Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Grace Wick Papers, 1888-1962
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Wick, Grace, 1888-1958
- Title
- Grace Wick Papers
- Dates
- 1888-1962 (inclusive)18881962
1928-1951 (bulk)19281951 - Quantity
- 6 cubic feet, (7 boxes)
- Collection Number
- Mss 49
- Summary
- Papers of an Oregon political activist who began as a New Deal Democrat in the 1930s and ended as a right-wing Republican in the 1950s. Includes correspondence, such as letters to and from right-wing activist Gerald L.K. Smith; writings; subject files; and ephemera.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Grace M. Wick of Portland, Oregon, was a right-wing activist known for her outspokenness and flamboyant behavior. A prolific letter writer, she maintained an extensive correspondence with political figures in Oregon and nationally. Wick ran twice unsuccessfully for Congress in the Third District. In May 1935, she paraded down Broadway in a slogan-covered barrel to protest her lack of employment.
Born in Iowa in 1888, Grace Wick lived in Chicago, New York, and Boston and was a stage actress before moving to Central Point, Oregon, with her husband George Merritt in 1922. Grace Wick began her political activities in Oregon the same year by campaigning for Democrat Walter Pierce for Governor. After her divorce in 1924 and an attempt to start a film career in Hollywood, she returned to Oregon in 1926. Wick campaigned against Pierce in his bid for reelection because of his refusal to stay the 1925 execution of Archie Cody, a relative of Buffalo Bill Cody, for the murder of the sheriff of Harney County. Wick later claimed that a satirical pamphlet, "The Mascot," which she wrote and published, was responsible for Pierce's defeat.
Grace Wick moved to Portland in 1927 and was secretary-treasurer of the Oregon State Women's Smith for President Club in 1928. She ran for Congress in 1934 as a "Progressive Democrat," pledging full support of President Roosevelt and the New Deal. In 1936 she ran as an Independent, after having her name placed in nomination through a convention held in a beer hall. By 1937, having become frustrated with the Democratic party establishment in Oregon, Wick began to cultivate connections with Republican political figures. Her views became increasingly right-wing within the next few years. She chaired the local auxiliary of Sons of Union Veterans, an anti-immigrant organization, and became a strident anti-Semite, disseminating propaganda materials and corresponding with others of similar persuasion. Wick opposed U.S. entry in the Second World War and actively corresponded with leaders of the isolationist Mother's Movement and with congressional opponents of intervention. Wick's activities during the war led to her being questioned by an Army board on suspicion of disloyalty.
In the post-war period, Grace Wick opposed the establishment of the United Nations and U.S. involvement in Korea, while supporting a presidential candidacy for Gen. Douglas MacArthur. In 1951 she became Oregon state chairwoman of the newly formed American Woman's Party, led by Blanche Winters of Detroit, and conducted an unsuccessful petition effort to qualify the party for the Oregon ballot.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Correspondence series includes letters to and/or from Walter Pierce, Charles Martin, Guy Cordon, Rufus Holman, Charles McNary, Rush Dew Holt, Hamilton Fish, James Farley, Blanche Winters, Gerald L. K. Smith, Lyrl Clark Van Hyning, Agnes Waters, and William Kulgren. The personal correspondence subseries, in addition to correspondence, contains writings by Grace Wick and ephemera, mostly from her stage career. The publications series includes the newspapers of Central Oregon publisher Sid Pierce, newsletters of Elizabeth Dilling Stokes, 46 issues of the isolationist publication, Woman’s Voice, and political and metaphysical publications of William Dudley Pelley and William Kulgren. The subject series contains correspondence and publications as well as ephemera. Organizations represented include several from the isolationist Mother’s Movement, as well as the later American Woman’s Party. Individuals include Gerald L. K. Smith, Rev. A. W. Terminiello, and Agnes Waters. Topics covered include internationalism, racial segregation, communist subversion, and the fluoridation of water.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Grace Wick Papers, Mss 49, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Series A: Correspondence, 1912-1958
Series B: Publications, 1928-1952
Series C: Subject files, 1891-1958
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series A:: Correspondence, 1912-1958Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Political
Correspondence |
1922-1955 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | A |
|
1/2 | B |
|
1/3 | C |
|
1/4 | D |
|
1/5 | E |
|
1/6 | F |
|
1/7 | G |
|
1/8 | H |
|
1/9 | I-J |
|
1/10 | K |
|
1/11 | L |
|
1/12 | M |
|
1/13 | N |
|
1/14 | O-P |
|
1/15 | Q-R |
|
1/16 | S |
|
1/17 | T |
|
1/18 | U |
|
1/19 | V-W |
|
1/20 | X-Z |
|
Personal Correspondence |
||
America First
Party |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/21 | Correspondence, clippings, ephemera
1944-1958 |
|
American Women's
Party |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/22 | Correspondence
1951 |
|
1/23 | Correspondence
1951-1957 |
|
1/24 | Correspondence
1951-1953 |
|
1/25 | Correspondence
1951-1952 |
|
1/26 | Correspondence with Blanche Winters, president
1951-1952 |
|
Box/Folder | ||
1/27 | Buck, Merle, president of the
American Warriors |
1936 |
1/28 | Grace Wick campaign
materials |
1934-1936 |
1/29 | Carson, Joseph K., Jr.--General
correspondence |
1932-1950 |
1/30 | Cordon, Guy--General correspondence |
1945-1954 |
1/31 | Dewey, Thomas
Letter from Grace Wick, acknowledgement from Everett Dirksen,
and responses to letter from others, including Gerald L. K. Smith
|
1944 |
1/32 | Farley, James--General correspondence |
1933-1935 |
1/33 | Fish, Hamilton--General correspondence |
1938-1944 |
1/34 | Hamel, Richard
General Correspondence with Hamel and with others who alleged
that Hamel was an informant
|
1944-1952 |
1/35 | Holman, Rufus--General correspondence |
1941-1944 |
1/36 | Holt, Rush--General correspondence |
1936-1940 |
1/37 | Kullgren, William--General correspondence |
1943-1946 |
1/38 | Martin, Charles H. |
1933-1935 |
1/39 | McNary, Charles--Outgoing correspondence |
1936-1941 |
1/40 | McNary, Charles--Incoming correspondence |
1935-1941 |
1/41 | Moyes, William--Outgoing correspondence and
clippings |
1943-1953 |
1/42 | National Gentile League--General
correspondence |
1944-1945 |
1/43 | Nodel, Julius--General correspondence |
1952 |
1/44 | Old Age Assistance--General correspondence and
clippings |
1956-1959 |
1/45 |
Oregonian--Letters to the
editor, many unpublished |
1938-1957 |
1/46 |
Oregon Journal--Letters to the
editor |
1941-1949 |
1/47 | Pelley, William Dudley
General Correspondence with Adelaide Pelley Pearson,
clippings, and copies of Pelley tract, "Dupes of Judah," republished by Grace
Wick
|
1945-1949 |
1/48 | Pelley, William--Newsletters from
organizations |
1945-1950 |
1/49 | Pierce, Syd--General correspondence |
1945-1957 |
1/50 | Pierce, Walter
Incoming Correspondence, clippings, copy
The Mascot, written and published
by Grace Wick
|
1922-1926 |
1/51 | Richardson, W. E.
Correspondence with attorney concerning summons to appear
before Army board
|
1943 |
1/52 | Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
General Correspondence includes letters from Eleanor
Roosevelt
|
1932-1941 |
1/53 | Smith, Alfred
General Correspondence concerning establishment of Oregon
State Women for Smith for President Club, roster of members, clippings, and
ephemera
|
1928 |
1/54 | Smith, H. L.--General correspondence |
1943-1954 |
1/55 | Sons of Union Veterans--General correspondence and
clippings |
1937 |
1/56 | Supreme Court
Outgoing Correspondence concerning Roosevelt effort to expand
the Supreme Court
|
1937 |
1/57 | Van Hyning, Lyrl Clark--General
correspondence |
1953 |
1/58 | Waters, Agnes
General Correspondence, clippings, handwritten transcript of
congressional testimony.
|
1944-1947 |
1/59 | Wharton, C. E.--General correspondence |
1936-1938 |
1/60 | Xavier, Peter L.--General Correspondence |
1952-1956 |
General personal correspondence |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/61 | A-C |
1914-1958 |
2/62 | D-F |
1914-1958 |
2/63 | G-I |
1914-1958 |
2/64 | J-L |
1914-1958 |
2/65 | M-O |
1914-1958 |
2/66 | P-R |
1914-1958 |
2/67 | S-T |
1914-1958 |
2/68 | U-W |
1914-1958 |
2/69 | X-Z |
1914-1958 |
Box/Folder | ||
2/70 | Ephemera |
1945-1953 |
2/71 | Official Documents
Birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree,
employment records, Social Security documents, Old Age Assistance records,
stock certificates, clipping of obituary
|
1888-1958 |
2/72 | Dramatic career
General Correspondence, playbills, actor's directories,
clippings of reviews
|
1913-1925 |
2/73 | Family members--General correspondence |
1911-1953 |
2/74 | Meyer, Pearl Wick (sister of Grace Wick)--General
correspondence |
1936-1958 |
2/75 | Wick, A.L. "Gus" (brother of Grace Wick)--General
correspondence |
1919-1956 |
2/76 | Fuller, Helen--General correspondence
Includes letter from Oswald West to Helen Fuller
|
1925-1938 |
2/77 | Goldsby, Myrtle (executor of Wick estate)--General
correspondence |
1946-1958 |
2/78 | Melanson, Fred
Official documents, poetry, and ephemera from Grace Wick's
companion
|
1926-1950 |
2/79 | Clippings and articles concerning Grace
Wick |
1913-1958 |
2/80 | Ephemera
Includes address books, notes, and business correspondence
|
1912-1952 |
2/81 | Writings of others
Prose and poetry collected by Grace Wick
|
undated |
2/82 | Writing--Poetry, screenplay, and essays by Grace
Wick |
undated |
2/83 |
Riddle Woman
General Correspondence, clippings, and scrapbook concerning
Grace Wick's part in promotional campaign for a motion picture
|
1920 |
2/84 | Stage Women's War Relief
General Correspondence regarding participation in
organization
|
1917-1918 |
2/85 | General correspondence
Unidentified Correspondent. Letters between Grace Wick and
friend in Southern Oregon concerned that Grace Wick had said that she had been
invited to join the Ku Klux Klan
|
1922 |
Series B:: Publications, 1928-1952Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
3/1 |
Northwest Defense News
1:2,4,5 and 2:1. Walla Walla, Washington
|
1951-1952 |
3/2 |
Boise Valley Herald
XXXVIII:27. (1947) Voice of Action, IV:2. (1936) Seattle,
Washington.
|
1926; 1947 |
3/3 | Sid Pierce Publications
Including
Crook County American (1940-1950),
The Free Press (1944), and
The Rascal Scalper(1952)
This folder also contains handbills and a note from publisher
Sid Pierce to Grace Wick
|
1940-1952 |
3/4 | Other Oregon publications
Including The Dalles
The Dalles Chronicle(1953), reprints
of editorials critical of Wayne Morse and union leader Harry Bridges and the
New American Order(1941)
|
1941-1953 |
3/5 |
Crow's Pacific Coast Lumber
Digest--Reprints of editorials from trade publication. |
1943-1949 |
3/6 |
The Sun, 17:24. (1947) and
The East Side Post, 19:4.
(1950) |
1947; 1950 |
3/7 |
Harvey's Monthly Pension
Newsletter
Twenty-two issues between III:7 and VIII:9
|
1953-1958 |
3/8 |
The Reminder, 8:3 and
14:8.
This folder also includes undated reprints from the same
publication
|
19451951 |
3/9 |
Stallard's Democrat
Crusade--Newsletters and flyers. |
1950 |
3/10 | Other Portland News Publications
Including American Friends Service Committee
Newsletter (1951-1952);
Western Breeders Journal, 60:21.
(1928) and
The U.N. Advocate, 1:10. (1955)
|
1928-1955 |
3/11 |
American Capsule News
Washington D.C. Fifty-eight editions of publication billed as
"The All American News Digest for All American People."
|
1956-1958 |
3/12 |
American Nationalist
Inglewood, California. Five editions between 1:1 and 1:10
|
1952-1953 |
3/13 |
America Preferred
Indianapolis, Indiana. Eight editions between 1:2 and 3:9
|
1943-1945 |
3/14 |
Arab News
Washington D.C.. Twelve editions of newsletter published by the
embassies of several Arab countries
|
1946-1948 |
3/15 |
Common Sense
Forty-four editions of anti-communist newspaper published in New
Jersey
|
1947-1957 |
3/16 |
Dayton Independent
Dayton, Ohio. Forty-seven editions between XXXI:40 and
XXXII:42
|
1951-1953 |
3/17 | William Kulgren Publications
Including
America Speaks, Atascadero,
California (1943-1950),
The Beacon Light, (1939-1942), and
Beacon Light Herald (1945-1950)
|
1942-1950 |
4/18 | Patriotic Research Bureau Publications
Nine issues of newsletter published by Elizabeth Dilling of
Chicago
|
1944-1946 |
4/19 |
The Dispatch
III:3,4,9,10,11. Anti-Semitic publication of the Pioneer News
Service. This folder also contains ephemera from the same publication
|
1945-1946 |
4/20 |
The Political Reporter
3:4,5,6,7. Memphis, Tennessee. The January 1945 issue of this
monthly publication contains a letter by Grace Wick
|
1953-1954 |
4/21 |
Woman's Voice
Chicago. Forty-six editions between 3:9 and 18:11.
This folder also includes ephemera associated with this
publication
|
1945-1959 |
4/22 | Other National Publications
The Aryan Voice,
America in Danger-Christ or Chaos,
Peace Action,
The Individualist,
The Citizen,
Constitution Press,
Grass Roots,
Round Table News Flashes, and
Right
|
ca. 1940-1960 |
4/23 | Other National Publications
Including:
The Defender,
Constitutional Americans,
Headlines,
The National Record,
The Realist,
The Patriot,
T A W (The American Way),
Upton Close Newsletter,
Free Men Speak,
Sabotage,
Hitler and Stalin, and
Railway Journal
|
ca. 1940-1960 |
4/24 |
The Methodist Challenger
Thirteen editions between XXVI:12 and XXVIII:3
|
1958-1959 |
4/25 |
Present Truth
Mountain View, Ten editions between 23:49 and 24:19. Seventh Day
Adventist publication
|
1948-1959 |
4/26 | Soulcraft Publications
Publications of William Dudley Pelley, mostly following his
release from prison
|
1942-1954 |
4/27 | Watchtower Publications |
1940-1959 |
4/28 | Miscellaneous Religious Publications
Includes Adventist publications and literature from The
Christophers, a Catholic lay organization
|
undated |
4/29 | Jewish Religious Publications |
1944-1949 |
4/30 | Miscellaneous Religious Publications |
1944-1958 |
4/31 | Astrological and Occult Publications |
undated |
Series C:: Subject Files, 1891-1958Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
5/32 | American Woman's Party
Correspondence and ephemera. Includes issue of the
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes
Journal with editorial praising American Woman’s Party
|
1951-1952 |
5/33 | Women's Organizations, Miscellaneous
Includes publications of several of the isolationist Mother's
organizations from the Second World War
Organizations include United Mothers of America and We, The
Mothers. Also includes material from the Oregon State Women for Smith for
President Club
|
1891-1956 |
5/34 | Miscellaneous Political Organizations
Includes ephemera from right-wing organizations Defenders of
George Washington and The American Warriors, an ex-serviceman's
organization
|
1936-1946 |
5/35 | Anti-War and Anti-Conscription Organizations
Includes pamphlets and ephemera of the America First Committee,
radio transcripts of speeches by Charles Lindbergh, and ephemera of the Oregon
Committee Opposing Peacetime Conscription
|
1941-1947 |
5/36 | National Blue Star Mothers of America
Ephemera from militant isolationist organization with
anti-Semitic emphasis
|
1945-1952 |
5/37 | Miscellaneous National Political
Organizations
Publications and ephemera from several right-wing organizations
including the Constitutional Alliance and the Nationalist Convention
Committee
|
1940-1956 |
5/38 | Government Publications
Includes reprints from The Congressional Record of speeches by
Sen. Joseph McCarthy, Rep. Hamilton Fish, Sen. Burton Wheeler Sen. William
Langer, and Sen. Rufus Holman
|
1935-1957 |
5/39 | Miscellaneous Publications on Economics |
1935-1951 |
6/40 | Marilyn R. Allen
Publications and ephemera from Salt Lake City activist opposed
to immigration and racial integration
|
1947-1952 |
6/41 | Gerald L. K. Smith
Publications and ephemera. Includes issues of
The Cross and the Flag(6:10, 7:10,
8:8, and 16:12) and other material of the Christian Nationalist Crusade
|
1945-1958 |
6/42 | Einer Aberg
Publications and ephemera including booklist and flyers for the
Pro-America Information Bureau
|
1948 |
6/43 | Rev. A. W. Terminiello
Publications of right-wing Alabama priest, an ally of Gerald L.
K. Smith and would-be successor to Father Coughlin
|
1943 |
6/44 | Agnes Waters
News releases of Washington, D. C., activist
|
1944-1954 |
6/45 | F. D. R. Administration
Publications critical of the Roosevelt administration
Includes a flyer of the Oregon Chapter of the America First
Committee
|
1937-1945 |
6/46 | Truman Administration
Miscellaneous clippings critical of the Truman
administration
|
1945-1952 |
6/47 | Eisenhower Administration
Convention News, Non-Partisan League for Decency in Political
Candidates. Headline reads: "Ike Renominated in Spite of His Red Record."
|
1956 |
6/48 | Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Clippings and ephemera promoting MacArthur as candidate for
President. Also includes reprint of MacArthur's 1951 speech to Congress
|
1952 |
6/49 | T. Coleman Andrews
Ephemera from presidential campaign of former Internal Revenue
Service commissioner
|
1956 |
6/50 | John T. Flynn
Publications of right-wing journalist, including
The Truth About Pearl Harbor and
The Road Ahead: America's Creeping
Revolution
|
1944-1949 |
7/51 | Pro-Segregationist
Correspondence, publications, and ephemera
|
1952-1954 |
7/52 | Anti-Internationalist
Newsletters, publications, and ephemera
|
1944-1954 |
7/53 | Anti-Semitic
Correspondence, publications, and ephemera
|
1938-1945 |
7/54 | Anti-Communist
Correspondence, publications, and ephemera include material from
Gerald B. Winrod and Col. E. N. Sanctuary
Includes list of Hollywood "Reds" published by Cinema
Educational Guild
|
1934-1957 |
7/55 | General
Correspondence, newsletters, clippings, publications, and
ephemera. Newsletter concerning mass sedition trial. Credentials card for the
America First Party convention
|
1926-1956 |
7/56 | General
Publications and ephemera. Political publications and
non-political ephemera
|
1922-1956 |
7/57 | Oregon Politics
Correspondence petition, publications, and ephemera. Petition
from 1936 to form Socialist Labor Party. Material from various campaigns
includes pamphlet satirizing Gov. Julius Meier
Includes fact sheet by Oswald West containing allegations
against Monroe Sweetland
|
1930-1956 |
7/58 | Portland and Multnomah County
Correspondence, resolutions, and ephemera. Portland City Council
resolutions, proposed charter amendments, and campaign materials
|
1933-1956 |
7/59 | General
Correspondence, clippings, and ephemera. Includes material from
various activities
Power of Attorney for the American Woman's Party, letter from
DeMille Studio,campaign material from Grace Wick's own candidacies, and signs
from the barrel that she wore in protest
|
1925-1951 |
7/60 | Compulsory Medicine
Newsletters and ephemera. Material opposing compulsory
vaccinations and socialized medicine
|
1943-1954 |
7/61 | Anti-Fluoridation
Correspondence, publications, and ephemera
|
1951-1956 |
7/62 | National Health Federation--Bulletin of the National
Health Federation |
1955-1958 |
7/63 | Health, Nutrition, Anti-Vivisection
Publications, correspondence, and ephemera
|
1942-1957 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Anti-communist movements--Oregon
- Antisemitism--Oregon
- Nativism--Oregon
- Neutrality--United States
- New Deal, 1933-1939
- Right-wing extremists--Oregon--Correspondence
Personal Names
- Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898- --Correspondence
- Cordon, Guy, 1890-1969--Correspondence
- Farley, James Aloysius, 1888- --Correspondence
- Fish, Hamilton, 1888- --Correspondence
- Holman, Rufus Cecil, 1877-1959--Correspondence
- Holt, Rush Dew, 1905-1955--Correspondence
- Kulgren, William--Correspondence
- McNary, Charles Linza, 1874-1944--Correspondence
- Pelley, William Dudley, 1890-
- Pierce, Sid.
- Pierce, Walter Marcus, 1861-1954--Correspondence
- Terminiello, A. W. (Arthur W.)
- Van Hyning, Lyrl Clark--Correspondence
- Waters, Agnes--Correspondence
- Wick, Grace, 1888-1958--Correspondence
- Winters, Blanche--Correspondence
Geographical Names
- Oregon--Economic conditions
- Oregon--Politics and government--1859-1950
- Oregon--Politics and government--1951-
- Oregon--Social conditions.
Form or Genre Terms
- Letters
- Publications