Mary Farquharson Papers - Archives West

Overview of the Collection

Creator

Farquharson, Mary U.

Title

Mary Farquharson Papers

Dates

1931-1981 (inclusive)

Quantity

2.5 cubic ft.

Collection Number

0397

Summary

Washington State senator and liberal activist who aided incarcerated Japanese Americans during World War II.

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.

Request at UW

Languages

English

Sponsor

Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Biographical Note

Mary Farquharson was an activist for liberal and Christian causes who served as a Washington State senator from 1935 to 1941. She was born in 1901 or 1902 and died in 1982. During World War II, Farquharson was deeply committed to working to aid Japanese Americans who had been incarcerated. She was instrumental in advancing the case of Gordon Hirabayashi, a Japanese American who refused internment, to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Content Description

Farquharson's papers are organized into several accessions. Accession no. 397-5 dates primarily from 1942 to 1945 and documents activities of Caucasian Americans who did not agree with the federal relocation policy (groups such as the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Pacific Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play). It includes several lengthy letters from Japanese American inmates, as well as clippings, ephemera, committee memoranda, newsletters, and miscellaneous writings of protest. It also contains subject series on two individuals, Gordon K. Hirabayashi and Mitsuo Paul Suzuki.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from this collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Some restrictions exist on duplication, quotation, or publication. Contact the repository for details.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into 4 accessions.

Accession No. 0397-001, Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1933-1957
Accession No. 0397-004, Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1875-1982
Accession No. 0397-005, Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945
Accession No. 0397-006, Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1933-1941

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Description: Accession No. 0397-001: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1933-1957
1.47 cu. ft. (ca. 2000 items)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, case files, ca. 1933-1957; and a tape-recorded interview, conducted by Albert Acena, April 24, 1975. Tape includes Mrs. Farquharson's involvement in politics as a state senator, 1935-1942; the Commonwealth Builders, 1934-1935; with the Socialist party, 1933-1934; the Fellowship of Reconciliation from early thirties to present; Democratic Party, 1934-1946.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Processing Info: Merger of accessions 0397-001, 0397-002 and 0397-003.

Acquisition Info: Mrs. Farquharson, Seattle
Description: Accession No. 0397-004: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1875-1982
9.59 cu. ft.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, notes, writings, speeches, publication, clippings, scrapbook of clippings, ephemera, photographs, 1875-1982 (1931-1981).

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Chester Kingsbury
Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945

.21 cu. ft.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, writings, newsletters, clippings, ephemera, 1937-1964 (bulk 1942-1945). This accession documents activities of Caucasian Americans who did not agree with the policy of evacuating the Japanese Americans to relocation camps during World War II, and who worked in aid of the evacuees. Incoming correspondence includes long letters from Japanese Americans in the camps.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Chester Kingsbury
- Personal Papers
  - Description: Incoming Letters
    
    Dates: 1942-1945
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/1, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Personal Papers
  - Description: Outgoing Letters
    
    Dates: 1937-1945
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Personal Papers
  - Writings
    - Description: "The Truth About Pearl Harbor," by John T. Flynn
      
      Dates: 1944
      
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3, Accession 0397-005
      
      Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Personal Papers / Writings
    - Description: "The Japs Must Not Come Back!" by Lambert Schuyler
      
      Dates: 1944
      
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3, Accession 0397-005
      
      Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Personal Papers / Writings
    - Description: "Christmas at Heart Mountain, Wyoming, Relocation Center," by Floyd Schmoe
      
      Dates: n.d.
      
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3, Accession 0397-005
      
      Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Personal Papers / Writings
  - Description: Newsletters
    
    Dates: 1942, 1945
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Personal Papers
  - Description: Legal Brief for Japanese American Citizens League, Amicus Curiae (Regan vs King)
    
    Dates: 1943
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/5, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Personal Papers
  - Description: Ephemera
    
    Dates: 1943
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/6, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Personal Papers
  - Description: Clippings
    
    Dates: 1942-1945
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/7, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Personal Papers
  - Description: Subject Series -- Hirabayashi, Gordon K.
    
    Dates: 1943-1964
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/8, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Personal Papers
- Fellowship of Reconciliation
  - Description: Incoming Letters
    
    Dates: 1942-1943
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/9, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Fellowship of Reconciliation
  - Description: Outgoing Letters
    
    Dates: 1943
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/10, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Fellowship of Reconciliation
- Pacific Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play
  - Description: Incoming Letters
    
    Dates: 1943
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/11, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Pacific Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play
  - Description: Outgoing Letters
    
    Dates: 1943
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/12, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Pacific Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play
  - Description: Memorandum
    
    Dates: n.d.
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/13, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Pacific Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play
  - Description: Subject Series -- Suzuki, Mitsuo Paul
    
    Dates: 1943-1944
    
    Container: Box/Folder 1/14, Accession 0397-005
    
    Location: Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945 / Pacific Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play
Description: Accession No. 0397-006: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1933-1941
.33 cu. ft. (1 box)

Scope and Content: Scrapbook of clippings, ephemera, programs from her campaign for State Legislature and her community activism; ca 1933-1941.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Bibliographic Source: Frederick Farquharson papers

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Japanese Americans--Civil rights
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
Japanese Americans--Washington (State)
Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
World War, 1939-1945--Japanese Americans

Personal Names

Farquharson, Mary U.--Archives
Hirabayashi, Gordon K
Suzuki, Mitsuo Paul

Corporate Names

Fellowship of Reconciliation (U.S.)
Pacific Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play

Geographical Names

Washington (State)--Race relations

Mary Farquharson Papers, 1931-1981

Table of Contents

Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Content Description

Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Restrictions on Use

Administrative Information

Arrangement

Detailed Description of the Collection

Accession No. 0397-005: Mary U. Farquharson papers, 1942-1945

Personal Papers

Writings

Fellowship of Reconciliation

Pacific Coast Committee on American Principles and Fair Play

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Personal Names

Corporate Names

Geographical Names