San Francisco State College strike collection, 1961-2022, bulk 1968-1970

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Summary

Creators:
Whitson, Helene and Whitson, Helene
Abstract:
This collection contains materials pertaining the 1968-1969 San Francisco State College student strike and the simultaneous and supportive faculty strike. The materials were collected by librarian Helene Whitson during and after the strike events.
Extent:
15.37 Cubic Feet (32 boxes, and 1 oversize box)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], San Francisco State College Strike Collection, Accession # 1977.01, San Francisco State University, J. Paul Leonard Library, Special Collections and Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains materials pertaining the 1968-1969 San Francisco State College student strike and the simultaneous and supportive faculty strike. The materials were collected by librarian Helene Whitson during and after the strike events.

The collection contains a large number of student-generated documents that chronicle the strike and its underlying motivations. Topics include the value of "relevant education," questioning the status-quo, student organizing, the empowerment of BIPOC students, and racial tensions on campus and in society.

Materials include position statements, flyers, correspondence, official documents, memos, reports, publications and clippings. Materials also include those generated by the relevant student organizations, the Black Student Union (BSU), the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF) and its member student organizations, the Philippine-American Collegiate Endeavor (PACE), the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), the Mexican-American Student Confederation (MASC), the Intercollegiate Chinese for Social Action (ICSA), the Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA), and many other student groups, movements and social committees. The collection also includes student newspapers published during the strike, and books and publications published after the strike.

Other materials include correspondence, memos, publications, leaflets, reports, election information, committees and executive committee minutes and agendas of faculty organizations and groups, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Association of California State College Professors. Other materials document the response to the strike by the College Administration and chancellor's office, including campus presidents, trustees, legislature and Governor Reagan, with correspondence, memos, communications, reports, studies and orders revealing their opposition to the strike and efforts to end it.

Biographical / historical:

The San Francisco State College student strike, lasting from November 1968 to March 1969, was the longest running academic strike in U.S. history. It began after a series of events, starting in May 1967, increased political organizing and tension on campus. [For more detail see Helene Whitson's "Strike! A Chronology, Bibliography, and List of Archival Materials Concerning the 1968-1969 Strike at San Francisco State College"]

The strike was led by the Black Student Union (BSU) and the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF), a coalition of Latinx, Filipino and Asian student groups. The strike also had support from progressive white students, community groups, the Parents Strike Support Committee, and faculty members who joined the picket line.

The strike was waged under the tenure of three college presidents. The first two, Presidents John Summerskill and Robert Smith, resigned. It ended under the tenure of acting President S.I. Hawakaya, who became known for his dramatic responses to keep the College open, including ripping the wires out of the audio system during a student rally.

The major outcomes of the demands were the establishment of the School of Ethnic Studies, which was the first in the nation, and faculty positions, funding and staffing for an Economic Opportunity Program (EOP), increased enrollment of students of color, and amnesty for students involved in strike activities.

Acquisition information:
Materials collected by Helene Whitson, accession number 1977.01
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject or creator by Helene Whitson. Each folder contains an inventory listing its contents.

Physical location:
Collection is available on site.
Physical facet:
Box 32 contains two microfilm reels titled "Strike materials, 1968-69".
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the University Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to the University Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

The collection includes unpublished drafts of manuscripts and articles by third-party authors, including students and other scholars. By accessing the collection, researchers agree to respect the intellectual rights of these individuals and to refrain from citing or publishing from materials without the permission of the authors.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], San Francisco State College Strike Collection, Accession # 1977.01, San Francisco State University, J. Paul Leonard Library, Special Collections and Archives.

Location of this collection:
1630 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722, US
Contact:
(415) 405-5549
specialcollections@sfsu.edu
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