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Bass Family Correspondence Collection
SPC.2020.005
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Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Bass Family Correspondence
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2020.005
Physical Description:
2.96 Linear Feet
Physical Description:
6 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1909-2012, undated
Abstract: Bass Family Correspondence comprises the correspondence and family documents of the Bass Family from Nebraska, who were involved
in early American socialism and the labor movement. The collection documents the family history through the eyes of descendant
Jeanne Morgan, a community advocate, author, and artist who conducted thorough research into her family's genealogy throughout
her adult life. The collection documents the story of the Bass family through letters, documents, heirloom textiles and objects,
and hundreds of photographs. Also included in the collection are personal papers and records from Morgan's life and career,
including mixed manuscript material.
Language of Material:
English
.
Bass Family Correspondence is sorted into four series:
- Genealogy and Family Documents
- Correspondence
- Jeanne Morgan's Personal Documents
- Photographs
The Bass family, originally from Nebraska, were involved in early American socialism and the labor movement. This collection
documents their history through correspondence, family documents, and photographs, from the perspective of descendant Jeanne
Morgan. Jeanne Morgan was born in 1926 and was raised primarily by her grandparents, Vern and Clara Bass, on their farm in
Nebraska. After her grandmother's death in 1940, she moved to Denver to live with her mother and stepfather. She eventually
moved to New York, where she became an artist and got involved with the socialist movement. In 1948, she relocated to Los
Angeles, earning her MFA at Otis College of the Arts and becoming involved in the civil rights movement. She was a founding
member of the Committee for the Preservation of Simon Rodia's Towers in Watts (CSRTW), where she worked for over 60 years
to protect and conserve the Watts Towers. Meanwhile, she worked as the Managing Editor for LA Free Press, published several
books, and continued to create artwork. Throughout her adult life, Jeanne Morgan was interested in her family's history, thoroughly
researching her family's genealogy and corresponding with extended family across the country. Through these letters, she gathered
family documents and hundreds of photographs, compiling a thorough history of the Bass family.
Bass Family Correspondence (1909-2012, undated) documents the history of the Bass Family through hundreds of letters, documents,
and photographs. Also included in the collection are personal records from the life and career of Bass family descendant Jeanne
Morgan. Morgan was a community advocate, author, and artist who conducted the research into her family's history throughout
her adult life. Her personal documents include manuscript material, autobiographical information, several artbooks, and documents
relating to her artwork and work as the editor of LA Free Press. Documents relating to the Bass family include Morgan's research
into the family's genealogy, which comprises family records, handwritten family trees, and some family heirloom textile objects.
Also included are hundreds of letters, both from Jeanne to members of her extended family, as well as letters between members
of Jeanne's immediate family. This comprises an extensive number of letters between Jeanne's mother and stepfather in the
years of their courtship and throughout their marriage. The collection also contains hundreds of family photographs and negatives.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
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.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
This collection was processed in July 2022 by Allison Wall.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Labor movement
Socialism -- United States
Socialism
Correspondence
Work and family -- United States
Marriage and family life
Manuscripts
Artists
Women Authors
Great Depression
Genealogy
Women artists
Los Angeles Free Press
Daughters of the American Revolution