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

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

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.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website