The Townsend Plan was proposed in 1933 by Francis Townsend. The plan called for a $200-a-month pension to any retired person over sixty. Bills to establish the Plan were brought up and defeated in Congress many times and the movement lost headway after passage of the Social Security Act in 1935. Boxes 1-145 include correspondence, minutes, bulletins, accounts, reports, directories, permit files, and miscellaneous records related to the Plan in the 12th Regional District (comprising the states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and California).

The Townsend Plan was proposed in 1933 by Francis Townsend; it called for a $200-a-month pension to any retired person over sixty; it was to be paid in scrip and spent within a month; funds were to be raised by sales tax; bills to establish the Plan were brought up and defeated in Congress many times; the movement lost headway after passage of the Social Security Act, 1935.The Townsend Plan Incorporated was established in 1934 and incorported under the laws of the state of California by Dr. Francis Townsend and Robert E. Clements; the organization, with National Headquarters at Cleveland, Ohio, was divided into 12 regional districts; local organizations consisted of a district council for each Congressional District within the region.

230 boxes (115.0 linear ft.) 2 cartons (2.0 linear ft.) 1 oversize box

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PARTIALLY PROCESSED COLLECTION UNAVAILABLE FOR USE: except for boxes 1-145. Inquiries regarding these materials should be directed in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian, UCLA Department of Special Collections.