Guide to the United Farm Workers Information Fair collection MS.R.015
Finding aid prepared by Karen Rosen, 2001; updated by Ernesto Bassi and Audrey Pearson, 2008; machine-readable finding aid
created by Audrey Pearson, 2008; updated by Sara Seltzer, 2013.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
(cc) 2013
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: United Farm Workers Information Fair collection
Creator:
Newcomb, Elizabeth E.
Creator:
Newcomb, Robert L.
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.015
Physical Description:
2.6 Linear Feet
(4 boxes and 2 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): circa 1959-1975 and undated
Abstract: This collection comprises fliers, reports, newsletters, photographs, bumper stickers, and ephemera compiled for use at the
United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) Information Fair held in San Fernando, California in 1969. The collection
is particularly strong in documenting the United Farm Workers (UFW) trade union and its formation; UFW-organized boycotts
and strikes, including the Delano Grape Strike from 1965 to 1966; and the working and living conditions of migrant agricultural
laborers. Other files document the economic and legal aspects of farm labor, ties between churches and the farm labor movement,
and the effect of pesticides on farm laborers. Approximately ten photographs by unidentified photographers depict UFW founder
and president Cesar Chavez and others at rallies; agricultural laborers, including children, at work; migrant camps; and medical
and dental clinics for laborers.
Language of Material: The bulk of the collection is in English. Select materials are in Spanish.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the creators of the records and their
heirs. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
United Farm Workers Information Fair collection. MS-R015. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine,
California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Robert L. and Elizabeth E. Newcomb, date unknown. Additional material was donated by the Newcombs in 2011.
Processing History
Processed by Karen Rosen, 2001. Additional materials processed by Ernesto Bassi and Audrey Pearson, 2008.
Historical Background
The California farm labor movement began in the 1960s when the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee began unionizing California
farm workers. The National Farm Workers Association was founded by Cesar Chavez, and later became the United Farm Workers
of America (UFW). In 1968 Chavez launched a boycott of California table grape growers and was successful in mobilizing consumer
support throughout the United States. In 1970 the UFW, with Chavez as president, became a member union of the AFL-CIO. Chavez
made people across the country aware of the struggles of farm workers for better pay and safer living conditions and succeeded
by using nonviolent tactics including boycotts, fasting, pickets, and strikes.
Biographical/Historical note
Chronology
| 1962 |
Cesar Chavez founds the National Farm Workers Assocation. |
| 1966 |
Cesar Chavez and a band of strikers embark on a 340-mile pilgrimage from Delano to the steps of the state capitol in Sacramento
to draw national attention to the situation of farm workers.
|
| 1966-1967 |
A boycott and strike of the DiGiorgio Fruit Corp. forces the giant grape grower to agree to an election among its workers.
The workers vote for the United Farm Workers (UFW), led by Chavez.
|
| 1966-1967 |
The UFW strikes the Giumarra Vineyards Corporation, California's largest table grape grower. In response to the boycott other
grape growers allow Giumarra to use their labels. As a result, the UFW begins a boycott of all California table grapes.
|
| 1967-1970 |
Hundreds of grape strikers disperse across North America to organize an international grape boycott. Millions of Americans
rally to the farm workers' cause, called "La Causa."
|
| 1969 |
United Farm Workers Organizing Committee Information Fair in San Fernando, California. |
| 1970 |
As the grape boycott grows, most California table grape growers sign UFW contracts. |
| 1972 |
The UFW is chartered as an independent affiliate by the AFL-CIO, becoming the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO. |
| 1973-1975 |
According to a nationwide poll conducted by Louis Harris, 17 million Americans are boycotting grapes. Many are also boycotting
lettuce and Gallo wine.
|
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises fliers, reports, newsletters, photographs, bumper stickers, and ephemera compiled for use at the
United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) Information Fair held in San Fernando, California in 1969. The collection
is particularly strong in documenting the United Farm Workers (UFW) trade union and its formation; UFW-organized boycotts
and strikes, including the Delano Grape Strike from 1965 to 1966; and the working and living conditions of migrant agricultural
laborers. Other files document the economic and legal aspects of farm labor; ties between churches and the farm labor movement;
and the effect of pesticides on farm laborers. Approximately ten photographs by unidentified photographers depict UFW founder
and president Cesar Chavez and others at rallies; agricultural laborers, including children, at work; migrant camps; and medical
and dental clinics for laborers.
All items were collected by Robert L. and Elizabeth E. Newcomb. Robert was a senior lecturer at UC Irvine (UCI) in the Department
of Social Science until his retirement in 2006. In 1970 he taught a farm labor and business course at UCI. Elizabeth was Coordinator
of Volunteers for the UCI Health Education department.
Collection Arrangement
The collection is arranged topically. Materials are arranged alphabetically within each topical grouping.
Separation Note
Select publications were removed from this collection and cataloged separately in Special Collections and Archives.
Bibliography
Dunne, John Gregory.
Delano: The Story of the California Grape Strike . New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 1967.
Ferris, Susan.
The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Movement. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1997.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Delano Grape Strike, 1965-1966 -- Archives.
Strikes and lockouts -- Vineyard laborers -- California -- Archives.
Ephemera
Labor leaders -- United States
Vineyard laborers -- California -- Labor unions -- Archives.
Agricultural laborers -- California -- Labor unions.
Boycotts -- California
Migrant agricultural laborers -- California -- Archives.
Agricultural laborers -- California .
Activists.
Photographic prints
Chavez, Cesar -- Archives
United Farm Workers -- Archives
Church and religious aspects, clippings, letters, press releases, and reports
California Migrant Ministry
box 1, folder 1
General materials
circa 1967-1970
Processing Note
The bulk of the materials were originally housed in a three-ring binder. Select materials received in 2011 were later integrated.
box 1, folder 2
The Church and the Emerging Farm Worker's Movement, case study
1967
box FB-34, folder 5
The Catholic Worker
1968-1969
box 1, folder 4
Social problems
1965-1971
Health, education, and welfare
box 3 , folder 2-4, box 1, folder 6
Reports, press releases, and fliers
1968-1969
box 1, folder 7
Clippings, general
1967-1970
box 3, folder 5, box 1 , folder 8
Clippings, pamphlets, and reports on California Rural Legal Assistance
1967-1970
box 3, folder 6, box 1, folder 9
Clippings, press releases, and reports on labor laws
1965-1969
box FB-34 , folder 5
Democracy on the Farm
undated
box 1, folder 10
Labor legislation reports
1966-1974
box 2, folder 1
Angel, Cheryl. Farm labor and business project, UC Irvine
1970
box 3, folder 7
Basta! La historia de nuestra lucha. Enough! The Tale of Our Struggle.
1966
box 2, folder 2
Fineberg, Richard.
Green Card Labor and the Delano Grape Strike
1968
Processing Information note
Item missing (May 2008).
box 3, folder 8
La Causa Publications. 1974 Catalog
1974
box 3, folder 10
UCSB.
Mexican-Americans: A Selective Guida to Materials in the UCSB Library
undated
box 3, folder 11
United Native Americans. "Warpath"
1968
box 2, folder 3
Pesticides, clippings, fliers, and reports
1966-1969
box 2, folder 5
Farm labor contractors list
1970
box 3, folder 12-15, box 2, folder 6
box 2, folder 7
Articles on Cesar Chavez
1969-1973
box 3, folder 17
Boycott factsheet and pledge
1968
box 2 , folder 9, box 3, folder 18
Correspondence, fliers, and reports
1967-1975
box 4, folder 3, box 2, folder 10
Logos
undated
Physical Description: Includes logo on cloth banners and printed union labels.
box 3, folder 20, box 2, folder 10
Photographic prints
undated
box XOS1, box 4, folder 1
box 2 , folder 11
Information fair materials
1969
