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House (Melvin) Collection
SPC.2020.030  
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Table of contents What's This?

 

Series I: Personal Papers 1949-1971; undated

Scope and Contents

This series includes documents, photographs, and ephemera regarding Melvin House. This includes: material related to House's education including his school report cards, diplomas, certificates; and photographs, varsity letters, and certificates related to House's time as a high school gymnast. Also included in this series are documents related to House's schooling and employment as an electrician; his employment as a custodian; material related to his time in the Navy Reserves; correspondence, articles, and other material related to the Nation of Islam and Muhammad's Mosque No. 2; photographs of presumably family and friends; and other personal documents such as identification and membership cards.
box 1, folder 1

Wallet- contains House's drivers license, Navy active duty card, Ralph cashing courtesy card, Southern California Edison employee ID card, and photographs of presumably family members 1960s-1970s; undated

box 1, folder 2

Report Cards- Oakland Public Schools; San Jose Elementary Schools; Lincoln High School 1949-1958

box 1, folder 3

Gymnastics- Varsity Letters; ribbon; certificates 1955, 1957, 1958; undated

box 1, folder 4

Gymnastics- photographs of House competing, and of the gymnastics team; and photograph of House with presumably his high school classmates circa late 1950s

box 1, folder 5

certificates and diplomas- San Jose School Safety Patrol traffic officer honorable discharge; Abraham Lincoln attendance award; junior high school and high school diplomas; United States Naval Reserve certificate of acceptance 1952, 1955, 1958

box 1, folder 6

invitation for Willie Frances Flournoy Gadsden high school graduation; caricature by Alfredo Ortiz; empty envelopes addressed to Willie L. Jackson and Mary Louise House 1958; undated

box 1, folder 7

correspondence, articles, and other material related to Nation of Islam teachings and Muhammad's Mosque No. 2 1961-1962

box 1, folder 8

lettergrams and correspondence regarding custodial services at Whittier Health Center during House's employment as a custodian 1962-1964

box 1, folder 9

Los Angeles Trade Technical College- grade reports, membership cards for electrician's association, certificate of completion for Electrical Construction and Maintenance 1963-1964

box 1, folder 10

Electrician employment and schooling documents- Square D Company checks, employment status and termination, wage record; Southern California Edison certificates of completion, certification card, photographs, news clipping 1965-1969

box 1, folder 11

Koch Brothers Trading Post receipts 1967-1968

box 1, folder 12

Photographs- mostly portrait photographs of infants, Melvin House, and presumably friends and family of House's 1951-1970; undated

General

Some photographs are inscribed to Melvin from Beverly; "To cousin Louise and Raymond from cousin [LaVania] and [LaShay]"; "Love Willie"; "Sincerely Edna Woods"; and others.
box 1, folder 13

Photographs taken presumably during Navy reserves; electrician jobs; and other employment sites 1959; undated

 

Series II: Articles, Pamphlets, and Clippings 1929-1970; undated

Scope and Contents

This series contains articles, booklets, pamphlets, clippings, and other documents related to House's interests in spirituality, politics, civil rights, race, and religion. Topics featured in these documents include: revolutionary nationalism, Rosicrucianism, socialism, Nation of Islam, self-determination,and other related topics.
box 1, folder 15

"How The Gods Were Made (A Study in Historical Materialism)" by John Keracher 1929

box 1, folder 16

Daughters of IBPOE (Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks) of the World, "Ritual, Degree Ritual, Lectures" [booklet] 1929

General

inscribed with Louise House's name and address.
box 1, folder 17

Salaam, Vol. 1, No. 1 July 1960

box 1, folder 18

The Crusader, Robert F. Williams, Publisher. Vol. 5, No. 4 May-June 1964

box 1, folder 19

documents produced by the Afro-American Student Movement entitled "Chairman Mao's Historic Statement", and "American Negroes" by the Vietnam Women's Union June 4, 1963; September 1964

box 1, folder 20

articles related to revolutionary nationalism entitled "Revolutionary Nationalism and the Afroamerican Student"; "The Four Best Speeches of Malcolm X"; and "The Los Angeles War Cry 'Burn, Baby, Burn'" published by RAM Black Liberation Front of the U.S.A. circa 1964; undated

box 1, folder 21

Self Help News Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 9; Vol. 2, No. 1. Published in the office of the Self Determination Committee, Los Angeles, California August 14, 1965; July 9, 1966

box 1, folder 22

"We Accuse. Bill Epton Speaks to the Court" published by the Progressive Labor Party [booklet] February 2, 1966

box 1, folder 23

Unity Voice, Vol. 1, No. 3 February-March 1966

box 1, folder 24

"Statement by Afroamerican on the Draft" by Harold Robinson and Ernest Allen co-chairmen Afroamerican for Freedom April 14, 1966

box 1, folder 25

I. F. Stone's Weekly, Vol. XIV, No. 17 May 16, 1966

box 1, folder 26

Message to the Grassroots, Vol. 1, No. 1 May 21, 1966

box 1, folder 27

"The Hard Line", Vol. 4, No. 7 and 8 September 1 1967; September 29, 1967

box 1, folder 28

"Charter of the United Nations and Statute of the International Court of Justice" [booklet] July 1968

box 1, folder 29

Defiant Investment Association- article of incorporation; memorandums addressed to Lester Arrington 1969

box 1, folder 30

Mayor elect Douglas Dollarhide, program [1969]

box 1, folder 31

L.A. Free Press Living Arts, part two June 5, 1970

box 1, folder 32

"Religion is a Gigantic Fraud" by James Hervey Johnson, The Thinkers Club; "Intelligence" by Llewelyn Hughes undated

box 1, folder 14

Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (Amore) welcome packet. Includes House's membership card. undated

box 1, folder 33

"Poison Oak" K.H. Sutherland, M.D. Health Officer (two copies) undated