National United Committee to Free Angela Davis records, circa 1970-1972

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Summary

Creators:
National United Committee to Free Angela Davis
Abstract:
The records of the National United Committee to Free Angela Davis consists overwhelmingly of support letters, most sent from East Germany and the Soviet Union, which the group used to demonstrate global opinion about her conspiracy trial in California. The collection also contains some of the organization's administrative records, publications and correspondence with a variety of other political organizations. There is a small amount of material by Davis herself.
Extent:
250 Linear Feet (489 boxes, 11 oversize folders)
Language:
Multiple languages
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], National United Committee to Free Angela Davis records (M0262). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the National United Committee to Free Angela Davis (NUCFAD) consists overwhelmingly of support letters, most sent from East Germany and the Soviet Union, which the group used to demonstrate international outrage concerning Angela Davis' conspiracy trial in California. The collection also contains some of the organization's administrative records, publications and correspondence with a variety of other political organizations. There is a small amount of material by Davis herself.

This collection was created in the course of a massive defense campaign following the capture and trial of Angela Davis. She was accused of abetting an attempted jailbreak at the Marin County courthouse, but it was clear that she was equally on trial as a Communist, as a Black woman, and as a public intellectual advocating revolution. Material is almost entirely from the period surrounding her trial and the events prior to it - from 1970 to 1972. The collection contains hundreds of boxes of support letters, cards and petitions from around the world, the bulk of which are the results of state-led efforts in Communist Bloc countries (such as East Germany's "Million Roses" campaign). These were retained by the Committee to quantify public opinion, and original organizing and counting was conducted by NUCFAD. Further ordering may have been done by library staff upon the collection's receipt not long after the jury found Davis innocent, and this order was maintained while fully processing the collection. A project running concurrently with the organizing of letters from the GDR and USSR has resulted in a very granular geographic description based on postmarks and return addresses for thousands of letters. Cyrillic has been included in the listing for most Russian locations.

Correspondents from the United States are also sorted by state, although letters identified as being from incarcerated and military correspondents are filed separately. Europe is represented very heavily in the campaigns, especially the other Communist countries of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. Support was also strong in France, Italy, West Germany, Finland, and Belgium. The majority of Commonwealth letters come from Australia.

Davis was relocated several times before her trial started, and it is remarkable how many letters successfully arrived at NUCFAD offices, especially considering how vague many of the addresses are. Many letters were also addressed to Judge Richard Arnason and the Santa Clara District Court as well as lawyers, sheriffs, governor Reagan, and president Nixon. Often, support letters arrived in bulk mailings sent by schools, worker and youth groups, factory collectives and similar institutions. Packages and tubes contained a variety of hand-drawn and printed posters, collages, artwork, proclamations, banners and cloth petitions. Many children are compelled to draw images of Davis (and in the case of the Million Roses campaign, red flowers). Some of these packages also contained magazines, books, and gifts. Although selected examples are sometimes separated from the many boxes of nearly identical pre-printed cards, letters have been generally kept under country of origin. Many of the letters are unopened. it should also be noted that there is often only a single folder of letters from most of the countries listed.

NUCFAD's administrative files include memoranda, notes, publications and correspondence related to fundraising, Free Angela campaigns, and press access to Davis. There is also material related to the trial from her legal team, including minutes, briefs, and correspondence.

Although the collection contains very little of Davis's own work or writing, there are a few letters and draft statements, as well some family-related letters. There is also an annotated typescript copy of her book "If They Come in the Morning."

Along with newspaper and magazine clippings about Davis, there is a great deal of printed political material in the collection, including books, magazines, pamphlets, newsletters, posters, handbills, and related items. Most are filed in their own series, although some are located under their country of origin.

For better or worse, Angela Davis was and continues to be an icon of radical politics and Black struggle. This collection serves as a snapshot of an important three years in her life, as reflected in movements around the world.

Processing information:

Collection processed by Paul Lowood, Natasha Porfirenko, and Gurudarshan Khalsa.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.

Terms of access:

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], National United Committee to Free Angela Davis records (M0262). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

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