Frontline Photograph Collection, 1979-1990

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Creators:
Frontline
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

Frontline, a bi-monthly newspaper, began in April 1983. Its mission was to represent the interests and causes of the working class under its masthead slogan On the Frontline in the Struggle Against War and Racism. The political perspective underlying Frontline was developed in the theoretical journal Line of March, and it was through the editorial board of the journal that the resources to launch Frontline were concentrated. Published in Oakland, California, Frontline was financed through subscription and donation, refusing to run commercial advertising of any kind. In an attempt to create a more united left, in early 1990 the staffs of Frontline and the leftist magazine North Star Review joined together with other progressive minded individuals to start Crossroads. A monthly magazine, Crossroads ran from June 1990 until its demise in August 1996. A few of the photographs in the collection were used in Crossroads, but the vast majority are from Frontline.

Approximately 95 percent of the photograph collection covers the period from 1980-1990 and is divided into three categories:

  1. subjects; documentary photographs of places, events, groups, and activities used to illustrate the issues and concerns of the editorial staff.
  2. individuals; arranged alphabetically by last name.
  3. oversize prints; consisting of six 11 × 14 photos

While the individuals category includes many political leaders and activists of the 1980s, the subjects category features an assortment of fascinating and compelling images from that decade including the Contra war, nuclear disarmament and gay rights marches, Jesse Jackson's presidential campaigns, and revolutionary events around the world. There are also many photos illustrating the history of the labor movement in the 1980s, and a unique collection of activist singers and musical groups.

Physical description:
3 document cases 1 cubic feet

Access and use

Location of this collection:
6120 S. Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90044, US
Contact:
(323) 759-6063
web@socallib.org
Website