Bert MacDonald Papers: Finding Aid
Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black, October 3, 2003.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical
Gardens
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2003
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
Title: Bert MacDonald Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1935-1950
Collection Number: mssHM 66522-66575
Creator:
MacDonald, Bert.
Extent: 54 items in 1 box
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains 54 items related to the investigations of United States War Department and Corp of Engineers agent
Bert MacDonald, who was
hired in 1942 to monitor and investigate communist and other radical groups in Los Angeles, California.
Language: English.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Bert MacDonald Papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Provenance
Gift of Kenneth R. MacDonald, June 3, 1976.
Cataloger's Note
Although Bert MacDonald uses the names Michael McDonald, Quink, and Chic in his
espionage work, it was decided to use the name Bert MacDonald throughout the
collection. He used that name when he joined the Army and became a Protective
Security Agent; we believe it to be his real name.
Biographical Note
Bert MacDonald was a Protective Security Agent with the Corps of Engineers and the
War Department. He was hired in 1942 to monitor and investigate communist and other
radical groups in Los Angeles.
Scope and Content
The 54 items, which are arranged chronologically, include correspondence, military
records, reports, programs, and a newsletter. The collection also contains some
ephemera related to the groups and individuals MacDonald was investigating. The
material before 1947 deals with MacDonald’s early Army career and his appointment as
a Security Protective Agent for the War Department and the Corps of Engineers. The
material after 1947 pertains to MacDonald’s espionage work and his monitoring of
radical groups in Los Angeles. These items include material MacDonald collected
about the groups as well as his reports on their activities. Some of the groups and
people he investigated are: the Congress of American Women, the Federation of
American Citizens of German Descent, Dr. Wesley A. Swift, Glendale School
Superintendent Willard S. Ford, and a conference on civil rights held by the Los
Angeles Community Relations Council. Also included is a copy of the newsletter
Alert: A Weekly Confidential Report on Communism and How to
Combat It.
The collection deals with the following subjects:
Anti-communist movements, anti-Jewish propaganda, Anti-Semitism, Communism,
espionage, race relations in the Untied States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, the Women’s International Democratic Federation, and
subversive activities. Some notable authors of correspondence are: Agnes Ayres,
George Van Horn Moseley, Gerald L. K. Smith, Colonel Edwin C. Kelton, and Major
General Ralph H. Van Deman.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Indexing: Subjects
Flynn, Elizabeth Gurley
-
Subject in “Report on Congress of American Women,” (1947, July 31) by Bert MacDonald. HM 66548.
Swift, Wesley A.
-
Subject in “Report on Meeting held by Wesley A. Swift,” (1948) by Bert MacDonald. HM 66557, 66559, 66561.
United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation
-
Subject in Vere A. Beers letter (1942, Mar. 12) to Bert MacDonald. HM 66534.
United States. Race relations
-
Subject in Bert MacDonald letter (1948, [before Aug. 16]) to “Dear Friend.” HM 66573.
-
Subject in George Van Horn Moseley, 1874-1960, letter (1948, Aug. 16) to Bert MacDonald. HM 66574.
Women’s International Democratic Federation
-
Subject in “Report on Congress of American Women,” (1947, July 31) by Bert MacDonald. HM 66548.
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Flynn, Elizabeth
Gurley.
MacDonald,
Bert.
Swift, Wesley
A.
United States. Army.
Corps of Engineers.
United States. Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
United States. War
Dept.
Women's International
Democratic Federation.
Anti-communist movements --
California.
Anti-Jewish propaganda --
California.
Antisemitism -- California.
Communism -- California.
Espionage, American.
Internal security -- United
States.
Subversive activities --
California.
California -- History
-- 20th century -- Sources.
California -- Politics
and government -- 20th century --Sources.
United States -- Race
relations.
Forms/Genres
Letters (correspondence) -- California
-- 20th century.
Military records -- California -- 20th
century.
Newsletters -- California -- 20th
century.
Additional Contributors
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940.
Moseley, George Van Horn, 1874-1960.
Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman
Kenneth), 1898-1976.
Van Deman, Ralph H., 1865-1952.
Federation of American Citizens of
German Descent.
[1935], June 23.
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66522
[1935], Aug. 14.
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66523
[1935], Sep. 20.
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66524
1935, Oct. 31.
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66525
[Approximately 1935].
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66526
[Approximately 1935].
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66527
[Approximately 1935].
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66528
[Approximately 1935].
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66529
[Approximately 1935].
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66530
[Approximately 1935].
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66531
[Approximately 1935].
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940 to Bert MacDonald HM 66532
[Approximately 1935].
Ayres, Agnes, 1896-1940, Emma Ayres, and Maria Ayres to Bert MacDonald HM 66533
1942, Mar. 12.
Beers, Vere A. to Bert MacDonald HM 66534
1942, June 5.
MacDonald, Bert. Report to the Protective Security Officer HM 66535
1942, July 1.
Beers, Vere A. to Bert MacDonald HM 66536
1942, July 29.
Currie, F. J. Notice of Efficiency Rating for Bert MacDonald HM 66537
1942, Aug. 5.
Riordan, R. E. to Bert MacDonald HM 66538
1942, Sep. 4.
Hazenbush, T. G. to John D. Roche HM 66539
1942, Sep. 5.
United States. Selective Service System. Order to Report for Induction of Bert MacDonald HM 66540
1942, Sep. 30.
Kelton, Edwin C. to M. L. Hanks HM 66541
1942, Oct. 23.
Beers, Vere A. to Whom it May Concern HM 66542
1942, Oct. 31.
Currie, F. J. to Bert MacDonald HM 66543
1942, Oct. 31.
United States. Selective Service System. Order to Report for Induction of Bert MacDonald HM 66544
[1942].
Beers, Vere A. to Bert MacDonald HM 66545
[1942].
Beers, Vere A. to Bert MacDonald HM 66546
[1942].
MacDonald, Bert to Chief of Engineers HM 66547
1947, July 31.
[MacDonald, Bert]. Report on Congress of American Women HM 66548
1947, Nov. 30.
Federation of American Citizens of German Descent. Resolutions Made at National Convention HM 66549
1948, Feb. 7.
Jeffers, Joseph, Mrs. to Bert MacDonald HM 66550
1948, Feb. 9.
Van Deman, Ralph H., 1865-1952 to Bert MacDonald HM 66551
1948, Feb. 13.
Edstrom, O. E. to Bert MacDonald HM 66552
1948, Feb. 13.
Van Deman, Ralph H., 1865-1952 to Bert MacDonald HM 66553
1948, Feb. 15.
Nulsen, Jack C. to Bert MacDonald HM 66554
1948, Feb. 17.
Van Deman, Ralph H., 1865-1952 to Bert MacDonald HM 66555
1948, Feb. 18.
Edstrom, O. E. to Bert MacDonald HM 66556
1948, Feb. 20.
MacDonald, Bert. Report on Meeting held by Wesley A. Swift HM 66557
1948, Feb. 21.
Edstrom, O. E. to Bert MacDonald HM 66558
1948, Feb. 22.
MacDonald, Bert. Report on Meeting held by Wesley A. Swift HM 66559
1948, Feb. 26.
MacDonald, Bert. Report on Willard S. (Willard Stanley) Ford, 1890-1950 HM 66560
1948, Feb. 29.
MacDonald, Bert. Report on Meeting held by Wesley A. Swift HM 66561
1948, Mar. 3.
MacDonald, Bert to Jake Jacoby HM 66562
1948, Mar. 3.
MacDonald, Bert to G. H. Weiner HM 66563
1948, Mar. 6.
Los Angeles Community Relations Council. Program for County-Wide Conference on Civil Rights HM 66564
1948, Mar. 6.
Los Angeles Community Relations Council. Program for County-Wide Conference on Civil Rights: [not the same as above item;
on verso of last page are handwritten notes possibly by Bert MacDonald]
HM 66565
1948, Mar. 16.
MacDonald, Bert to Helen Collback HM 66566
1948, Mar. 16.
MacDonald, Bert to Fredric Engel HM 66567
1948, Mar. 31.
Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898- to Bert MacDonald HM 66568
1948, Apr. 4.
Allen, Marilyn R. to Bert MacDonald HM 66569
1948, Apr. 12.
Brennan, Bernard to Bert MacDonald HM 66570
1948, Apr. 15.
Mc-----, T. H. to Bert MacDonald HM 66571
1948, May 18.
Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898- to Bert MacDonald HM 66572
1948, [before Aug. 16].
[MacDonald, Bert] to “Dear Friend” HM 66573
1948, Aug. 16.
Moseley, George Van Horn, 1874-1960 to Bert MacDonald HM 66574
1950, Apr. 20.
Alert: A Weekly Confidential Report on Communism and How to Combat It: [newsletter] HM 66575