Collection Guide
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National United Committee to Free Angela Davis records
M0262
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
Multiple languages
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: National United Committee to Free Angela Davis records
source:
National United Committee to Free Angela Davis
Identifier/Call Number: M0262
Identifier/Call Number: 1951
Physical Description:
250 Linear Feet
(489 boxes, 11 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): circa 1970-1972
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.
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.
[identification of item], National United Committee to Free Angela Davis records (M0262). Dept. of Special Collections and
University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Related Collections, Stanford Libraries
M2086 Freiheit für Angela Davis ephemera collection, 1971-1972
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/10765144
M0308 Mary Timothy collection of Angela Davis trial material, 1972-1974
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4083164
M1032 Herbert Aptheker papers
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084973
MSS PHOTO 0216 Michelle Vignes collection, 1966-1974 contains photographs taken during 1969 press conference at Mills College
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/5504726
MSS PHOTO 0283 Susanna Lucia Lamaina photographs of former Black Panther Party members, 1984-2015 https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/8814876
SC0539 Donald T. Carlson papers, 1952-1995, contains files on the guest professorship st Stanford in 1976
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4501489
M0864 Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation Inc. collection, 1968 -1994
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084258
M2680 Elbert "Big Man" Howard papers (forthcoming)
MISC 374 Free Street; Free Huey poster, 1968
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084175
MISC 593 Jean Genet Letters to David Hilliard and Charles Garry, 1970-1972
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084887
Related Collections, Other Archives
Harvard University, Schlesinger Library. Papers of Angela Y. Davis, 1937-2017
University of Central Florida. Angela Y. Davis collection
University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections. Angela Davis ephemera collection
Claremont Colleges. Angela Davis materials, 1970-1972
University of California Santa Cruz Special Collections and Archives. Thorne (John E.) papers
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.
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.
Collection processed by Paul Lowood, Natasha Porfirenko, and Gurudarshan Khalsa.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African Americans -- History -- 20th century
African American women political activists
Women political activists -- United States -- History
African American intellectuals -- Political activity
Women political prisoners -- United States
Trials (Conspiracy) -- United States -- California
Communism and African Americans
National United Committee to Free Angela Davis
Davis, Angela Y. (Angela Yvonne), 1944-