Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
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)19731991
1983-1989 (bulk)19831989 - 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.
- 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)
