Finding aid to the Allan Brotsky Oral History
Finding aid created by Labor Archives and Research Center staff.
Labor Archives and Research Center
2017
San Francisco State University
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco 94132-1722
larc@sfsu.edu
Title: Allan Brotsky oral history
Date (inclusive): 2005 November 4-22
Creator:
Labor Archives and Research Center
Extent:
Transcript: 1 folder; Tapes: 7 audio cassettes
Collection number: larc.oh.brotsky
Contributing Institution: Labor Archives and Research Center
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
San Francisco State University
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722
(415) 405-5571
larc@sfsu.edu
Language of Material: Languages represented in the collection: English.
Abstract: Sound recording of Allan Brotsky interview conducted by Harvey Schwartz. Brotsky recounts his life as a Bay Area labor and
civil rights attorney.
Collection is open for research.
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Allan Brotsky oral history. San Francisco State University. Labor Archives and Research Center
Interviewed by Harvey Schwartz for the Labor Archives and Research Center, 2005.
Bay Area labor and civil rights attorney.
Sound recording of Allan Brotsky interview conducted by Harvey Schwartz. Brotsky recounts his life as a Bay Area labor and
civil rights attorney. Brotsky recounts his life as a Bay Area labor and civil rights attorney. The interview covers many
major labor and political issues from the 1940s to the present. Topics include Brotsky's involvement with: UCAPAWA (1948 Stockton
Strike), student activism at Columbia University, the Young Communist League, the National Lawyers Guild, his service during
World War II, and as counsel for such unions as the United Auto Workers, United Electrical, the International Longshore and
Warehouse Union, the Marine Cooks and Stewards, and the Marine Engineers Beneficial. Sections dealing with the 1950s Grand
Jury subpoenaing of Bay Area labor leaders, and the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee Hearings in San Francisco show the
impact of the McCarthy Era on the labor movement locally. Other sections deal with Brotsky's employment with several prominent
Bay Area labor law firms including Gladstein, Andersen, Resner, and Sawyer. Brotsky also worked on behalf of Bay Area civil
rights activists in the Palace Hotel sit-ins and Lucky Store picketing. He also argued on behalf of the Black Panthers in
the 1960s. In addition, Brotsky recounts defending peace activists during the Vietnam War era. Finally, he discusses his job
as a professor of law at Golden Gate University School of Law and reflects on his career.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Civil rights lawyers -- California -- Interviews.
Labor lawyers -- California -- Interviews.
Audiocassettes.
Oral histories.
Brotsky, Allan
Schwartz, Harvey