The collection consists of papers, diaries, and photographs related to the life and interests of California women's rights activist Louise Ward Watkins (1890-1974) and her family. Subject matter in the collection includes California politics; Japan and Japanese-American relations; her father, engineer George Clinton Ward (1863-1933); and the Watkins family.

Louise Whipple Ward Watkins (1890-1974), a leader in women's rights, California politics, and Los Angeles organizations, came to California from New York with her family when she was fifteen years old. Louise studied dramatics in New York and law at the University of Southern California, and in 1915 she married Edward Francis Watkins. Louise Watkins was active in the cause of woman suffrage, women's clubs, the Japan American Society, and Republican politics. She served on several state commissions, founded the Southern California Republican Women (1935), and ran for the United States Senate in 1938

22 boxes, 38 volumes, 10 oversize folders, and 1 album

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