Inventory of the Dennis Terry/National Organization for an American Revolution (N.O.A.R.) Collection SPC.2022.017
Karen Clemons
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2022-05
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Dennis Terry/ National Organization for an American Revolution (N.O.A.R.) Collection
source:
National Organization for an American Revolution
Creator:
Terry, Dennis
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2022.017
Physical Description:
4 boxes
Physical Description:
2.63 Linear Feet
(two record storage boxes; two document cases)
Date (inclusive): 1964-1987; undated
Date (bulk): 1978-1987
Abstract: This collection contains clippings; essays; presentations; speeches; event and workshop flyers; newsletters; fact sheets;
and other material belonging to Dennis Terry, former chair of the Bay Area chapter of the National Organization for an American
Revolution (NOAR). Also included are materials generated by NOAR, and a few of its founding members, James and Grace Lee Boggs
such as correspondence, speeches, leaflets, essays, and committee meeting minutes and notes; and material from when Terry
was a student such as notes and graded coursework.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection except where notated at file-level.
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
Dennis Terry was born in 1950 in Youngstown, OH. He was the former chair of the Bay Area chapter of National Organization
for an American Revolution (NOAR). Terry attended University of California Berkeley and received a B.A. in political science
in 1975; and took graduate coursework in political science and public administration at San Francisco State from 1975-1976.
From 1970-1981 he held multiple positions as an instructional aide clerk, office clerk, tutor, and library assistant.
James and Grace Lee Boggs were revolutionary socialists who contributed to the founding of National Organization for an American
Revolution (NOAR) circa the late 1970s. NOAR was founded on the idea that there should be a new America due to concerns regarding
the future of the United States and its citizens. This new America would benefit all man/womankind, and placed an emphasis
on the value of mutual respect, responsibility and cooperation in families, communities, and the country. One of their most
popular pamphlets, written primarily by James Boggs entitled "Manifesto for an American Revolutionary Party" expressed NOAR's
vision of a new, self-governing America and a concept of citizenship in which people accept responsibility for making social,
economic, and political deicisions. NOAR also held public forums, organized locals across the country, and published pamphlets
and short statements on contemporary national issues and local concerns.
Sources:
WARD, STEPHEN M.
In Love and Struggle: The Revolutionary Lives of James and Grace Lee Boggs University of North Carolina Press, 2020.
National Organization for an American Revolution [brochure] Box 1, Folder 1
Constitution of the National Organization for an American Revolution, Adopted at the Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia
PA, September 24, 1978 Box 1, Folder 1
Scope and Contents
The Dennis Terry/National Organization for an American Revolution (N.O.A.R.) Collection (1964-1987, undated; bulk 1978-1987)
contains four boxes and 2.6 linear feet of memorandums; meeting minutes; flyers; pamphlets; essays; correspondence; clippings;
and other documents collected by Dennis Terry, a former chair of the Bay Area chapter of National Organization for an American
Revolution (NOAR). Series I: NOAR Records contains material about or generated by NOAR including financial documents, guidelines,
material related to committees such as the Central Committee (CC), National Central Committee (NCC), Political Education Committee
(PEC), Propaganda Committee (PPC); material related to NOAR locals such as the Bay Area, Detroit, Milawakee, and Muskegeon
branches; as well as material regarding the Revolutionary Study Group (RSG); Cadre Training School; and James McFadden, Grace
Lee Boggs, and James Boggs correspondence, memorandums, essays, papers, and presentations. Series II: Other Grassroots Organizations
contains event and workshop flyers; leaflets; newsletters; fact sheets; press releases; and other documents related to organizations
that Dennis Terry was most likely affliated with such as New Action Party (NAP), Michigan Committee for Organizing the Unemployed;
United People for Dignity and Change; and other groups. Series III: Subject Files contains clippings; articles; flyers; pamphlets;
and other material regarding topics such as: African Americans; education; family; the Jesse Jackson presidential campaign;
Native Americans; crime and socioeconomic conditions in Oakland, CA.; political movements; racism; religion; South African
apartheid; unemployment; and the women's movement. Series IV: Personal Papers contains papers and final exams authored or
co-authored by Dennis Terry from his political science, economics, sociology, creative writing, African American, and Black
studies coursework; job applications; resumes; notebooks that contain material related to NOAR committees and revolutionary
study group (RSG), essays, and coursework; correspondence; and contact information and resources regarding various political
organizations in the community.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into four series
- Series I: National Organization for an American Revolution (N.O.A.R), 1964, 1974-1985
- Series II: Other Grassroots Organizations, 1975-1985; undated
- Series III: Subject Files, 1971-1987; circa 1970s-1980s; undated
- Series IV: Personal Papers, 1974-1986; circa 1970s-1980s
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Marxism -- United States
Marxist-Leninist theory
Socialism
Detroit (Mich.)
Political activity
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)
National Organization for an American Revolution
Series I: National Organization for an American Revolution (N.O.A.R)
1964, 1974-1985
Scope and Contents
This series contains material about or generated by NOAR, that was collected by Dennis Terry, a former chair of the Bay Area
chapter of NOAR. Included are: financial documents; the constitution of NOAR; material related to programming and evaluations;
committee meeting minutes and agendas; Terry's committee and NOAR related meeting notes; material regarding National Central
Committee (NCC) chapter president James McFadden, as well as material regarding founders James and Grace Lee Boggs such as:
correspondence, clippings, essays, and memorandums. Also included are essays; papers; remarks; presentations; speeches; materials
used for discussions such as notes and excerpts from articles, National IDs, and other documents from NOAR members; and material
generated from Bay Area, Detroit, Muskegeon, and Milwaukee local branches such as memorandums, correspondence, leaflets, newsletters,
and event flyers. Lastly, this series includes material regarding committees and groups within NOAR such as the Central Committee
(CC), National Central Committee (NCC), Political Education Committee (PEC), Propaganda Committee (PPC), and Revolutionary
Study Group (RSG); as well as Cadre Training School proposal, evaluation, session discussions, and essays. For notes, essays,
and correspondence written by Terry regarding RSG, CC, Grace [Boggs] and other NOAR material see also Series IV, Box 4, Folders
1-4.
box 1, folder 1
organizational records
1978-1980; undated
Scope and Contents
constitution of the National Organization for an American Revolution; founding document; stickers; committee responsibilities
box 1, folder 2
guidelines
1978-1984; undated
Scope and Contents
guidelines for speakers, local conventions, strategy, probationary locals and responsibilities of sponsoring locals; leave
of absence; criticism/self-criticism; "Theoretical Development of CC Members"
box 1, folder 3
programs
1973-1983; undated
Scope and Contents
scenario; theatre improvisation; Mendosa pamphlet promotion (draft); People's Convention; Teach-In; evaluating full membership;
meet your neighbors leaflet; current events; program writing; and others.
box 1, folder 4
evaluations
1975, 1984, undated
Scope and Contents
politics mailing; National Black Organizers' Conference; evaluation form
box 1, folder 5
National Central Committee- NCC
1980-1985
Scope and Contents
theoretical discussions; meeting minutes; memorandums; documents regarding the internalization program for NOAR branches;
discussion notes
box 1, folder 6
James McFadden- memorandums; NCC report; letters; article
1983-1984
box 1, folder 7
Planning Committee agendas
September-October 1981
box 1, folder 8
Central Committee- meeting minutes
1982-1984
box 1, folder 9
meeting minutes- AEC, NOAR, and others
1984
box 1, folder 10-14
Dennis Terry's PEC and CC meeting notes
1983
box 1, folder 15
Dennis Terry's notebook
September 1983-April 1984
Scope and Contents
includes CC, PEC, AEC meeting notes, minutes, and agendas; as well as other NOAR related notes and ephemera
box 1, folder 16
Dennis Terry's CC, AEC, and OC meeting notes
November-December 1984
box 1, folder 17
Dennis Terry's CC and PEOC meeting notes
December 1984-March 1985
box 1, folder 18
Dennis Terry's PEOC meeting notes
April-July 1985
box 1, folder 19
financial documents
1982-1984
Scope and Contents
secretary report (blank); revenue forms (blank); finance manual; financial summary; financial committee reports; budgets
box 1, folder 20
reports
1983-1985, 1988
Scope and Contents
includes: "NCC Report: Meeting of July 6-8, 1984"; "1983 Denver Trip"; "NOAR's Position on Electoral Politics"; NCE ongoing
activities report; "National Report to Local Conventions"; "Report to National Organization, Nicaragua Trip"; "NCC Report
to Organization"
box 1, folder 21
National Political Line
1980, 1984-1986
box 1, folder 22
Mid-Point Evaluation- projections, national line, Black leadership, national strategy
1982-1984
box 1, folder 23
reports, memorandums, and essays on leadership concerns
1979, 1983; undated
box 1, folder 24
flyers, leaflets, pamphlets
1981-1984; circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
National branch; Philadelphia, Boston, and New York branches
box 1, folder 25
"News and Views from the NCC"; "News and Views Milwaukee" [newsletter]
January, March, June, August, October 1981; April, August 1982; Fall, Winter 1984
box 1, folder 26
NOAR sponsored event flyers
1981, 1983-1985; circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
"The Need for New Theoreticians in Noar"; "The Black Church: A Traditional Institution for Social Change", "Positions and
Position Papers"; "Return to the Source, Building African American Leadership for the 80s-90s"
box 1, folder 27
pre-convention papers
undated
box 1, folder 28
national conventions- report, agenda, state of the organization, procedures, evaluations, projections
1981, 1984
box 1, folder 29
material for discussions
1975, 1978-1981, 1985
Scope and Contents
includes National IDs, excerpts from essays, excerpts from a conversation, notes, articles, and films; materials for a retreat
box 1, folder 30
position papers and essays
1972, 1977-1983; circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
includes: "The Detroit Split: Struggle Between Two Lines"; 'From Religion to Revolutionary Politics"; "On the Use and Misuse
of the Term Fascism"; "Liberalism and Leadership"; "Struggle Against Male Chauvinism"; "Crisis in the Auto Industry"; "Which
Way the Family?"; and others
box 1, folder 31
response to ideology document with letter; and discussion regarding response
1983
box 1, folder 32
speeches and remarks
1975, 1978, 1981-1985
Scope and Contents
Includes: "The Search for a Philosophy in Child Development" by Itty Chan; "Socialization in the United States and the People's
Republic" by Deborah J. Leong; "The Challenge Facing Black Women" by Marcia Brown; "Their Struggle and Ours" remarks at meeting
for Zanu representatives; "God's Power, God's Church, and the New Reconstruction" by Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr.; "Creating a
New American Identity" by Sharon Howell; and others.
box 1, folder 33
James Boggs- correspondence, articles, speeches, lectures, essays
1964, 1974, 1975, 1977-1979, 1980-1984, 1986
box 1, folder 34
Grace Lee Boggs- memorandums, correspondence, remarks, speeches
1977-1980, 1983-1985
box 1, folder 35
James and Grace Lee Boggs- interviews, discussions, papers
1977, 1979, 1980, 1985
box 1, folder 36
clippings regarding James and Grace Lee Boggs
1975, 1980, 1982, 1985; undated
box 1, folder 37
Cadre Training School- proposal, evaluation, session discussions and essays
1982; undated
box 1, folder 38
internal bulletins; correspondence between Janice, Rich, and Lily; a letter addressed to Joan [no last names]
1980-1982, 1984, 1985
box 1, folder 39
reading lists and bibliographies
1975, 1977, circa 1980s
box 1, folder 40
literature sales reports- CC, PPC, PEC; "On Our Literature"; "Why We Sell Our Literature"; inventory lists
1976, 1978, 1979-1981; undated
box 2, folder 1
Revolutionary Study Group (RSG)
1977-1978, 1983-1984
Scope and Contents
session material; memorandums; orientation materials;
box 2, folder 2
Political Education Committee (PEC)- material related to recruitment program
1978, 1980, 1982, 1983,
box 2, folder 3
Political Education Committee (PEC)- meeting minutes; national ID evaluation forms [blank]; synopsis of literature documents
1976, 1979, 1980, 1983
box 2, folder 4
Propaganda Committee (PPC)- documents related to propaganda workshop program
1974, 1976-1978, 1980, 1981
box 2, folder 5
Detroit Branch- leaflets; "Reaching Out! [newsletters]; evaluation forms [blank]; local convention presentations; political
line; notes for speeches; memorandums
1974, 1979-1981, 1983, 1984
box 2, folder 6
Detroit Branch- "The Awakening" Vol. 1, No. 1, 3-9; Vol. 2, No. 1-7
1983-1985
box 2, folder 7
Muskegon Branch- public forum and meeting speeches; branch convention "State of the Branch"; Black Leadership Conference program;
clippings
1980-1984
box 2, folder 8
Milwaukee Branch- leaflets; memorandums; song lyrics
1978-1980
box 2, folder 9
Bay Area Branch- memorandums; meeting minutes; political line; local reports; "State of the Bay Area"; notes; calendar of
events; financial information
1982-1985
box 2, folder 10
Seattle and Portland branches- reports; political development program; political line; guidelines; memorandums; financial
documents
1981-1985
Series II: Other Grassroots Organizations
1975-1985; undated
Scope and Contents
This series includes event and workshop flyers; leaflets; newsletters; fact sheets; press releases; and other documents related
to organizations that Dennis Terry was most likely affiliated with such as New Action Party (NAP), Michigan Committee for
Organizing the Unemployed; United People for Dignity and Change; and other groups.
box 2, folder 11
Michigan Committee for Organizing the Unemployed (MCOU)
1983-1985
Scope and Contents
leaflets; workshop and event flyers; NOAR MCOU subcommittee report and projections; evaluation; press releases
box 2, folder 12
New Action Party (NAP)
1975-1976
Scope and Contents
outline of organizational structure; FAQ regarding party; introduction; fact sheets; "First statement"
box 2, folder 13
grassroots organizing
1983-1985
Scope and Contents
material related to United People for Dignity and Change; crime pledge campaign; documents regarding community organizing;
leafletting program;
box 2, folder 14
United People for Dignity and Change- signed pledge forms
undated
box 2, folder 15
leaflets
1983-1984; circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
Wisconsin Committee for Organizing the Unemployed; Committee for Unilateral Disarmament; Boston Unemployment Action Committee
(BUAC); North County Anvil; Coalition for a People's Convention; Advocators Pacesetters; and others
box 2, folder 16
event flyers
1983-1984; circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
People's Convention '84; Oakland Public Library; Bay Area Asians for Nuclear Disarmament; Friends of Filipino People; Listen
to Women for a Change; The Survival Line; and others.
box 2, folder 17
newsletters
1982-1984
Scope and Contents
Voice of the International Black Revolution "The Burning Spear"; Interreligious Economic Crisis Organizing Network; Workers
World; The Defense Monitor; Common Sense; The Defender
Series III: Subject Files
1971-1987; circa 1970s-1980s; undated
Scope and Contents
This series contains clippings; articles; flyers; pamphlets; and other material regarding topics such as: African Americans;
education; family; the Jesse Jackson presidential campaign; Native Americans; crime and socioeconomic conditions in Oakland,
CA.; political movements; racism; religion; South African apartheid; unemployment; and the women's movement.
box 2, folder 18
African Americans
1976, 1980, 1984
Scope and Contents
mailers; notes; articles; essays; press releases; and other documents
box 2, folder 19
Central America
1984
Scope and Contents
"Revolution in Central America" (discussion document); "Significance of the Central American Revolutions and Strategy for
the National Central Committee of NOAR"; letter regarding Miskitu people of Nicaragua
box 2, folder 20
Counter-Revolution
1981-1984
Scope and Contents
clippings regarding Falwell, Reagan, Goldwater, right-wing ideology, neo-conservatives,
box 2, folder 21
education
1970, 1975, circa 1970s
Scope and Contents
essays regarding Paulo Freire; "Beyond Education for All- Toward Education for Each" by K. Patricia Cross
box 2, folder 22
family
1971, 1975, 1976-1978, 1980, 1984-1985
Scope and Contents
includes: "Psychoanalysis Without the Father" by Zelda Bronstein; "What is the Role of the Family?"; "Notes on the Family";
"Workshop on the Family"; "On the Family Pamphlet Controversy", and other documents related to statement on homosexuality
as it relates to the N.O.A.R."Family Pamphlet"
box 2, folder 23
Jesse Jackson Campaign
1983-1984
Scope and Contents
pamphlets, clippings, memorandums, essays, press releases; and other related material
box 2, folder 24
Men
1984; circa 1970s-1980s
Scope and Contents
"Men and Politics"; 'What Does it Mean to be a Man in America"; "How Does Our Literature Reflect Male Chauvinism?"
box 2, folder 25
Mexican Americans
1973, 1982, circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
"Mexican-American Study Project"; "Who Are the Mexican American People?" David F. Gomez; "Foreword to the Spanish Translation"
[of American Manifesto]
box 2, folder 26
The Movement
1977, 1983, circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
pamphlets, flyers, clippings regarding anti-nuclear movement, welfare rights, labor movement, gentrification, land use, "real
revolutionaries"
box 2, folder 27-28
Native Americans
1977, 1980, 1983-1985
Scope and Contents
clippings, articles, pamphlets, newsletters, and other documents. Also includes material related to Leonard Peltier Support
Group, and Native American Revolutionary Movement; copy of "The Council of Energy Resources Tribes: An Outsider's View in"
prepared by Winona La Duke for Women of All Red Nations.
box 2, folder 29
news articles (analysis) [newspaper clippings]
1979, 1980-1982, 1984
box 2, folder 30
Oakland-Crime
1984; circa 1970s-1980s
box 2, folder 31
drug use in Oakland
1984-1985
box 2, folder 32
Oakland -Socioeconomic conditions
1983-1985, 1987
box 2, folder 33
Oakland (general file)
1979, 1983-1985
Scope and Contents
pamphlets, post office listings, BART schedule, "Oakland District Handbook"
box 3, folder 1
political movements
1982-1984, circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
clippings, articles, essays. "On Party Democratic Centralism"; "Marxist Materialism"; "Election 1984"; "A Tale of 2 Capitalisms";
"On Nationalism and Patriotism"; "Compost and Communism"; "Populist Party of the United States"; and other related topics.
box 3, folder 2
racism/white supremacy
1983; circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
"White Supremacy Grows in California"; "A Half Century of Racist Practices"; "A Working Definition of Racism"; "Thinking About
Racism"; "White Supremacy on the Rise"
box 3, folder 3
religion
1983-1985
Scope and Contents
"Beyond Vietnam: Dr. Martin Luther King's Prophesy for the 80s"; "Survival and Liberation in Black Faith"; "Radicalism of
the Black Church"; "Black Religion: The Negro and Christianity in the United States"; "Religion and the Left: An Introduction";
and other articles
box 3, folder 4
socio-economic conditions- U.S.
1980-1983
Scope and Contents
articles regarding labor, poverty, social services,
box 3, folder 5
song books; poetry
1983; undated
box 3, folder 6
South Africa
1982, 1984; circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
clippings, fact sheets, newsletters, and other documents mostly related to apartheid and anti-apartheid movement
box 3, folder 7
Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)
1974, 1985
box 3, folder 8
"third world" [developing nations]
1979-1980, 1983, 1985; circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
"Reach for a Change: A Campaign of Relief and Aid for the Philippines"; "U.S. Banks Prepare for Possibility of Third-World
Debt Repudiation"; Labor Committee on El Salvador and Central America [pamphlet]; "U.S. Women's Delegation Visits Nicaragua";
"Third World's intellectuals Siphoned Into U.S."; Waitangi Action Committee newsletter; and other pamphlets, flyers, clippings.
General
use of "third world" in the title is creator derived.
box 3, folder 9
unemployment
1982-1983
Scope and Contents
"High-Technology Jobs Going Overseas as U.S. Costs Rise"; "Unemployed Committees Organize to Protect Laid-off Steelworkers";
"Will High Tech Save the Unemployed?"; "Jobless: Grass-Roots Drive to Organize Ranks is Expanding"; "Organizing Around Unemployment";
and other clippings, articles, pamphlets.
box 3, folder 10
women's movement
1980, 1984; circa 1970s-1980s
Scope and Contents
"Stagnation Threatens Women's Movement"; "Women and the New World"; San Francisco Women's Center newsletter; "Women's Economic
Agenda: A Call to Action by and for California Women"
Series IV: Personal Papers
1974-1986; circa 1970s-1980s
Scope and Contents
This series contains papers and final exams authored or co-authored by Dennis Terry from his political science, economics,
sociology, creative writing, African American, and Black studies coursework; job applications; resumes; notebooks that contain
material related to NOAR committees and revolutionary study group (RSG), essays, and coursework; correspondence; and contact
information and resources regarding various political organizations in the community. For more material related to RSG, CC
Meetings, Grace [Boggs] and NOAR see Series I: NOAR, boxes 1-2.
box 3, folder 11-13
coursework
1974-1976; circa 1970s
Conditions Governing Use
paper entitled "The Black Situation" located in folder 12 is partially restricted. See archivist for details.
box 4, folder 1-2
notebooks
1981-1983
Scope and Contents
includes notes regarding RSG sessions; CC Meetings; planning meetings; coursework; essays; a letter written to Grace [Boggs];
and other related topics.
box 4, folder 3
essays
1976; circa 1980s?
Scope and Contents
notes; possible drafts of essays; essays written "for comradery" by Terry as part of NOAR's Bay Area branch.
box 4, folder 4
job applications; resumes
1978-1983
box 4, folder 5
Dennis Terry correspondence
1976-1986
Scope and Contents
mostly in regards to NOAR. Includes James and Grace Lee Boggs correspondence.
box 4, folder 6
political contacts/organizations in the community
1983-1984; circa 1970-1980s
Scope and Contents
pamphlets, contact information, flyers, and other resources
