Chandler (Bill) Farm Worker and Health Care Organizing Papers, 1957-1995

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:
Bill Chandler Farm Worker and Health Care Organizing Papers
Dates:
1957-1995
Creators:
Chandler, Bill, 1941-
Abstract:
Bill Chandler worked with the Community Service Organization in 1960. During this time Chandler met Cesar Chavez and subsequently began working full-time with the United Farm Workers in 1965 in California and Texas. His activities included organizing people to participate in the strike and picketing at the Central Produce Market in downtown Los Angeles. Chandler was an observer in negotiations between farm workers and vineyards in Delano during the grape boycott. In the 1970s and 1980s, Chandler worked for health care worker unions, such as the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Beginning in the late 1980s in Mississippi, Chandler was a member and organizer with the state's employees union. He also founded and acted as Executive Director for the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance (MIRA). The collection consists of publications and papers created by the United States federal government, California state government, the United Farm Workers, the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, and similar organizations. Bulk dates are 1960s to 1980s.
Extent:
6.59 linear feet (12 boxes)
Language:
English, Spanish; Castilian
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

The Bill Chandler Farm Worker and Health Care Organizing Papers consists of publications and papers created by the United States federal government, California state government, the United Farm Workers (UFW), the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees (1199), and similar organizations. Bulk dates are 1960s to 1980s. The collection is arranged into four series: Federal Publications(1966-1974), Organizational Publications(1966-1976), State Publications(1969-1978), and Professional Papers(1957-1995).

Series I, Federal Publications, consists of publications created by the federal government of the United States. These are listed alphabetically and chronologically within.

Series II, Organizational Publications, consists of publications created by various organizations involved with the farm laborers including the United Farm Workers. Within this series are several resolutions which are numbered and filed in numerical order. Other publications are listed alphabetically and chronologically within.

Series III, State Publications, consists of publications created by the state of California. These are listed alphabetically and chronologically within. Series IV, Professional Papers, consists of correspondence, ephemera, clippings, memos, flyers, press releases, administrative records, newsletters, agreements, resolutions, rosters, notes, reports, booklets, pamphlets, charges, legal case files, articles of incorporation, publications, and posters. The papers document unions, including their campaigns and operations, representing predominantly health care workers as well as farm workers, such as the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees (1199), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), and the United Farm Workers of America (UFW). It also documents projects of the Bread and Roses Cultural Committee, a group of unionized hospital workers who coordinated cultural programs for union members affiliated with SEIU and 1199. Bill Chandler acted as a national union representative and director of 1199 during the 1970s and 1980s. Folders are arranged alphabetically by title.

Series are generally arranged alphabetically, though not strictly due to additions made later.

Biographical / historical:

Bill Chandler was born in Berkeley, California on March 18, 1941. He began working with the Community Service Organization in 1960. During this time Chandler met Cesar Chavez. He began working full-time with the United Farm Workers in 1965. His activities included organizing people to participate in the strike and picketing at the Central Produce Market in downtown Los Angeles. He was an observer in negotiations between the farm workers and the vineyards in Delano during the 1965 grape boycott. In Texas, he helped organize cross-border actions with Mexican and American workers to support the United Farm Workers in their efforts to improve conditions, even in the face of police harassment and brutality. After, Chandler's organizing focus was primarily with the lowest paid workers in the South, including farm workers, hospitality, health care, public and immigrant workers. Beginning in 1989 in Mississippi, he organized the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees/Communications Workers of America. In 2000, he founded and acted as Executive Director for the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance (MIRA).

Acquisition information:
Carmen Ramos Chandler; Jorge Garcia, 2024
Processing information:

Megan Hibbits, 2012; Elizabeth Peattie, 2026

Arrangement:

Series I: Federal Publications, 1966-1974

Series II: Organizational Publications, 1966-1976

Series III: State Publications, 1969-1978

Series IV: Professional Papers, 1957-1995

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Documents

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-03-27 09:59:15 -0700.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The 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 Materials guide.

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