Allen Library BOX 352900 Seattle, Washington 98195-2900 Business Number: 206-543-1929 speccoll@uw.edu http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcollections/

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-03-05. Description is written in: Undetermined, Code for undetermined script script. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries Jim Douglas papers Douglas, Jim 1946-2017 5906 3.32 cubic feet 5 boxes approximately 1973-1991 1983-1989 Documents the work of Jim Douglas, attorney at law, and affiliated organizations Collection materials are in English.

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.

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.

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

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

Jim Douglas, 2015.

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.

6 videocassettes (VHS)

Forms part of the Labor Archives of Washington.

Wikidata is available for this collection

Douglas, Jim, 1946-2017--Archives Domingo, Silme, -1981 Viernes, Gene, -1981 Marcos, Ferdinand E. (Ferdinand Edralin), 1917-1989 Real Change (Organization)--Officials and employees Douglas Drachler McKee and Gilbrough--Officials and employees Seattle Labor Chorus Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington) International courts Social security--Law and legislation Labor History Labor Unions Civil Procedure and Courts Trial and arbitral proceedings Records (Documents) Business correspondence Interviews Depositions Papers 1973-1990 Line of March (LOM) Related Records approximately 1983-1990 5906-001 Box 1 Reports and Correspondence approximately 1983-1990 5906-001 Box 1 Forums and Discussions Related to Seattle LOM approximately 1983-1990 5906-001 Box 1 Frontline related materials approximately 1983-1990 5906-001 Box 1 Forums and Discussions Related to Seattle LOM approximately 1973-1991 5906-001 Box 2 Frontline related Materials approximately 1973-1991 5906-001 Box 2 Committee for Justice for Domingo Viernes (CJDV) Records approximately 1973-1991 5906-001 Box 2 Domingo v. Marcos records approximately 1973-1991 5906-001 Box 2 CJDV Records approximately 1981-1986 5906-001 Box 3 Domingo v. Marcos Records approximately 1981-1986 5906-001 Box 3 Nicaragua - Brigade 1984-1985 5906-001 Box 4 Miskitos approximately 1984 5906-001 Box 4 Nicaragua Election Resources and Originals 1983-1985 5906-001 Box 4 Photograph: James Douglas Speaking to Attendees at Unidentified Event approximately 1980-1991 5906-001 Box 4 Nicaragua Elections approximately 1984 5906-001 Box 5 Documents relating to U.S. Policies and Actions in Grenada approximately 1984 5906-001 Box 5 Deposition under Oral Examination of Manuel Torres March 14, 1983 5906-001 Box 5 Documents relating to U.S. Policy in Central America--The U.S. Position 5906-001 Box 5 Documents relating to U.S. Policies and Actions in El Salvador 5906-001 Box 5 Documents relating to U.S. Policies and Actions in Nicaragua 5906-001 Box 5 Attorney Letters 5906-001 Box 5 Lawyer-Program-Wits 5906-001 Box 5 Tribunal approximately 1985 5906-001 Box 5 Tribunal 1985 5906-001 Box 5 Post-Tribunal 5906-001 Box 5 Video Tapes 1984-1985 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