Livermore Action Group Records, 1974-2003, bulk 1982-1986

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Summary

Creators:
Livermore Action Group, Hawkins, George Franklin, Diehl, Patrick S., Woodard, Victoria, and Hauser, Luke
Abstract:
The Livermore Action Group was a Berkeley based nonviolent anti-nuclear group who are best known for their demonstrations and blockades of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories and Vandenberg Air Force Base in the mid-1980s. The collection contains flyers and materials relating to demonstrations, meeting notes, personal narratives, some correspondence, the journals of Victoria Woodard and George Hawkins, publications and clippings, audio tapes with LAG member interviews, photographs and slides, and demonstration artifacts.
Extent:
9 cartons, 2 pamphlet boxes (1 small) (11.75 Cubic Feet)
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Livermore Action Group Records (SFH 620), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains the Livermore Action Group Statement of Purpose, personal narratives, a small amount of correspondence, meeting minutes and notes, journals of Victoria Woodard and George Hawkins, Livermore Action Group publications including the Direct Action Newsletter and workbooks relating to specific demonstrations, publications and clippings about Livermore Action Group and their interests, audio tapes with LAG member interviews, photographic prints and slides, demonstration memorabilia, and two books.

Luke Hauser (a pseudonym used by George Franklin Hawkins) wrote the book Direct Action: an Historical Novel, using the Livermore Action Group Archive as a resource before donating it to the library. The collection contains notes written by Hawkins while researching for the book. These notes were made at a later date, not when the documents were created.

The collection is strong in its ephemera relating to demonstrations in the 1980s, including meeting agendas and minutes, flyers, mailers, photographs and slides. Meeting agendas and minutes are not listed separately in the finding aid. To maintain original order they were left filed with the papers they were created with, and are found scattered throughout the collection. They are found in Sub-series 1.1 George Hawkins' files and Sub-series 1.2 Patrick Deihl's files.

Biographical / historical:

The Livermore Action Group (LAG), 1981-1985, was a Berkeley based nonviolent anti-nuclear group who sought to further the cause of global nuclear disarmament, the de-militarization of American society, and a more equitable distribution of wealth. Founded in October of 1981, the group is most known for their demonstrations and blockades at the Lawrence Livermore National Labs (LLNL) in June of 1982, and the Vandenberg Air Force base in the Summer of 1983. LAG also sponsored and participated in many smaller demonstrations.

LAG structured itself into Workgroups, Affinity Groups (AG) and staff. Workgroups consisted of 5-20 people organized around specific tasks. Affinity Groups varied in member size and focused on the physical and emotional support of demonstrators. Members grouped themselves by shared interests and backgrounds. Many AG's were characterized as having influences from feminist, religious and spiritual ideologies but others found common ground as neighbors, parenthood, or simply friendship. Affinity Groups in their turn selected agents or Spokes (spokes people) who represented AG members to the Spoke's Council, the main decision-making body for actions. LAG also included paid and volunteer office staff who supported the Workgroups and Affinity Groups.

In 1982, 1,360 people were arrested at LLNL and 7,000 demonstrated over two days. LAG received extensive press coverage and effectively leveraged that energy into sustaining their organization. However, smaller numbers demonstrated the following year in 1983, and fearing the event would become a smaller echo of its previous incarnation, no LLNL blockade took place in 1984. LAG continued to demonstrate effectively on a smaller scale until they dissolved in 1985, publishing their last issue of Direct Action in the Spring of 1986.

Acquisition information:
Donated by George Franklin Hawkins of Livermore Action Group in two accessions, 2006 and 2009. Accession numbers 2006-77 and 2009-60.
Processing information:

During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Metal paper clips were removed, some staples remain. Two boxes of papers arrived loose in boxes, they were sorted and filed by subject during processing and those papers are included in George Franklin Hawkins' Livermore Action Group sub-series. Post processing three more boxes were located and incorporated into the collection. Those materials were integrated into sub-series 1.1: George Franklin Hawkins' Livermore Action Group, as well as series 2: Publications and Clippings. Sub-series 4.1 was created for Prints.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in 5 series:

Series 1: Livermore Action Group Files (Sub-series 1.1: George Franklin Hawkins' LAG files,Sub-series 1.2: Patrick Diehl's LAG files, Sub-series 1.3: Victoria Woodard's LAG files.)

Series 2: Publications (Sub-series 2.1: LAG group publications, Sub-series 2.2: Serial Publications, newsletters, workbooks, Sub-series 2.3: Clippings, Sub-series 2.4: Books.)

Series 3: Direct Action: an Historical Novel Notes and Drafts

Series 4: Audio Visual (Sub-series 4.1: Prints, Sub-series 4.2: Slides, Sub-series 4.3: Audio Tapes.)

Series 5: Artifacts Original order was maintained whenever possible. The collection is filed alphabetically or chronologically within subseries

Physical location:
Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Livermore Action Group Records (SFH 620), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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