William and Cecilia Corr papers, 1906-2006
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Corr, Cecilia, 1914-2006
- Title
- William and Cecilia Corr papers
- Dates
- 1906-2006 (inclusive)19062006
- Quantity
- 5.95 cubic feet (8 boxes, one vertical file and one oversize folder)
- Collection Number
- 5501
- Summary
- Papers of Seattle activists Bill and Cecilia Corr who were interested in socialism, labor, civil rights, and the environment
- 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
-
Open to all users.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical Note
William John (Bill) Corr (1906-1984) and his wife, Cecilia Genevieve Brodine Corr (1914-2006), were activists in Seattle interested in socialism, labor, civil rights, and the environment. Cecilia Corr was also an artist.
Bill was born in New York City to Irish immigrant parents. Leaving school after the 8th grade, he eventually became a union organizer and a member of the Communist party. He met Cecilia, daughter of Swedish immigrants living in Seattle, when she visited her brother Franz, who was Bill’s roommate. After marrying in 1936, Bill and Cecilia moved to Seattle to raise their family of four sons.
Bill worked as a circulation manger for the Washington New Dealer for a short time, resigning in 1939. During World War II he worked as a welder and was an active unionizer until his communist associations were revealed in the 1950s. From that time on, he worked as small business contractor and engaged in environmental activism, notably serving as Acting Chairman in the Save Cypress Island Committee in the 1960s and 1970s. Cecilia contributed to this effort, producing a block print for Heritage & Legacy: The Story of the Cypress Island Co-operative.
Cecilia’s participation in peace efforts and civil rights also included involvement with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Citizens' Train, Washington State Council of American-Soviet Friendship, and the Washington Committee to Protect the Foreign Born. During the late 1950s ,Cecilia wrote to US congresspeople on a wide range of issues. Cecilia contributed to her activism through her artistic skills, illustrating newsletters for the Washington State Council of American-Soviet Friendship, for which she served as co-editor in the late 1980s, and creating other political sketches. She also worked for the University of Washington as an illustrator during 1959 and 1960.
Content Description
The collection documents William (Bill) and Cecilia Corr's social and environmental activism as well as their creative output, including newsletters, subject files, letters to congresspeople, and miscellaneous pamphlets and ephemera related to the Save Cypress Island Committee, the Washington Council for American-Soviet Friendship, the Washington Committee for the Protection of the Foreign Born, the Washington Pension Union, and other contemporary political issues such as Marxism, civil rights, the environment, and nuclear war. Original manuscripts, drawings, and photographs are also included.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
The creators' literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Preferred Citation
[Title of item], [date of item if known], [box/folder number], William and Cecilia Corr Papers, [Accession No.], University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
Organized into 4 accessions.
- Accession No. 5501-001, William and Cecilia Corr papers, 1920-1995
- Accession No. 5501-002, William and Cecilia Corr papers, 1906-2006
- Accession No. 5501-003, William and Cecilia Corr papers, 1970-1975
- Accession No. 5501-004, William and Cecilia Corr papers, 1970-2002
Detailed Description of the Collection
-
Accession No. 5501-001: William and Cecilia Corr papers, 1920-1995 (bulk 1955-1989)
1.42 cubic feet (2 boxes)Arrangement: Rough sort.
Scope and Content: The collection consists of correspondence, pamphlets, clippings, ephemera, photographs and other materials relating to the Corr’s activism in socialist, civil rights, labor, and environmental issues. A substantial portion of the material relates to William Corr's work as Acting Chairman of Save Cypress Island Committee and to the Washington Council for American-Soviet Friendship. Also included are Cecilia Corr's letters to government officials, primarily Warren G. Magnuson, on issues ranging from atomic energy to immigration to Social Security. Materials also include newsletters from the Washington Committee for the Protection of the Foreign Born and the Washington Pension Union. Three original Cecilia Corr sketches are in the papers and reproductions of her work can be found in various newsletters.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Acquisition Info: William Corr Jr., May and July 2007
Separated Material: This accession also included runs of several periodicals, including Freedom Ways, New World Review, New Masses (and successor titles), and Political Affairs, which were removed for separate cataloging.
-
Description: Background information provided by donor: clipping, photocopies of photographsContainer: Box/Folder 1/1, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Miscellaneous political materials: pamphlets, newsletters, bulletins, clippings, notesDates: 1955-1995Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Miscellaneous government pamphlets, newspaper, mapContainer: Box/Folder 1/3, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Bill and Cecilia: miscellaneous professional, academic, and personal papers; miscellaneous photosContainer: Box/Folder 1/4, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Cecilia - original drawings and writingsContainer: Box/Folder 1/5, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Cecilia - political correspondenceContainer: Box/Folder 1/6, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Washington Committee for Protection of the Foreign BornContainer: Box/Folder 1/7, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Washington State Council of American-Soviet FriendshipContainer: Box/Folder 1/8, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: National Council of American-Soviet FriendshipContainer: Box/Folder 1/9, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Peace activism materialsContainer: Box/Folder 1/10, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Seattle Peace Information CenterContainer: Box/Folder 1/11, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)Container: Box/Folder 1/12, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Citizen's TrainContainer: Box/Folder 1/13, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Cypress Island - clippingsContainer: Box/Folder 1/14, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Environmental issues - Washington state - miscellaneousContainer: Box/Folder 1/15, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Nature conservancy - Washington chapterContainer: Box/Folder 1/16, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Personal correspondenceContainer: Box/Folder 1/17, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Environmental issues - national - miscellaneousContainer: Box/Folder 1/18, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Environmentalists for Truth in PoliticsContainer: Box/Folder 1/19, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Save Cypress Island CommitteeContainer: Box/Folder 1/20, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Save Cypress Island Committee - re: Island of AmericaContainer: Box/Folder 1/21, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Puget Sound Council of Senior CitizensContainer: Box/Folder 1/22, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Washington Pension UnionContainer: Box/Folder 1/23, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Miscellaneous pamphlets and printed material - unsortedContainer: Box/Folder 1/24-28, Accession 5501-001
-
Description: Miscellaneous pamphlets and printed material - unsortedDates: 1939-1984Container: Box 2, Accession 5501-001
-
-
Accession No. 5501-002: William and Cecilia Corr papers, 1906-2006 (bulk 1930-1979)
4.09 cubic feet (4 boxes, one oversize folder and one vertical file)Arrangement: Rough sort.
Scope and Content: Artwork, periodicals, clippings, correspondence, ephemera, notebooks, photographs, subject files and writings. Writings include manuscripts by Bill Corr, only some of which are titled. This accession also contains subject files on the periodical Northwest Passage, and the organization Venceremos Brigade.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Acquisition Info: John Corr, August-September 2008
-
Description: Artwork – artist not identifiedContainer: Box/Folder 1/1, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Artwork – Corr, AndersDates: 1992Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Artwork – Corr, CeciliaContainer: Box/Folder 1/3, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Artwork – Corr, CeciliaContainer: Box/Folder 1/4, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Artwork – Corr, Cecilia (art class)Dates: 1959Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Artwork – Corr, Cecilia (sketchbook)Container: Box/Folder 1/6, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Artwork – Corr, Cecilia (reproductions)Container: Box/Folder 1/7, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Artwork – Corr, MichaelDates: 1967; 1973Container: Box/Folder 1/8, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Artwork – Corr, Michael (reproductions)Dates: circa 1970sContainer: Box/Folder 1/9, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Artwork: Drawing and print by Michael CorrContainer: Folder:oversize Folder, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Artwork – Corr, PeterContainer: Box/Folder 1/10, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Biographical information – Cecilia CorrContainer: Box/Folder 1/11, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Book – And It Shall Come to Pass by “Dr. Bob” R. J. GallagherContainer: Box/Folder 1/12, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Booklet – NutritionContainer: Box/Folder 1/13, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Program – Wedding – Frank H. Brodine & Sigrid S. TingstromContainer: Box/Folder 1/14, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Catalogue – L’Estampe ModerneDates: 1919Container: Box/Folder 1/15, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: ClippingsDates: 1930s – 1980sContainer: Box/Folder 1/16, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Condolences – Deaths of Cecilia Corr, Peter CorrContainer: Box/Folder 1/17, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: CorrespondenceContainer: Box/Folder 1/18, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: CorrespondenceContainer: Box/Folder 1/19, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – B., AnnDates: circa 1960sContainer: Box/Folder 1/20, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – Brodine, Virginia and RussellDates: 1951Container: Box/Folder 1 /21 , Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – Chase, Waldo S. & Norbert K. GarbstasContainer: Box/Folder 1/22, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – Corr, Billy and PeterContainer: Box/Folder 1/23, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – Corr, CeciliaContainer: Box/Folder 1/24, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – Corr, JohnContainer: Box/Folder 1/25, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – Corr, Mary & Dorothy (Bill’s mother and sister)Dates: 1950s, 1960sContainer: Box/Folder 1/26, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – Corr, MichaelContainer: Box/Folder 1/27, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – Corr, MichaelContainer: Box/Folder 1/28, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence –Howe, Marion and HarryDates: circa 1950sContainer: Box/Folder 1/29, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – Tess, David Satermo, Frank, Zeo, M.T.H.Dates: 1947-1977Container: Box/Folder 1/30, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Correspondence – PrisonersDates: 1969-1975Container: Box/Folder 1/31, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: EphemeraContainer: Box/Folder 2/1, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: EphemeraContainer: Box/Folder 2/2, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: EphemeraContainer: Box/Folder 2/3, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Exhibition Announcements – Corr, Cecilia and MichaelContainer: Box/Folder 2/4, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Essay – " Economic Collectives as a Basis for Political Organizing"Container: Box/Folder 2/5, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Invoices – Contracting businessDates: 1960-1963Container: Box/Folder 2/6, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Membership list – Artist Equity AssociationDates: 1976-1977Container: Box/Folder 2/7, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Memorial – Bill CorrDates: 1984Container: Box/Folder 2/8, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Memorial Programs – Family members and friendsContainer: Box/Folder 2/9, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: MiscellaneousContainer: Box/Folder 2/10, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: MiscellaneousContainer: Box/Folder 2/11, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebooks – William Corr, Cecilia CorrDates: 1965-1977Container: Box/Folder 2/12, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: NotesContainer: Box/Folder 2/13, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OhioDates: 1958Container: Box/Folder 2/14, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – L’Art Decoratif. Nos. 159, 202Dates: 1911; 1914Container: Box/Folder 2/15, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – Friends of the Earth, Not Man ApartDates: 1974, 1976, 1979Container: Box/Folder 2/16, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – The Mentor. Vol. 2 no. 9Dates: 1914Container: Box/Folder 2/17, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – New StatesmanDates: 1975Container: Box/Folder 2/18, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – News from Cuba. Nos. 21-23Container: Box/Folder 2/19, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – Northwest Passage – issues covering Bill & Cecilia CorrDates: 1973-1974Container: Box/Folder 2/20, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – Northwest PassageDates: 1976Container: Box/Folder 2/21, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – Pacific Discovery. Vol. 11 no. 1Dates: 1968Container: Box/Folder 2/22, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – Plainswoman – Story by Virginia BrodineDates: 1989Container: Box/Folder 2/23, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodical – Soviet LiteratureDates: 1970Container: Box/Folder 2/24, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Periodicals – MiscellaneousContainer: Box/Folder 2/25, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Photographs – Cecilia CorrContainer: Box/Folder 2/26, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: PhotographsContainer: Box/Folder 2/27, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: PhotographsContainer: Box/Folder 2/28, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: PhotographsContainer: Box/Folder 2/29, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: PhotographsContainer: Box/Folder 2/30, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: PhotographsContainer: Box/Folder 2/31, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Photographs and negativesContainer: Box/Folder 2/32, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Photographs, postcards, association card – IrelandContainer: Box/Folder 2/33, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Print and photographs
Scope and Content: Art print by Michael Corr; photographs of Peter and Cecilia Corr.
Container: VF:oversize Vertical file, Accession 5501-002 -
Description: Northwest Passage subject fileDates: 1960sContainer: Box/Folder 3/1, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Venceremos BrigadeDates: circa 1970s – 1980sContainer: Box/Folder 3/2, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Venceremos BrigadeDates: circa 1970s – 1980sContainer: Box/Folder 3/3, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Venceremos BrigadeDates: circa 1970s – 1980sContainer: Box/Folder 3/4, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Venceremos BrigadeDates: 1973 – 1983Container: Box/Folder 3/5, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Venceremos BrigadeDates: 1976 – 1986Container: Box/Folder 3/6, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Venceremos BrigadeDates: 1978 – 1986Container: Box/Folder 3/7, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Venceremos BrigadeDates: 1980Container: Box/Folder 3/8, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Venceremos BrigadeDates: circa 1980sContainer: Box/Folder 3/9, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 1 – Part 1Dates: 1906-1958Container: Box/Folder 3/10, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 1 – Part 2Dates: 1956-1971Container: Box/Folder 3/11, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 2 – Part 1Dates: 1972Container: Box/Folder 3/12, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 2 – Part 2Dates: 1972Container: Box/Folder 3/13, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 3Dates: 1974-1975Container: Box/Folder 3/14, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 4 – Part 1Dates: 1975-1976Container: Box/Folder 3/15, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 4 – Part 2Dates: 1975-1976Container: Box/Folder 3/16, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 5 – Part 1Dates: 1936-1981Container: Box/Folder 3/17, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 5 – Part 2Dates: 1936-1981Container: Box/Folder 3/18, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 6Dates: 1972-1975Container: Box/Folder 4/1, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 7 – Part 1Dates: 1968-1974 ; 1974Container: Box/Folder 4/2, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 7 – Part 2Dates: 1968-1974; 1974Container: Box/Folder 4/3, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 7 – Part 3Dates: 1968-1974; 1974Container: Box/Folder 4/4, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 8 – Part 1Dates: 1973Container: Box/Folder 4/5, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Notebook 8 – Part 2Dates: 1973Container: Box/Folder 4/6, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Apple PolisherDates: 1958Container: Box/Folder 4/7, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Bad NewsDates: 1956Container: Box/Folder 4/8, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Bear Hunt – LaurenceContainer: Box/Folder 4/9, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – BenitoContainer: Box/Folder 4/10, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – BoomerContainer: Box/Folder 4/11, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – The BoyContainer: Box/Folder 4/12, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Bull FightDates: 1957Container: Box/Folder 4/13, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – DoseDates: 1957Container: Box/Folder 4/14, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – CraftsmenContainer: Box/Folder 4/15, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – EdisonDates: 1955Container: Box/Folder 4/16, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Hattne Story / The BoyContainer: Box/Folder 4/17, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Love Story / Kick at ParoleContainer: Box/Folder 4/18, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Loving BrothersContainer: Box/Folder 4/19, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – MondayDates: 1932, undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4/20, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – NiggardContainer: Box/Folder 4/21, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Night of YouthContainer: Box/Folder 4/22, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Promotion / Bush HotelDates: 1956, 1957Container: Box/Folder 4/23, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Real Bird KennardDates: circa 1969Container: Box/Folder 4/24, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Ruck SaintContainer: Box/Folder 4/25, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – SpotterContainer: Box/Folder 4/26, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Spring StoryContainer: Box/Folder 4/27, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – The Star BoarderContainer: Box/Folder 4/28, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – The Tidy LookContainer: Box/Folder 4/29, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – The WallDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4/30, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – The WellContainer: Box/Folder 4/31, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – White BullContainer: Box/Folder 4/32, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Widow / Other storiesDates: 1955Container: Box/Folder 4/33, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Wild OatsContainer: Box/Folder 4/34, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Windfall BuckerContainer: Box/Folder 4/35, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – Work SimpleContainer: Box/Folder 4/36, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – UntitledContainer: Box/Folder 4/37, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings – UntitledContainer: Box/Folder 4/38, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: WritingsDates: 1943-1949Container: Box/Folder 4/39, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: WritingsContainer: Box/Folder 4/40, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: WritingsContainer: Box/Folder 4/41, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings - miscellaneousContainer: Box/Folder 4/42, Accession 5501-002
-
Description: Writings - miscellaneousContainer: Box/Folder 4/43, Accession 5501-002
-
-
Accession No. 5501-003: William and Cecilia Corr papers, 1970-1975
0.21 cubic feet (1 box)Arrangement: Arranged as received.
Scope and Content: Correspondence, ephemera, and photocopied maps pertaining to the Save Cypress Island Committee that Bill Corr and others were involved in.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Acquisition Info: Rick Rice, March 2009
-
Description: Directory - Environmental leadersContainer: Box 1/1, Accession 5501-003
-
Description: Documents - Department of Natural Resources and the Nature ConservancyContainer: Box 1/2, Accession 5501-003
-
Description: Cypress - 1974Container: Box 1/3, Accession 5501-003
-
-
Accession No. 5501-004: William and Cecilia Corr papers, 1970-2002
.23 cubic feet (1 box)Scope and Content: News clippings, manuscripts, a sketchbook, loose sketches, correspondence, and miscellaneous ephemera.
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
Acquisition Info: Donor: John Corr, 2017-09-08
-
Description: Letters from Cecilia Corr to John CorrDates: circa 1996-2001Container: Box/Folder 1/1, Accession 5501-004
-
Description: Sketches and copies of sketches by Cecilia CorrDates: circa 1977-2003Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Accession 5501-004
-
Description: Sketchpad with sketches belonging to Cecilia CorrDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 1/3, Accession 5501-004
-
Description: Event flier, poem by Cecilia Corr, news clipping about Cypress Island, and living will directive to physicians for Cecilia CorrDates: circa 1979-2004Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Accession 5501-004
-
Description: Letter from John Corr to William and Cecilia CorrDates: 1970Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Accession 5501-004
-
Description: News clippings authored by William CorrDates: circa 1970s-1980sContainer: Box/Folder 1/6, Accession 5501-004
-
Description: Manuscript articles by William CorrDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 1/7, Accession 5501-004
-
Description: Letter from John Corr to Gary [last name not given], regarding his parents William and Cecilia CorrDates: 2003Container: Box/Folder 1/8, Accession 5501-004
-
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
Personal Names
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
Corporate Names
