Inventory of the United Farm Workers Ephemera Collection SPC.2021.016
Karen Clemons
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2021-06; 2022-03; 2022-11; 2023-10
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
Business Number: 310-243-3895
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: United Farm Workers Ephemera Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2021.016
Physical Description:
1 box
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1957,1965-1978, 1984, 1993, 2003; undated
Language of Material:
English
, Spanish; Castilian
.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
Biographical / Historical
The United Farm Workers of America (UFW) is a labor union for farmworkers that was formed in Delano, California in August
1966 following the merger of the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta; and the
Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) led by Philip Vera Cruz, Larry Itliong, Benjamin Gines, and Pete Valasco.
This merger was the result of strike that began on September 8, 1965, when the predominantly Filipino AWOC walked off of vineyards
and began their strike against Delano area grape growers in protest of low wages. The predominately Mexican American NFWA
joined the strike a week later in support and the strike would continue for the next five years. In 1972, the UFW was chartered
as an independent affiliate by the AFL-CIO; and was renamed the United Farm Workers of America. Chavez became president of
the union in 1966, a position he held until his death in 1993. Currently, "the UFW continues organizing in major agricultural
sectors, chiefly in California. Recent years have witnessed dozens of UFW union contract victories protecting thousands of
farm workers, among them agreements with the some of the largest berry, winery, tomato, dairy and mushroom companies in California
and the nation. More than 75 percent of California's fresh mushroom industry is now under union contract. Many recent UFW-sponsored
laws and regulations protect all farm workers in California, especially those at non-union ranches. They include the first
state standards in the U.S. to prevent further deaths and illnesses from extreme heat and in 2016 the first law in the country
providing farm workers in California with overtime pay after eight hours a day. The UFW continues to actively champion legislative
and regulatory reforms for farm workers covering issues such as worker protections, pesticides and immigration reform." ("Our
Vision", https://ufw.org/about-us/our-vision/)
Sources: "UFW Chronology". Retrieved from: https://ufw.org/ufw-chronology/
"The Rise of the UFW". Retrieved from: https://ufw.org/the-rise-of-the-ufw/
Scope and Contents
This collection contains photographs, flyers, articles, pamphlets, vinyl records, a flag, a poncho, buttons, stickers, stamps,
and a mailer regarding United Farm Workers (UFW) and Cesar Chavez and is mostly related to boycotts that occured in the late
1960s through the early 1970s in support of farmworkers. Also included are documents both in favor of and in opposition to
Proposition 14, the farm labor initiative, a 1976 ballot initiative sponsored by Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers
of America; photographs taken at Cesar Chavez's memorial service; and material related to farm workers such as a "California
Farm Workers" brochure and Student Committee on Agricultural Labor broadside. Some of the material in this collection were
featured as part of the Gerth Archives and Special Collections 2018 exhibit entitled "¡Adelante! Latinx Activism in California".
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cleveland (Ohio)
Labor unions
Agricultural laborers
Grape Strike, Calif., 1965-1970
Boycotts
United Farm Workers of America
Chavez, Cesar, 1927-1993
box 1, folder 5
Material related to farm workers
1957, 1965, undated
Scope and Contents
"California Guide for Farm Workers" State of California Department of Employment; "Back in the Strawberry Fields" [photograph];
Student Committee on Agricultural Labor "Farm Workers- Students, The Same Battle?" [broadside].
box 1, folder 9
Saturday Evening Post featuring article "Strike!" by John Gregory Dunne
May 6, 1967
box 1, folder 1
United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO mailer featuring letter from Cesar Chavez regarding the boycott of California
table grapes; reprint by "El Malcriado" of San Francisco Chronicle article regarding Eugene McCarthy's support of the grape
boycott; flyer; and boycott list
1968
box 1, folder 5
Profile: Cesar Chavez by Peter Matthiessen. Reprinted from the June 21 and June 28, 1969 issues of the New Yorker by UAW Western
Region Six
June 1969
box 1, folder 5
Time Magazine issue featuring the cover story "The Grapes of Wrath Mexican-Americans on the March"
July 4, 1969
box 1, folder 8
Memorandums from Pete (Money) Velasco, Defense Fund regarding food caravan events; strike contributions, and assistance
November 1970-June 1971
box 1, folder 8
Volunteers needed to boycott lettuce at all Federal Base Installations [memorandum]
1971
box 1, folder 5
"Justice for Farm Workers Vote No on Prop 22" United Farm Workers, AFL-CIO [flyer]
1972
box 1, folder 5
United Farm Workers picketing photographs
June-August 1973
Physical Description: 5 items
Conditions Governing Use
Photographs courtesy of Plain Dealer Library
box 1, folder 1
"Stephie Koyak 16 of West Geauga High School picketing Guinta's at Cedar and Warrensville University Heights [Cleveland, OH].
Part of United Farm Workers Non-Union Grape Effort" [black-and-white photograph]
July 18, 1973
box 1, folder 2
Rolling Stone Magazine, Issue No. 143 featuring an article entitled "Battle of Coachella Valley" by David Harns
September 13, 1973
box 1, folder 1
"Kennedy Supports Chavez-- U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (right) Saturday reaffirmed his support for the struggle of Cesar Chavez
(left) to regain farm labor contracts lost to the Teamsters Union..". AP Wirephoto. [black-and-white photograph]
September 25, 1973
box 1, folder 1
"Picket at West Side Market. Representatives of the United Farm Workers and sympathizers picketed the West Side Market [Cleveland,
OH.] for an hour yesterday to publicize the boycott of lettuce and California grapes." [black-and-white photograph]
June 21, 1974
box 1, folder 1
"Support the Farmworkers Come to a Mass Picket of Safeway". Eugene Friends of the Farmworkers, Eugene OR. [flyer]
circa 1973
box 1, folder 1
"The United Farm Workers Invites you and your friend to join Cesar Chavez" [flyer for potluck]
circa 1974
Language of Material: English, Spanish; Castilian.
box 1, folder 9
"Farmworkers March on Gallo, March 110 mi. for Justice. From the Bay to the Gallo Winery in Modesto" [small poster]
[1975]
box 1, folder 2
Rolling Stone Magazine, issue No. 224. Features a portrait of Cesar Chavez
October 21, 1976
box 1, folder 3
Documents in favor of Proposition 14
circa 1976
Scope and Contents
"Farm Workers Ask You to Vote Yes on Prop. 14" [flyers]; "Cesar Chavez and the Farm Workers ask you to..." [flyer]; "Justice?
Law + Order? What Can You Do to Bring Justice to Farm Workers? Support Prop 14" [broadside]; "Guarantee Farm Workers the Right
to Vote Yes on 14" [flyer]; "Cesar Chavez Tue. Oct. 19, Yes on 14!", Cal State Fullerton [flyer]; "Argument in Support of
Proposition 14: The Farm Worker Initiative" photocopied article by Rev. Wayne (Chris) Hartmire; "Gus Hall and Jarvis Tyner
say: Farmworkers are not Private Property" [booklet]; "For Farm Workers Yes on 14" [bumper sticker].
box 1, folder 4
Documents Against Proposition 14
circa 1976
Scope and Contents
Includes: California Farm Bureau Federation "Proposition 14 is a Disaster, Vote No on 14" [pamphlet], "Proposition 14, The
Farm Labor Initiative" [circular], "Proposition 14, the Farm Labor Initiative is a Disaster" [broadside]; Citizens for a Fair
Farm Labor Law "No on 14" [poster], "Proposition 14 would create a very bad law...." [pamphlet]; Protect Private Property
No on 14 Committee [brochure]
box 1, folder 5
Letter from Cesar Chavez to Walter Olesky
July 3, 1978
box 1, folder 6
Vinyl records- "Huelga En General"; Joan Baez "Maria Dolores", "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos (Deportee); "Huelga En General! Songs
of the United Farm Workers by El Teatro Campesino
circa 1970s
box 1, folder 8
"The Farmworkers Request Your Assistance in Persuading Lucky Stores Inc. to Stop Selling Grapes" [flyer]
circa 1970s
box 1
United Farm Workers poncho
circa 1970s
box 1, folder 5
photograph of Cesar Chavez
April 19, 1984
Conditions Governing Use
Ap Newsfeatures Photo
box 1, folder 7
Cesar Chavez memorial service, Delano, CA. [photographs]
April 30, 1993
Physical Description: 5 items
box 1, folder 5
"Cesar Chavez and the Farm Workers Need Help in Los Angeles" United Farm Workers AFL-CIO [flyer]
undated
box 1, folder 1
United Farm Workers of American, AFL-CIO flyer regarding which wines to buy and which to boycott in support of farmworkers
undated
box 1, folder 6
Support Farm Workers; Boycott Grapes; Boycott Gallo; Lettuce boycott [stickers and pins]
undated
box 1
United Farm Workers flag
undated
