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Vietnam War era ephemera collection, 1965-1980

Overview of the Collection

Compiler
University of Washington. Libraries. Special CollectionsDivision
Title
Vietnam War era ephemera collection
Dates
1965-1980 (inclusive)
1970-1973 (bulk)
Quantity
6.94 cubic feet (13 boxes plus 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
6209 (Accession No. 6209-001)
Summary
Printed ephemera created by various Seattle-area and University of Washington manifestations of American civil rights and protest movements of the late 1960's and 1970's
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

No restrictions on access.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Historical Background

In 1960 a small group of young people formed Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and adopted The Port Huron Statement, written by student leader Tom Hayden. The manifesto urged participatory democracy, or the idea that all Americans, not just a small elite, should decide major economic, political, and social issues that shaped the nation. It also criticized American society for its focus on career advancement, material possessions, military strength, and racism. By 1968 some 100,000 young people around the nation had joined SDS.

Student protesters denounced corporate bureaucracy and campus administrators. Universities and colleges, they believed, were dictatorial and exercised too much control over students. Students held rallies and sit-ins to protest restrictions of their rights. In 1964, a coalition of student groups at the University of California, Berkeley, claimed the right to conduct political activities on campus; the coalition became known as the Free Speech Movement. Political activism and protests spread to other campuses in the 1960s.

The youth movement's demonstrations soon merged with the protests of students who opposed the Vietnam War. By the spring of 1968, student protests had reached hundreds of campuses. At the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, antiwar demonstrators clashed with the police, and the images of police beating students shocked television audiences. Violence peaked at an antiwar protest at Ohio's Kent State University in May 1970, when National Guard troops gunned down four student protesters.

The political activities of the youth movement had enduring effects. Colleges became less authoritarian, ending dress codes and curfews and recruiting more minority students. Students also contributed mightily to the movement against the war in Vietnam. Both the counterculture and student activism, finally, fueled a backlash that blossomed in the 1970s and 1980s. The civil rights movement, the women's movement, the youth movement, and the environmental movement changed people's lives. They also created a climate of rebellion, confrontation, and upheaval.

Source: "United States (History)," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2004 http://encarta.msn.com

The chaotic events of the 60's, including war and social change, seemed destined to continue in the 70's. Major trends included a growing disillusionment of government, advances in civil rights, increased influence of the women's movement, a heightened concern for the environment, and increased space exploration. Many of the "radical" ideas of the 60's gained wider acceptance in the new decade, and were mainstreamed into American life and culture. Amid war, social realignment and presidential impeachment proceedings, American culture flourished. Indeed, the events of the times were reflected in and became the inspiration for much of the music, literature, entertainment, and even fashion of the decade.

Source: Kingwood College Library. American Cultural History 1970-1979 http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade70.html

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Content Description

Collection of printed ephemera including pamphlets, posters, manifestos, newsletters, booklets, and open letters created by the various Seattle-area and University of Washington manifestations of American civil rights and protest movements of the late 1960's and 1970's. The material centers mainly around the Vietnam War, but includes much about feminism, racism, socialism, labor unions and the rights of farm workers, gay rights, environmental and economic boycotts of large corporations and agro-industry, prisoners' rights, and the Iranian revolution of 1979. Documents include the publications of groups such as the Seattle Liberation Front, the UW chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, the Student Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam, WashPIRG, Young Socialist Alliance, UW Staff Rights Organizing Committee, Seattle Gay Liberation Front, Students Against Violent Expression, United Workers Union, and the Northwest Nihilist League.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from this collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in 19 series.

  • Series 1, UW Specific Groups
  • Series 2, UW Strike - SROC & Non-War UW Staff
  • Series 3, National & Local Protest Groups
  • Series 4, Social & Labor
  • Series 5, Local Hippies - U Dist Movement Weird/Mysticism/Drugs/Music
  • Series 6, Local Protests
  • Series 7, Local Non Protests
  • Series 8, International & National Protests
  • Series 9, Christian & Jesus Freedom
  • Series 10, Nazi, John Birch
  • Series 11, Peace, anti-war, Duncan Sanders and Vietnam
  • Series 12, Duncan Sanders {AFSC + Personal Desk}
  • Series 13, Duncan Sanders {War Machine, Political}
  • Series 14, Newspapers & Publications
  • Series 15, Newspapers - Seattle Times, P.I., The UW Daily, Leviathan, Montlake Dump, Northwest Passage
  • Series 16, Protest Posters and flyers
  • Series 17, Radical Education Project Publications; Newsletters, Pamphlets, Etc.
  • Series 18, Liberation News Service Newsletters
  • Series 19, Students for a Democratic Society: New Left Notes Newspapers

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Black power--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Boycotts--United States
  • Civil disobedience--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Civil rights movements--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Employee rights--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Feminism--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Gay liberation movement--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Kent State Shootings, Kent, Ohio, 1970
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Prisoners--Civil rights--United States
  • Pro-choice movement--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Student movements--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Literary collections
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Press coverage
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements--United States
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion

Corporate Names

  • American Servicemen's Union
  • Black Panther Party
  • Seattle Gay Liberation Front
  • Seattle Liberation Front
  • Washington (State). Higher Education Personnel Board

Geographical Names

  • Iran--History--Revolution, 1979
  • University District (Seattle, Wash.)

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • American Servicemen's Union (creator)
    • Northwest Nihilist League (creator)
    • Seattle Gay Liberation Front (creator)
    • Seattle Liberation Front (creator)
    • Student Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (creator)
    • Students Against Violent Expression (creator)
    • Students for a Democratic Society (U.S.). University of Washington Chapter (creator)
    • United Farm Workers (creator)
    • United Workers Union (creator)
    • University of Washington. Staff Rights Organizing Committee (creator)
    • Washington Public Interest Research Group (creator)
    • Young Socialist Alliance (U.S (creator)


2018 (Last modified: 1/31/2020)

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