Jim Douglas papers, approximately 1973-1991

Overview of the Collection

Creator, collector
Douglas, Jim 1946-2017
Title
Jim Douglas papers
Dates
approximately 1973-1991 (inclusive)
1983-1989 (bulk)
Quantity
3.32 cubic feet (5 boxes)
6 videocassettes (VHS)
Collection Number
5906 (Accession No. 5906-001)
Summary
Documents the work of Jim Douglas, attorney at law, and affiliated organizations
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Textual materials are open to all users. No user access copy is available for the VHS video cassettes. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for more information regarding access to video recordings.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Jim Douglas is an attorney who has practiced Social Security disability law since 1978. Douglas was part of a legal team working for the families of slain Seattle labor unionists Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes in a civil suit against Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos for orchestrating the 1981 assassinations of the union reformers in their Pioneer Square office. The two men had been working with an international community in opposition of the dictator, who had cracked down on the political left and trade unions in the Phillippines when we seized power and declared martial law.

In December of 1989, a jury found that Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos were responsible for the murders and awarded $15 million to the families of Domingo and Viernes. This marked the first time that a foreign dictator was held responsible for crimes committed in the United States.

Douglas was also a co-founder of the Seattle chapter of Line of March, a Marxist-Leninist national political organization in the 1980s dedicated to peace and social justice.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Records created and collected by Douglas as part of a legal team working for the families of Domingo and Viernes in their civil suit against Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Other records in the collection relate to the Committee for Justice for Domingo and Viernes and Douglas' membership and participation in the founding of the Seattle chapter of Line of March, a Marxist-Leninist national political organization in the 1980s dedicated to peace and social justice.

Records from Jim Douglas' visit as part of a delegation from the National Lawyers Guild to look at the first elections in Nicaragua under the Sandinistas, including several files on the elections, including the delegation's report. Other subjects in the records include Miskito Indians sovereignty rights vs the Sandinistas.

Other records include Douglas' involvement in organizing a Citizens' Tribunal on US Involvement in Central America and the Caribbean from the early 1980s. Records include witness statements from the tribunals as well as 6 VHS videos of the tribunal proceedings.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Jim Douglas, 2015.

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Issues of the newspaper "FrontLine" that span 1983-1990 as well as Crossroads magazine, published by the Institute for Social and Economic Studies, were removed from the manuscript collection to be cataloged as serials. Some monographs were likewise pulled to be cataloged.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Papers, 1973-1990Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Line of March (LOM) Related Records
 approximately 1983-1990
1
Reports and Correspondence
 approximately 1983-1990
1
Forums and Discussions Related to Seattle LOM
 approximately 1983-1990
1
Frontline related materials
 approximately 1983-1990
2
Forums and Discussions Related to Seattle LOM
 approximately 1973-1991
2
Frontline related Materials
 approximately 1973-1991
2
Committee for Justice for Domingo Viernes (CJDV) Records
 approximately 1973-1991
2
Domingo v. Marcos records
 approximately 1973-1991
3
CJDV Records
 approximately 1981-1986
3
Domingo v. Marcos Records
 approximately 1981-1986
4
Nicaragua - Brigade
 1984-1985
4
Miskitos
 approximately 1984
4
Nicaragua Election Resources and Originals
 1983-1985
4
Photograph: James Douglas Speaking to Attendees at Unidentified Event
 approximately 1980-1991
5
Nicaragua Elections
 approximately 1984
5
Documents relating to U.S. Policies and Actions in Grenada
 approximately 1984
5
Deposition under Oral Examination of Manuel Torres
 March 14, 1983
5
Documents relating to U.S. Policy in Central America--The U.S. Position
5
Documents relating to U.S. Policies and Actions in El Salvador
5
Documents relating to U.S. Policies and Actions in Nicaragua
5
Attorney Letters
5
Lawyer-Program-Wits
5
Tribunal
 approximately 1985
5
Tribunal
 1985
5
Post-Tribunal

Video Tapes, 1984-1985Return to Top

Description Dates
Citizens' Tribunal
4 videotapes
 January 19, 1985
Howard Heiner-United Methodist: Missionary Interview in Nicaragua
1 videotape
 November 11, 1984
Charlie Clements Bombings, Tribunals
1 videotape

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • International courts
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Social security--Law and legislation

Personal Names

  • Domingo, Silme,  -1981
  • Douglas, Jim, 1946-2017--Archives
  • Marcos, Ferdinand E. (Ferdinand Edralin), 1917-1989
  • Viernes, Gene,  -1981

Corporate Names

  • Douglas Drachler McKee and Gilbrough--Officials and employees
  • Real Change (Organization)--Officials and employees
  • Seattle Labor Chorus

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Labor Archives of Washington (University of Washington) (creator)


2015 (Last modified: 2/5/2020)

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