Helene V. Smookler Collection of Material About the Desegregation of the Los Angeles Unified School District, ca. 1969-1981

Summary

Creators:

Smookler, Helene V., 1943-

Abstract:

The collection consists of Helene V. Smookler's papers relating to the court case of Mary Ellen Crawford, etc. et al. (Petitioner) vs. Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles (Respondent), and nation-wide school integration.

Extent:

35 boxes (17.5 linear ft.) 1 oversize folder

Language:

English.

Background

Scope and content:

The bulk of material relates to the case of Crawford, etc. et al. vs. Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles and related appeals. The case resulted in numerous Los Angeles Unified School District desegregation plans, including substantial pupil reassignment and busing. The collection includes reports, clippings, subject files, legal papers, maps and other research materials related to school integration and Monitoring Committee activities in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Biographical / historical:

Helene V. Smookler was a lawyer and consultant involved in the legal battles over desegregation of Los Angeles city schools during the late 1970s. She served as Executive Director of the Los Angeles Monitoring Committee (created in May 1978 by Judge Paul Egly) during the case of Crawford, etc. et al. vs. Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles. Funded by the Los Angeles Unified School District and composed of twelve diverse members of the community, the Monitoring Committee was an essential part of the Crawford case. Each member chaired a sub-committee charged with overseeing a particular segment of the integration process, and observed and reported on the integration plans for the Court as well as the general public.

Smookler taught at Claremont Men's College in the Political Science Department, and is the author of Economic Integration in New Communities: An Evaluation of Factors Affecting Policies and Implementation (c. 1976).

Acquisition information:

Gift of Helene V. Smookler, 1988 and 2004.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

1. Los Angeles Unified School District, 1969-1985.
2. Research files, 1969-1983.
3. Court papers, 1970-1981.

Physical location:

Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Related resources

Related material:

Paul Egly Papers (Collection 1282). Available at Department of Special Collections, UCLA.

Monroe Edwin Price Collection about School Integration (Collection 1391) . Available at Department of Special Collections, UCLA.

Los Angeles School Monitoring Committee (Collection 1291) . Available at Department of Special Collections, UCLA.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

School integration--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources.
Women lawyers--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources.

Names:

Los Angeles Unified School District.
Smookler, Helene V., 1943- .

Location of this collection:

UCLA, Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library

A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US

Contact:

(310) 825-4988

AskLSC@library.ucla.edu

Website