspondence files.
  4. Addenda.
  5. Addenda no.2.
  6. Clippings, election precinct results, and memorabilia.

Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Léon R. Yankwich Papers (Collection 538). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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