UNIV. OF CALIF. BERKELEY HISTORIC 1964-65 STUDENT PROTESTS LOT 7 NEWSPAPERS, 8 HAND-OUTS & 2 REPORTS
Item Description
Amazing 17 item archive collected at the time of the events on the UC/Berkeley campus. Also see next archive lot of 1965 Berkeley issued anti Vietnam War items #552. The newspapers have center fold as issued, have mild to moderate age tanning and three have some corner creases. One flier has two corner tips slightly tape damaged. Overall, newspapers are Fine to VF and other items are VF to NM. There are 6 issues of the student-owned, student-operated Berkeley campus newspaper The Daily Californian (TDC). These are typically 8.5 x 16" with 16 pages. The other items are mimeographed or photocopied single side 8.5 x 11" sheets with 2 exceptions, noted in the description. See expanded description on-line.
Details on the 17 items in chronological order. Not all items are pictured. TDC stands for the campus newspaper named The Daily California. (1- first item) TDC Vol. 186, No.1 the first issue of the new term dated Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1964, the first day of registration. Includes "welcome" statements from Edward Strong, Chanecllor (sic) and
Charlie Powell, President, ASUC (Associated Students of the University). The "Editorial Page" also has letter titled "The 'Welcome'" with beginning sentence: Welcome to the rat race called "higher education". This is followed by a litany of indignities about to descend on the student; however, there is no hint of coming controversy. (2) TDC (186/2) from the next day 9/16/64. This same day, Dean of Students Katherine Towle announced by letter to every student group that the advocacy of political causes or candidates, outside speakers, political recruitment of members and fundraising by student organizations at the intersection of Bancroft and Telegraph Avenues would be strictly prohibited. This is NOT mentioned in this day's paper which ( ironically) has the headline "SLATE ( a liberal /student/ civil rights focused student organization) SUPPLEMENT ( the groups' published evaluation of academic courses based on a student poll) APPEARS, LETTER ASKS FOR REBELLION". The letter ( as reported in TDC article) , written by one former student, Brad Cleaveland, was inserted into the SLATE Supplement and stated the University "does not deserve a response of loyalty and allegiance from you. There is only one proper response to Berkeley from undergraduates: that you ORGANIZE AND SPLIT THIS CAMPUS WIDE OPEN!" The article reports on the numerous educational reforms called for in the letter by Cleaveland. (3) The third paper is from two days later ( 9/18/64) with headline "Political Groups May Defy Dean". The first sentence predicts "Civil disobedience may well erupt at noon Monday at the Bancroft-Telegraph campus entrance". The article explains the opposition to Dean Towle's announcement by all groups across the political spectrum. 12 lines of the article are underlined in ink and these relate to the demands of 16 groups to be able to advocate any viewpoint and to be able to distribute literature from tables. The 16 groups included SLATE and were formed the day before as the United Front but the news article does not reference the groups by their adopted name. Tensions escalated in late Sept. when administration representatives collected the names of students manning un-permitted tables. Peititions were signed, sit-ins took place and the Free Speech Movement formed. The iconic major event occurred Oct. 1, 1964 when Jack Weinberg, manning a CORE table in front of Sproul Hall was arrested. Demonstrators, including Mario Savio, climbed atop the police car to address the protestors and after two days with the crowd reaching 7,000 an agreement was reached between President Clark Kerr and student groups. The next item (4) is a handout sheet titled "SHOWDOWN". It states "We Have Asked The Administration To Grant These Demands By Noon Today". It goes on to discuss the lack of the administrations responsiveness. This sheet is for the November 20 Sproul Hall demonstration and the last sentence reads " Come To The Noon Rally (Joan Baez Will Be There) Bring Books, Food And Sleeping Bags." Some 3,000 attended. Next (5) is TDC from 12/4/64 with above the mast head bold headline "Police Arrest 800 Demonstrators; Faculty Support For FSM Protest". There are 4 related headlines and 2 photos with more photos and text on interior pages. Next (6) is single sheet titled "Resolution 'B'" approved 12/6/64 by 200 faculty members for presentation to the Academic Senate 12/8/64. Next (7) is from 12/8/64 a sheet titled "Propositions To Be Introduced By The Committee On Academic Freedom At The December 8th Meeting Of The Berkeley Division Of The Academic Senate". Next (8) is undated © 1964 ( late 1964) 8 page folder naming Michael Rossman and Lynne Hollander with title "Administrative Pressures And Student Political Activity At The University Of California: A Preliminary Report". Next (9) are 38 pages (2 sided and partially stapled) dated December 13, 1964 with titile "The Berkeley Free Speech Controversy ( Preliminary Report) and cover text "Prepared by: A Fact-Finding Committee of Graduate Political Scientists ( with 8 name list). This includes an "Errata" page plus "Appendix A/B/C (2 sheets) "Signed" at the end with the names of people intimately involved with events including: Jo Freeman (speaker at the APIC 2016 National Convention), Clark Kerr, Sandor Fuchs, Mario Savio and 6 others. (10) is a form letter titled "Students For Cal" and addressed to "The Regents". Undated but seems to be late 1964 with first two sentences NOT in support of the Free Speech Movement reading "I am tired of the constant turmoil on campus and desire to continue my education in peace. I wish to see this continual disgrace halted. " (Light stain line across address area.) (11) is TDC from Wed. Jan . 6, 1965. Main headline "Faculty Senate Optimistic, FSM Cautious On Dispute" with small headline/paragraph "Meyerson, Savio Confab Possible". (12) is also TDC from the next day Thurs. Jan. 7, 1965 with primary front page articles "Report To Senate: Speech Regulations Challenged" and "Surprise FSM Rally". In latter article, Savio asks that students continue to support those arrested during the Dec. Sproul Hall sit-ins. (13) is 8.5 x 14" handout from the Berkeley Campus chapter of CORE. At top is reprint of Oakland Tribune front page editorial comparing sit-ins and picketing of hotels, restaurants and stores as a "new form of gangsterism". Text below points out the editorial "talks about everything but the issue- civil rights" , lists low employment percentages of "Negroes" as waiters and waitresses (2%) and bartenders (1%) with bold text at bottom "We Are Going To March Down Grove Street To Jack London Square Where We Will Take Part In A Unique Form Of Direct Action---Eat-In With Us At The Sea Wolf This Friday Night". (paper has light age tone, corner creases, ½" tear and a few push-pin holes from being posted) (14) is 2 sided mimeographed sheet dated 2/15/65 with title "Proposed Slate Position On The Undergraduate Program". Subtitle "Towards A University" with 1st sentence referencing "The incredible chain of events surrounding the Free Speech Movement's drive for campus civil liberties has brought into focus for everyone on campus the grave deficiencies in education, and particularly in the undergraduate program, at Berkeley." Following are a 7 point "restructuring program". (15) is 2 page "Slate Newsletter" announcing a Slate Meeting April 5, 1965 with "Agenda" of "Nominations for ASUC Candidates/ Drafting the SLATE program/ Tactics, what if Chancellor Myerson makes the ASUC voluntary or attempts to dissolve it." If that happens text states "This May Be The Issue That Will Blow Up The Campus". Sheet also announces April 17 demonstrations to "GET THE US OUT OF VIETNAM" and names main organizers as SDS and DuBois Clubs. (16) is from April 1965 and is a sign up form titled "Student Committee For Agricultural Labor / Spend Easter in Tulare County/ Help Launch The California Summer Project" (to learn issues facing farm workers and discuss ideas for improving conditions). (17) is circa April 8, 1965 with top half reporting on success of the "Oakland Civil Rights Movement" and bottom half publicizing the "California Summer Project In Farm Labor" with a call for volunteers. An outstanding archive that documents the seminal months of the 1964-65 campus and societal revolution.
