Description
Contains a transcript and sound recording of
Lucille Kendall's 1976 interviews with Louise Todd Lambert; an interview history;
and a few miscellaneous papers, including a photocopy of Lambert's 1958 letter of
resignation from the Communist Party. The interviews document Lambert's early years
as an official for the Communist Party in California, including her participation in
major labor actions and strikes of the 1930s; her involvement in local and statewide
elections as a Communist Party candidate and campaign manager; her arrest and
imprisonment in the Tehachapi correctional institute for women (1935-1938); her
experiences "underground" as a member of the national Communist Party's reserve
leadership (1950-1955); and, finally, her resignation from the Party in 1958. The
final portion of the interview is devoted to Lambert's memories of fellow activist
Anita Whitney.
Background
Communist activist Louise Todd Lambert was born in 1905 in San Francisco to German
immigrant parents. Raised in a socialist family, the young Lambert was active in the
suffrage movement, the Young Workers League, and Nature Friends. In 1929, Lambert
joined the Communist Party in California, filling the sensitive role of
organizational secretary until the mid-1940s. As a state official for the Communist
Party, Lambert participated in a number of important labor actions and strikes,
including the 1933 cotton strike in San Joaquin Valley and the 1934 San Francisco
General Strike. She was also active in local and statewide elections, running for
the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1931 and 1933, and working as a Communist
Party campaign manager during the 1934 elections. These political efforts led to
Lambert's arrest and imprisonment the following year.
Extent
Transcript and papers: 2 folders (0.2 linear
feet); Tapes: 20 audiocassettes.
Restrictions
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collections are protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and may not
be used without permission of California Historical Society. Use may be restricted
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use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of Library and
Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission
Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Restrictions also apply to digital representations
of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and
educational purposes.
Availability
CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates: https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/