Harriet Judd Eliel oral history, 1973

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Eliel, Harriet Judd, 1890-
Abstract:
Contains a transcript of Carol Farley's 1973 interview with Harriet Judd Eliel documenting her activities as an officer of the San Francisco, California, and national chapters of the League of Women Voters in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
Extent:
1 folder (0.1 Linear feet)
Language:
Collection material is in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Harriet Judd Eliel Oral History, MS 954, California Historical Society.

Background

Scope and content:

This oral history collection contains a transcript of Carol Farley's brief 1973 interview with Harriet Judd Eliel; a chronology of Eliel's career with the League of Women Voters; and an index to the transcript.

The interview primarily concerns Eliel's activities as an officer of the San Francisco, California, and national chapters of the League of Women Voters in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. In particular, it sheds light on the membership, administration, and legislative activities of the League, including its role in support of public education, New Deal relief programs, civil service reform, and the establishment of a women's prison in California.

Biographical / historical:

Harriet Judd Eliel was born in 1890 in Evanston, Illinois. She attended the University of California, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health and Social Welfare in 1913. After the birth of her second son in 1916, she completed her Master of Arts degree in Education, also at the University of California. Between 1921 and 1924, she established and directed the experimental John Dewey School in Berkeley, California, which her sons attended.

In the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, Eliel held a number of positions with the League of Women Voters at the local, state, and national levels. In the 1920s and 1930s, she served on the legislative committee of the California League of Women Voters, successfully opposing state legislation to cut education funding. Eliel also served as president of the California League of Women Voters between 1933 and 1937; secretary of the national League of Women Voters between 1936 and 1941; and president of the San Francisco League of Women Voters between 1942 and 1944. Between 1944 and 1946, she held official positions with the City Government Committee and Mayor's Post-War Planning Commission, both in San Francisco.

Eliel had two sons and two daughters, born in 1914, 1916, 1928, and 1930.

Acquisition information:
This oral history was transcribed from an interview with Harriet Judd Eliel conducted by Oberlin College student Carol Farley in 1973.
Physical location:
Collection is stored onsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

California Historical Society collections have been transferred to Stanford University Libraries. Collections will be unavailable as Stanford accessions them and updates records. Please contact chscollection@stanford.edu with any inquiries.

Terms of access:

Copyright has been assigned to California Historical Society. Materials in these collections are protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and may not be used without permission of California Historical Society. Use may be restricted by terms of CHS gift or purchase agreements, privacy and publicity rights, licensing terms, and trademarks. All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Library and Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Harriet Judd Eliel Oral History, MS 954, California Historical Society.

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