Guide to the Clara Shirpser Papers, [ca. 1948-1968]

Processed by The Bancroft Library staff

The Bancroft Library.

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California, 94720-6000

Phone: (510) 642-6481

Fax: (510) 642-7589

Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu

URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

ADDITIONAL FORM AVAILABLE:

This finding aid has been filmed for the NATIONAL INVENTORY OF DOCUMENTARY SOURCES IN THE UNITED STATES (Chadwyck-Healey Inc.)

Note

Social Sciences --Political Science --General

Guide to the Clara Shirpser Papers, [ca. 1948-1968]

Collection number: BANC MSS 74/41 c

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information:

The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

Processed by:: The Bancroft Library staff
Date Completed:: March 1975
Encoded by:: Hernan Cortes

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Clara Shirpser Papers,

Date (inclusive): [ca. 1948-1968]

Collection Number: BANC MSS 74/41 c

Creator: Shirpser, Clara, 1901-

Extent: Number of containers: 3 boxes, 1 carton Linear ft.: 2.5

Repository: The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, California 94720-6000

Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Abstract: Correspondence, speeches, press releases, personalia, clippings and subject files, relating primarily to political activities, particularly her role as Democratic National Committeewoman from California, 1952-1956, and the Stevenson-Kefauver presidential primary campaign.

Languages Represented: English

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Clara Shirpser papers, BANC MSS 74/41 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Material Cataloged Separately

Portraits transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library (BANC PIC 1973.011--POR)

Scope and Content

Clara (Garfinkle) Shirpser, Mrs. Adolph J. Shirpser, was born in San Francisco in 1901. A long-time Berkeley resident, Mrs. Shirpser was active in many civic functions, clubs and philanthropic associations. These included the Berkeley Women's City Club, Young Women's Christian Association, Children's Hospital Association, Menninger Foundation, World Affairs Council of Northern California, Red Cross and the City of Berkeley Taxation, Franchise and Charter Amendment Committees. She served as president and treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Berkeley and was a member of their executive board for eight years until she resigned in 1950 to enter an unsuccessful campaign for the California State Assembly.

In June 1952 Mrs. Shirpser was elected Democratic National Committeewoman for California, a position she held for over four years. As national committeewoman, she helped to create and develop the Democratic club movement as a viable force in the California Democratic Party during the early 1950s.

At the time of the presidential primary campaigns of 1955, Mrs. Shirpser avidly supported Senator Estes Kefauver over Adlai Stevenson for the democratic nomination. As vice-chairman of the national Kefauver for President Committee, she was responsible for women's primary campaign activities in 22 western states until Stevenson won the nomination at the August 1956 Chicago Democratic National Convention.

It was as a direct result of her enthusiastic and outspoken support of Kefauver that Mrs. Shirpser was forced to relinquish her position as California Democratic National Committeewoman effective August 16, 1956.

This collection of correspondence and papers was given to The Bancroft Library in September 1973 as the gift of Mrs. Shirpser. The collection, which is fragmented and obviously incomplete, consists of 3 boxes and 1 carton and spans the period from circa 1948 through 1968 with particular emphasis on her activities on behalf of Senator Kefauver's presidential campaign, 1955-1956. Included are outgoing and incoming letters and a small subject file. All of the portraits have been removed and indexed separately in the portrait collection.

The papers as a whole are described in greater detail in the Key to Arrangement which follows.

Box 1

Outgoing letters, 1951-1961

Additional Note

Carbon copies of letters and telegrams arranged chronologically with undated letters at the end.

Boxes 2-3

Incoming letters, 1950-1967

Additional Note

Letters written to Shirpser arranged alphabetically by name of person or organization. A partial list of significant correspondents follows the Key to Arrangement. Unlisted letters are arranged alphabetically in a miscellany preceding the listed correspondents.

Ctn. 1

Personalia - Includes biographical material

Speeches and prepared remarks

Press releases

Clippings

California Democratic Council Convention, Fresno, 1956

California Primary Campaign, 1955-1956

Democratic National Convention, 1956

Kefauver, Carey Estes, 1903-1963. Two folders

Stevenson, Adlai Ewing, 1900-1965. Two folders

Stevenson-Kefauver Campaign, 1956

Unsorted

Subject files

American Association for the United Nations, Inc. San Francisco Chapter

Democratic Party. National Committee

Democratic Party. Platforms

Democratic Party. Restricting convention demonstrations, 1952-1968

Kefauver for President Campaign, 1955-1956. Two folders

Kennedy-Johnson Campaign, 1960

Shirpser for Assembly Campaign, 1950

Stevenson for President Campaigns

Stevenson-Kefauver Campaign, 1956

White House Conference on Aging, 1961

White House Regional Conferences in San Francisco, 1961

Women for Johnson-Humphrey Campaign, 1964

Miscellany. Two folders

Photographs

Arvey, Jacob M., 1895-

2 letters, 1952-1955. Written while Democratic National Committeeman of Illinois. Include one letter by his secretary.

Bailey, John Moran, 1904-

Letter, Jan 6, 1961. Re his impending appointment as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Bartlett, Edward Lewis, 1904-

Letter, July 9, 1956. Written while U.S. Congressional Delegate from Alaska; addressed to Mrs. Edward J. Parnell.

Bee, Carlos, 1917-1974

Letter, Nov 30, 1955. Written while California Assemblyman.

Blair, William McCormick, 1916-

10 letters, 1953-1956. Some letters written while executive assistant to Adlai E. Stevenson. Include copies of letters written to others.

Boyle, Bernard J., 1894-

Letter, Feb 2, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Nebraska.

Brannan, Charles Franklin, 1903-

Letter, June 12, 1956. Attorney-at-law.

Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. California Legislative Board

Letter, Nov 13, 1950. By state representative F. G. Pellett.

Brown, Edmund Gerald, 1905-

18 letters, 1955-1964. Written while California Attorney General and Governor of California. Include form letters and copies of letters written to others.

Burwell, Lina (Weinberg), 1890-

Letter, Nov 13, 1955. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for Wyoming.

Butler, Paul M., 1905-

19 letters, 1954-1956. Written while chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Include form letters and copies of letters written to others.

California. Attorney General

See Brown, Edmund Gerald

California. Controller

See Cranston, Alan

California. Secretary of State

Letter, July 1, 1950. Form letter by Frank M. Jordan re Mrs. Shirpser's appointees to the Democratic State Convention.

California Democratic Council

See Democratic Party, Calif. California Democratic Council

Carrell, Tom C.

10 letters, 1955-1956. Some letters written while chairman of the Kefauver for President Committee of California. Include form letters and copies of letters written to others.

Carvey, Thomas B., Jr.

See Democratic Party. Calif. Los Angeles County. Central Committee

Chambers, Paul Marvin, 1916-

Letter, Jan 24, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Arkansas re the selection of delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Clark, Georgia (Neese), 1900-

2 letters, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for Kansas.

Clement, Frank Goad, 1920-

Letter, July 16, 1956. Written while Governor of Tennessee; addressed to Mrs. Edward J. Parnell.

Clements, Earle C., 1896-

5 letters, 1955-1956. Written while U.S. Senator from Kentucky.

Cohelan, Jeffery, 1914-

2 letters, 1965-1967. Written while U.S. Congressman from California.

Cranston, Alan, 1914-

6 letters, 1954-1964. Written while president of the California Democratic Council and California Controller.

Cunningham, Mary Rosalle, 1907-

Letter, Feb 15, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for Nebraska.

Daley, Richard J., 1902-

Letter, Aug 29, 1956. Written while Mayor of Chicago.

Davis, Pauline L., 1917-

2 letters, 1952-1955. One letter written while California Assemblywoman.

Delany, Frank J.

3 letters, 1956. Include copies of letters written to others.

Democratic Party, Calif. California Democratic Council

2 letters, 1955

Democratic Party. Calif. Contra Costa County. Central Committee

Letter, Nov 12, 1954. By chairman James P. Kenny; addressed to Paul Ziffren re their opposition to the retention of Stephen Mitchell as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Democratic Party. Calif. Los Angeles County. Central Committee

4 letters, 1952-1955. Include one letter, Sept. 8, 1955, by secretary Tom B. Carvey.

Democratic Party. Calif. San Mateo County. Central Committee

Letter, Feb 18, 1955. Letter of appreciation by chairman Melvin E. Cohn.

Democratic Party. Calif. Santa Cruz County. Central Committee

2 letters, 1954. By chairman Donald Younger.

Democratic Party. Calif. Solano County. Central Committee

3 letters and telegrams, 1954-1956.

Democratic Party. Calif. State Central Committee

4 letters, 1955. By chairman Elizabeth Snyder. Include copies of letters written to others.

See also Roger Kent, William A. Munnell, Lionel S. Steinberg and Eugene L. Wyman.

Democratic Party. Montana. State Central Committee

Letter, Jan 25, 1956. By vice-chairman Elizabeth Colton re the selection of delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Democratic Party. National Committee

4 letters, 1952. One letter, Aug 21, 1952, by secretary Dorothy (McElroy) Vredenburgh.

See also Paul M. Butler, India Edwards, Clayton Fritchey, Matthew H. McCloskey and Stephen A. Mitchell.

See also subject file in Carton One.

Democratic Party. Oregon. State Central Committee

Letter, Jan 25, 1956. By vice-chairman Edna Scales.

DiSalle, Michael Vincent, 1908-

2 letters, 1954-1958. Attorney-at-law.

Donahoe, Dorothy M.

Letter, Feb 24, 1956. Written while a member of the California Assembly re the California political organization.

Donnelley, Dixon, 1915-

Telegram, May 24, 1956. Written while with the Kefauver for President Committee explaining Senator Kefauver's negative civil rights votes.

Donohue, F. Joseph, 1900-

2 letters, 1956. Written while general chairman of the Kefauver for President Committee and director, vice-presidential activities, Stevenson-Kefauver Campaign Committee.

Doyle, Clyde Gilman, 1887-

Letter, July 11, 1956. Written while U.S. Congressman from California.

Edwards, India (Gillespie)

13 letters, 1952-1964. Include letters written while vice-chairman of the Democratic National Committee and while special consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Labor.

Engle, Clair, 1911-1964.

13 letters and telegrams, 1955-1964. Written while U.S. Congressman from California and chairman of the California Stevenson-Kefauver Campaign Committee.

Espe, Carl F.

See U.S. Navy

Fields, Bertrude Kendall (Thompson), 1901-

2 letters, 1956 and n.d. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for Oklahoma.

Finletter, Thomas Knight, 1893-

Letter, Nov 18, 1955. Attorney-at-law.

Finney, Ruth, 1898-

Letter, June 26, [1956]. Apologizing for a newspaper column by her husband Robert S. Allen.

Fleeson, Doris

Letter, May 15, 1956. Defending her newspaper column.

Fleishhacker, Mortimer, Jr.

Letter, Mar 1, 1965. Form letter written on behalf of the Citizen's Committee for the 20th Anniversary Commemorative Session of the United Nations.

Ford, John Anson, 1883-

5 letters, 1952-1953 and n.d. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for California. Include form letters and copies of letters written to others.

Friedman, Monroe Mark, 1895-

Letter, June 18, 1958.

Fritchey, Clayton

3 letters and telegrams, 1955-1963. Written while deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a member of the U.S. mission to the United Nations. Include photocopies.

Gatov, Elizabeth (Rudel) Smith, 1911-

2 letters, 1960-1964. One written while Democratic National Committeewoman for California.

Geddes, Samuel Robert

Letter, July 10, 1956. Written while California Assemblyman; addressed to Mrs. Edward J. Parnell re Clara Shirpser.

George, Walter Franklin, 1878-1957

Letter, July 23, 1956. Written while U.S. Senator from Georgia.

Golden, John Matthew, 1895-

Letter, Aug 2, 1955. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Connecticut.

Gore, Albert Arnold, 1907-

Letter, Aug 16, 1958. Written while U.S. Senator from Tennessee.

Grady, Henry Francis, Jr.

Letter, Aug 1, 1963.

Grady, Lucretia (del Valle)

3 letters, 1955-1960.

Gravel, Camille Francis, 1915-

Letter, Oct. 21, 1958. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Louisiana.

Graybill, Leo Carlisle, 1894-

2 letters, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Montana. Include letters written to others.

Green, Theodore Francis, 1867-

Letter, June 20, 1956. Written while U.S. Senator from Rhode Island.

Hagen, Harlan, 1914-

Letter, June 18, 1956. Written while U.S. Congressman from California.

Harber, Winford Elmer, 1892-

Letter, Feb 18, 1956. Transcript of letter written while president of the American National Bank.

Heaney, Gerald William, 1918-

Letter, Jan 20, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeeman of Minnesota.

Heller, Elinor (Raas), 1904-

2 letters, 1952-1953. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for California.

Holloran, Mark Richard, 1905-

2 letters, 1955-1956. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Missouri.

Humphrey, Hubert Horatio, 1911-

Letter, July 31, 1956. Written while U.S. Senator from Minnesota; addressed to Mrs. Edward J. Parnell re Clara Shirpser.

Kefauver, Estes, 1903-1963.

33 letters and telegrams, 1955-1963. Written while U.S. Senator from Tennessee. Include form letters and copies of letters written to others. Also: four letters, 1955-1956, by his wife Nancy Patterson (Pigott) Kefauver.

See also clippings in Carton One.

Kefauver for President Committee

8 letters, 1956. Include one letter, June 30, 1956, by treasurer William Allerton Roberts.

See also Dixon Donnelley, F. Joseph Donohue and Mabelle Kennedy.

See also subject file in Carton One.

Kefauver for President Committee of California

6 letters, 1952-1956.

See also Carrell, Tom C.

Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963.

Letter, Aug 25, 1960. Written while U.S. Senator from Massachusetts.

Kennedy, Mabelle

Letter, Feb 24, 1956. Written while vice chairman of the Kefauver for President Committee.

Kent, Roger, 1906-

8 letters, 1954 and n.d. Written while chairman of the California Democratic State Central Committee. Include form letters and copies of letters written to others.

Killion, George Leonard, 1901-

4 letters, 1956-1962. Written while chairman of the board of Loew's Incorporated and president of American President Lines, Ltd. Include copies of letters written to others.

Knutson, Coya Gjesdal, 1912-

Letter, July 20, 1956. Written while U.S. Congressman from Minnesota; addressed to Mrs. Edward J. Parnell.

Kreps, Theodore John, 1897-

Letter, Dec. 1, 1955.

Langmade, Stephen Wallace, 1914-

Letter, Jan 16, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Arizona.

Lawrence, David Leo, 1888-

2 letters and telegrams, 1954-1958. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Pennsylvania. Include one telegram co-signed with committeewoman Emma Guffey Miller.

Leader, George Michael, 1918-

Letter, Nov 13, 1958. Written while Governor of Pennsylvania upon his defeat for re-election.

Loew's Incorporated

See Killion, George Leonard

McAteer, J. Eugene

Letter, Nov 28, 1955. Written while a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

McCarthy, Eugene Joseph, 1916-

2 letters, 1956-1964. Written while U.S. Congressman and later Senator from Minnesota.

McCarthy, Robert I., 1920-

Letter, Dec. 1, 1955. Written while California State Senator.

McCloske, Matthew H.

4 letters, 1956. Written while treasurer of the Democratic National Committee. Include one letter by an assistant.

McCormac, John William, 1891-

Letter, July 25, 1956. Written while U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts.

Madden, Ray John, 1892-

Letter, Feb 9, 1956. Written while U.S. Congressman from Indiana.

Magnin, Cyril I., 1899-

Letter, Nov 29, 1955. Declining an invitation.

Magnuson, Warren Grant, 1905-

Letter, July 10, 1956. Written while U.S. Senator from Washington.

Mazo, Earl, 1919-

Letter, June 28, 1956. Written while with the New York Herald Tribune.

Miller, Emma Guffey

See Lawrence, David Leo

Miller, George, Jr.

Letter, Dec. 6, 1955. Written while California State Senator, declining an invitation.

Miller, George Paul, 1891-

Letter, July 17, 1956. Written while U.S. Congressman from California; addressed to Mrs. Edward J. Parnell re Clara Shirpser.

Mills College, Calif. President

See White, Lynn Townsend

Mitchell, Stephen Arnold, 1903-

25 letters and telegrams, 1952-1954 and n.d. Written while chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Include copies of letters written to others.

Monroney, Almer Stillwell Mike, 1902-

3 letters, 1954-1960. Written while U.S. Senator from Oklahoma.

Munnell, William Arthur, 1920-

2 letters, 1955-1960. Written while California Assemblyman and chairman of the California Democratic State Central Committee.

Nygaard, Daphna (Hauser), 1896-

Letter, Feb 8, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for North Dakota.

O'Gara, Gerald J.

Letter, June 17, 1952. Congratulatory letter upon Mrs. Shirpser's election as Democratic National Committeewoman.

Olson, Culbert Levy, 1876-1962

Letter, Nov 17, 1955. Addressed to Suren M. Saroyan.

Pauley, Edwin Wendell, 1903-

2 letters, 1956.

Pearson, Drew Andrew Russell, 1897-

Letter, Oct. 26, 1955.

Price, Margaret (Bayne), 1912-

Letter, n.d. Written while Democratic National Committee woman for Michigan.

Ragland, Martha Ragsdale, 1906-

7 letters, 1955-1961. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for Tennessee.

Ramsey, Ben

Letter, Feb 28, 1956. Written while Lieutenant Governor of Texas.

Rawlings, Calvin William, 1895-

3 letters, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Utah.

Richards, Richard, 1916-

3 letters, 1955-1956. Written while California State Senator.

Roberts, Willa Mae (Alexander), 1887-

Letter, Feb 1, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for Missouri.

Roberts, William Allerton, 1900-

See Kefauver for President Committee

Rock, George Frederick, 1907-

3 letters, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Colorado.

Romney, Roxey (Stowell), 1889-

Letter, Feb 6, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman of Utah.

Roosevelt, James, 1907-

Letter, Jan 25, 1956. Written while U.S. Congressman from California re his decision to support Adlai Stevenson for President.

Roth, William Matson, 1916-

Letter, Feb 24, 1956.

Roybal, Edward R., 1916-

Letter, Nov 6, 1963. Written while U.S. Congressman from California.

Rumford, William Byron, 1908-

Letter, June 27, 1963. Written while California Assemblyman re fair housing bill AB 1240.

Sackett, Sheldon Fred, 1902-

Letter, June 18, 1952. Written while president of KROW Radio.

Salinger, Pierre Emil George, 1925-

2 letters and telegrams, 1964. Written while U.S. Senator from California.

San Francisco. Board of Supervisors

2 letters, 1955-1956. By John J. Ferdon and Francis McCarthy.

See also McAteer, J. Eugene.

San Francisco. Mayor

See Shelley, John Francis

San Francisco International Film Festival

Letter, Dec. 10, 1959. By director Irving M. Levin.

Saroyan, Suren Michael, 1905-

4 letters, 1955-1959. Copies of letters written to others.

Saun, Dalip Singh, 1899-

2 letters, 1957. Written while U.S. Congressman from California.

School, Inez (Montgomery), 1890-

Letter, Nov 24, 1954. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for Indiana; co-signed with others.

Seedall, Dean S.

Letter, Jan 30, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for Idaho.

Shane, Leonard, 1922-

2 telegrams, 1956. Re labor volunteers for Kefauver.

Sharp, Thelma Parkinson

Letter, July 26, 1956. Written while Democratic National Committeewoman for New Jersey.

Shelley, John Francis, 1905-1974.

4 letters, 1963-1965. Written while U.S. Congressman from California and San Francisco Mayor.

Sheppard, Harry Richard, 1885-

4 letters, 1955. Written while U.S. Congressman from California. Include copies of letters written to others.

Silverman, Sol, 1900-

Letter, Mar. 2, 1955. Written while chairman of the Israel Histadrut Campaign.

Sisk, Bernice Frederic, 1910-

2 letters, 1956. Written while U.S. Congressman from California.

Smith, Elizabeth (Rudel), 1911-

See Gatov, Elizabeth (Rudel) Smith

Additional Note

Smith, James Edward, 1910-

2 letters, 1954-1956.

Sparkman, John, 1899-

3 letters, 1955-1965. Written while U.S. Senator from Alabama. Include letters written to others.

Additional Note

Steinberg, Lionel Sanford, 1919-

2 letters, 1956-1960. One letter written while chairman of the northern California division of the Democratic State Central Committee.

Stevenson, Adlai Ewing, 1900-1965.

3 letters and telegrams, 1956-1962 and n.d. Include form letters.

See also clippings in Carton One.

Stevenson-Kefauver Campaign Committee

See Donohue, F. Joseph.

See also clippings in Carton One.

Stevenson-Kefauver Campaign Committee, California

See Engle, Clair

Sutton, Leonard V. B.

Letter, Apr 3, 1956. Written while justice of the Colorado Supreme Court.

Sweetland, Monroe Mark, 1910-

3 letters, 1952-1956. Include letters written while Democratic National Committeeman for Oregon.

Switzer, George Frederick, 1903-

Letter, Nov 15, 1955. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for Virginia.

Symington, Stuart, 1901-

Letter, July 9, 1956. Written while U.S. Senator from Missouri.

Tennessee. Governor

See Clement, Frank Goad

Tulare Co., Calif. District Attorney

2 letters, 1956. By Robert H. Haden.

U.S. Dept. of Labor

See Edwards, India (Gillespie)

U.S. Navy

Letter, Aug 12, 1953. Transcript of letter by director of naval intelligence, Carl F. Espe, re Robert Likens Condon.

Vredenburgh, Dorothy (McElroy), 1916-

See Democratic Party. National Committee

Wagler, S. Victor, 1906-

Letter, Nov 30, 1955. Written while judge of the Alameda County Superior Court declining an invitation to meet Estes Kefauver.

White, Lynn Townsend, 1907-

Letter, June 24, 1952. Congratulatory letter written while president of Mills College upon Mrs. Shirpser's election as California Democratic National Committeewoman.

World Affairs Council of Northern California

Letter, May 27, 1957. By director Calvin J. Nichols.

Wyatt, Joseph L., Jr.

See California Democratic Council

Wyman, Eugene Lester, 1924-

Letter, July 6, 1964. Written while chairman of the California Democratic State Central Committee.

Yorty, Samuel William, 1909-

Letter, Nov 10, 1955. Written while U.S. Congressman from California re the appointment of delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Younger, Donald, 1903-

See Democratic Party. Calif. Santa Cruz County. Central Committee

Ziffren, Paul, 1913-

3 letters, 1955. Written while Democratic National Committeeman for California.