Collection Guide
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American right wing pamphlet collection
M2867
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Collection of American right wing pamphlets
source:
Bolerium Books
Identifier/Call Number: M2867
Physical Description:
12 Linear Feet
(22 boxes, 1 flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1926-1981
Date (bulk): 1950s-1970s
Abstract: Collection of 1950s-1960s right wing political and religious ephemera ranging from economic conservatism to extreme hate speech.
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase, 2012. Accession 2022-357.
Stanford Special Collections holds a few related collections of conservative and extremist political ephemera:
Margaret Meier collection of extreme right wing American political ephemera, 1930-1980 (M0688)
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084319
Right-wing extremists : ephemeral material and partial runs of journals, 1926-1994 (M0993)
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084783
Conservative viewpoint and related ephemera, 1965-1971 (MISC 576)
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4084782
Stanford's Archive of Recorded Sound holds a series of audio recordings by the Christian Anti-Communist Crusade:
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/6757029
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.
[identification of item], Collection of American right wing pamphlets (M2867). Dept. of Special Collections and University
Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, California.
This collection of political and religious ephemera was obtained from a San Francisco dealer who assembled the material from
the estates of various Southern Californians activists. Content ranges from economic conservative viewpoints such as free
enterprise and small government to racist, antisemitic, and other hateful expression, but the majority are anti-Communist
and Christian Nationalist in nature. Most are from the 1950s and 60s, but there is material from the 1930s through the 1980s
as well as a small file from 1914.
The ephemera consists of mailers, fliers & handbills, article photocopies (often heavily annotated), pamphlets, books, magazines,
newsletters, reports, transcripts, typescripts, and related items. Much of the material comes from churches and religious
organizations.
The collection, which arrived unsorted, was sorted into various series as follows (please note that series are general groupings
and subjects overlap between them):
Series 1 contains material filed by distributor, publisher or author. In many cases these are reprints from other sources,
revealing an editorialized information network much like contemporary internet practice.
Series 2 contains material filed more or less by subject, and in many cases without clear authorship or source printed. Series
3, 4 & 5 are also filed by subject, but with more detailed description.
Series 6 contains a variety of generally liberal and moderate religious and institutional publications. It is not clear which
things were used by right groups as examples for commentary, and which were probably added later by the dealer in putting
the collection together. Miscellaneous non-political publications are also filed here.
The final series is another instance of unrelated material that came with the collection; a group of multiple copies of article
reprints, committee reports, state bills, and other printed ephemera concerning prenatal health, hygiene and clean milk legislation
in Massachusetts circa 1914.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Conservatism -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
Right-wing extremists -- U.S.
Christians -- Political activity -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Anti-communist movements -- United States -- History -- 20th century
California -- Politics and government
Political activists -- United States -- History -- 20th century
United States -- Politics and government.
White supremacy movements.
Cold War
Conspiracy theories
Bolerium Books