Hosmer (Helen) Papers, 1937-1969

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Summary

Title:
Helen Hosmer Papers,
Dates:
1937-1969
Creators:
Hosmer, Helen
Abstract:
This collection consists of a small incomplete run of the Rural Observer, a newsletter put out by the Simon J. Lubin Society, published and edited by Helen Hosmer, a letter to Carey McWilliams and miscellaneous papers from the Simon J. Lubin Society.
Extent:
.5 linear ft. 1 digital object
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

Helen Hosmer Papers, MS 149. Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Background

Scope and content:

This small collection includes a letter from Helen Hosmer to Carey McWilliams, [1969?] describing the demise of the newsletter and an incomplete run of the Rural Observer, along with miscellaneous reports and balance sheets from the Lubin Society.

Biographical / historical:

Helen Hosmer was a writer, activist, and historian of California agribusiness. Her knowledge of California's agriculture dated back to the 1930s when, as a student at the University of California, Berkeley she worked at the Poultry Division, College of Agriculture. Later she worked for the Information Division of the Farm Security Administration (FSA), which established camps for migrant workers in California. During this period, Hosmer came to know FSA photographer Dorothea Lange, agricultural economist Paul S. Taylor, and many important figures in the labor movement in San Francisco. Because of her conviction that labor organizing was essential among agricultural workers, Hosmer resigned her government position at Farm Security in 1935 in order to have the freedom to work in behalf of her political beliefs. She co-founded the Simon J. Lubin Society, an organization that promoted unity between family farmers and migrant laborers and exposed the antiprogressive political activities of California agribusiness. From 1935 to 1941 she published and edited the Lubin Society's Rural Observer. The Society also issued special publications, such as Who Are the Associated Farmers? and John Steinbeck's Their Blood is Strong.

After World War II, Hosmer temporarily put aside her political activism and spent over 25 years living in Mill Valley as a housewife, mother, pianist, and gardener. In the early 1960s she resumed her research and writing. Once again she turned her attention to California agriculture, writing articles for American West magazine, and serving as director for the research committee for the California Farm Reporter.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Helen Hosmer Randall Jarrell, 2002.
Physical location:
Stored offsite at NRLF: Advance notice is required for access to the papers.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by UCSC OAC unit.
Date Prepared:
© 2002
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word for Macintosh. Machine-readable finding aid created by UCSC OAC Unit. Date of source: July 2002.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to publish or to reproduce the material, please contact the Head of Special Collections.

Preferred citation:

Helen Hosmer Papers, MS 149. Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Location of this collection:
Special Collections and Archives, University Library
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064, US
Contact:
(831) 459-2547
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
Website