Historical Note

Scope and Content

Restrictions on Access

Restrictions on Use

Inventory

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, circa 1955-1975 (Accession No. 1177-001)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington court cases, 1967-1971 (Accession No. 1177-005)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1955-1974 (Accession No. 1177-009)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington case files, before 1976 (Accession No. 1177-010)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, before 1976 (Accession No. 1177-011)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, before 1977 (Accession No. 1177-012)

American Civil Liberties Union records, 1942-1945 (Accession No. 1177-013)

American Civil Liberties Union records, circa 1917-1940 (Accession No. 1177-014)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington correspondence, 1975-1978 (Accession No. 1177-017)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1964-1978 (Bulk: 1975-1978) (Accession No. 1177-018)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1972-1979 (Accession No. 1177-019)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1966-1982 (Accession No. 1177-020)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1966-1982 (Accession No. 1177-021)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1972-1982 (Accession No. 1177-022)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington legislative files, 1980-1982 (Accession No. 1177-023)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, circa 1960-1987 (Accession No. 1177-024)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington case files, circa 1960-1969 (Accession No. 1177-025)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1971-1988 (Accession No. 1177-026)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1962-1983 (Accession No. 1177-027)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1977-1981 (Accession No. 1177-028)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, circa 1960-1969 (Accession No. 1177-029)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1979-1992 (Accession No. 1177-031)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington case files, 1985-1993 (Accession No. 1177-032)

American Civil Liberties Union of Washington case files, circa 1994-1996 (Accession No. 1177-033)

Subject Terms


Preliminary Guide to the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Records
circa 1942-1996



Manuscript Collection No.: 1177
Creator: American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, creator
Title: American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records
Date Span: circa 1942-1996
Quantity: 136.66 cubic feet (including 13 microfilm reels and 1 videocassette) plus 62 cartons and 2 rolled posters
Languages: Collection materials are in English.




Historical Note

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is an organization dedicated to the protection of constitutional rights and liberties in the United States. It was founded in 1920 by a group of civil libertarians. The ACLU operates by providing legal counsel in cases involving civil liberties. It has been active in cases relating to academic freedom, separation of church and state, the right to privacy, due process of law, freedom of speech, other freedoms guaranteed in the process of law. Established in 1935 as Seattle ACLU, becoming Washington state chapter in Seattle, Washington, in the 1960s.

Dr. Gottfried was a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington ACLU.

The ACLU national office handled many Japanese-American Evacuation cases, 1942-1945.

Coalition on Government Spying, project of the ACLU, National Lawyers Guild and the American Friends Service Committee. The Coalition requested FBI and other investigatory files under the Freedom of Information Act to determine the extent and nature of such investigations of the Seattle media (especially the Seattle Sun) and Seattle Chicano leaders. In fall 1979 the coalition won a suit against the Seattle Police Department to obtain Seattle police intelligence files. It campaigned successfully for a Seattle ordinance to regulate the collection, use, and dissemination of police intelligence records; this was enacted by the City Council, 7.2.79 and was the first in the nation. From April 1981 to July 1981 the Coalition, with part-time staff, monitored implementation of the law. ACLU has retained most important files relating to the coalition.

Scope and Content

Consult the scope and content information for each of the accessions listed below.

Restrictions on Access

Consult the access restrictions information for each of the accessions listed below.

Restrictions on Use

Consult the restrictions governing reproduction and use for each of the accessions listed below.


Inventory

 
Accession No. 1177-001
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, circa 1955-1975
62 cartons
Scope and Content
Correspondence, reports, minutes, committee files, ephemera, subject files.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 6/20/1969.
Other Finding Aids
Inventory/container list available in Special Collections.

 
Accession No. 1177-005
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington court cases, 1967-1971
10.69 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Court cases.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 2/1/1974.

 
Accession No. 1177-009
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1955-1974
4.00 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Reports, ephemera, general subject files of (possible subgroup) Dr. Alex Gottfried.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.

 
Accession No. 1177-010
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington case files, before 1976
11.00 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Case files.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Transferred from ACLU 12/4/75 as per archival agreement.

 
Accession No. 1177-011
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, before 1976
.17 cubic foot
Scope and Content
Reports, ephemera, minutes, correspondence.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by Dr. Alex Gottfried, 1/22/1976.

 
Accession No. 1177-012
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, before 1977
.17 cubic foot
Scope and Content
ACLU publications, reports, ephemera.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by Dr. Alex Gottfried, 5/1/1976.

 
Accession No. 1177-013
American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union records, 1942-1945
.37 cubic foot (including 3 microfilm 3 reels, pos.)
Scope and Content
Records of the national office regarding Japanese-American evacuation cases.
Restrictions on Access
Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by Princeton University Library, 3/14/1977.

 
Accession No. 1177-014
American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union records, circa 1917-1940
1.25 cubic feet (including 10 microfilm reels, pos.)
Scope and Content
Records of the national office regarding cases in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
Restrictions on Access
Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU Archives, 1967.

 
Accession No. 1177-017
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington correspondence, 1975-1978
.14 cubic foot
Scope and Content
Correspondence.
Accession concerns prisoners' rights and includes some prisoners correspondence.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU of WA, 8/26/1980.

 
Accession No. 1177-018
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1964-1978 (Bulk: 1975-1978)
4.00 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Organizational features, general correspondence, questionnaires, subject, committee and case files.
The questionnaire concerning Title IX (promoting equal treatment of the sexes in the schools) is a survey of 90 Washington schools assessing the progress of compliance. A computer printout is included, as well as documentation including school handbooks, class schedules, etc.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU of WA, 7/1/1981.

 
Accession No. 1177-019
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1972-1979
.14 cubic foot plus 2 rolled posters
Scope and Content
Case files, correspondence, subject files, 2 posters.
The posters are a large transparent plastic map of Seattle public schools attendance boundaries 1976-1977, and an undated poster advertising a Draft information picnic and benefit.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU of WA, 1/21/1982.

 
Accession No. 1177-020
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1966-1982
12.00 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Correspondence, minutes, case files, court papers, etc. Case files are segregated in boxes 11-15
Records cover the subjects of alleged police brutality, desegregation in the schools and civil rights of the elderly. The Jim Smith marijuana case of 1976-1977 was a search-and-seizure incident. The final subgroup (ACLU. National Development Council. Steering Committee) is not the Washington State ACLU, but is the national body. David Harrison was a participant in this group.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 1/20/1983.

 
Accession No. 1177-021
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1966-1982
8.00 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Correspondence, minutes, case files, court papers, other related files. Case files are segregated in boxes 3 and 4
This accession continues records of many committees which were in previous accessions. Two large case files are the Sarruf mandatory retirement case and the Odell Bennett case. Bennett, a federal prisoner, requested his records under the Freedom of Information Act. When he had still not received them a year later, he sued. FBI files on local news media were requested by the ACLU-W under the Freedom of Information Act.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collection.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU WA, 6/12/1984.

 
Accession No. 1177-022
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1972-1982
2.00 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Correspondence, fundraising conferences and conventions, lists, subject series.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 2/23/1987.

 
Accession No. 1177-023
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington legislative files, 1980-1982
1.55 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Legislative files.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 2/1/1988.

 
Accession No. 1177-024
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, circa 1960-1987
3.11 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Correspondence, mailings, planning files, committee files, conferences and conventions, other record series; three 16mm films, early 1960s.
Accession includes Censorship Workshop files, separation of Church and State material, "Block Bork" material opposing the appointment of Judge Robert Bork to the Supreme Court. The 16mm movie film "Operation Abolition" is about the spread of Communism; ACLU fought its distribution to the public schools in the early 1960s. "Operation Correction" is a film produced by the ACLU to counter distortions in "Operation Abolition". The third film is untitled.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 5/9/1989.

 
Accession No. 1177-025
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington case files, circa 1960-1969
5.33 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Case files from the 1960s.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 7/11/1989.

 
Accession No. 1177-026
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1971-1988
12.28 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Board minutes, 1980-1982; correspondence, case files, subject series, committee files.
Among the subject series is a large series about paramilitary activities, including documentation of White Supremist groups. Another large subject series regards strip search of prisoners.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 12/7/1989.

 
Accession No. 1177-027
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1962-1983
4.83 cubic feet
Scope and Content
Correspondence, investigatory files, legislation, litigation, subject series.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 9/1/1983.

 
Accession No. 1177-028
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1977-1981
3.00cubic feet
Scope and Content
Correspondence, legislation, litigation, reports, and related material.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 2/1/1988.

 
Accession No. 1177-029
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, circa 1960-1969
10.00 cubic feet (10 boxes)
Scope and Content
Case files, printed briefs for cases in Washington and elsewhere.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU, 12/8/1993.

 
Accession No. 1177-031
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington records, 1979-1992
13.00 cubic feet (13 boxes)
Scope and Content
Legal case work files, correspondence, Legal Committee minutes and agenda, seminar booklets, clippings.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions on Use
Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU of Washington, 12/8/1997.

 
Accession No. 1177-032
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington case files, 1985-1993
14.63 cubic feet (16 boxes including 1 VHS videocassette)
Scope and Content
Case files.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Acquisition Info
Donated by ACLU of Washington, 10/20/1999.

 
Accession No. 1177-033
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington case files, circa 1994-1996
15.00 cubic feet (15 boxes)
Scope and Content
Files of legal cases to which the ACLU-Washington was a party.
Restrictions on Access
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Acquisition Info
Donated by Sonny Giron, 5/12/2000.

Subject Terms

Personal Names:
Barnett, Arthur G., 1907-, creator.
Becker, Rayfield.
Bennett, Odell.
Bork, Robert H.
Branmin, Carl., creator.
Chavelle, Cornelius.
Clark, Irving M., 1883-1960, creator.
Dixon, Aaron Floyd.
Duncan, Robert Gordon.
Dwyer, William L.
Endo, Mitsuye.
Farquharson, Mary U., creator.
Glaser, Leon.
Goldmark, John.
Goodman, Irvin, creator.
Gottfried, Alex.
Hampton, Julya, creator.
Harrison, David S., creator.
Henry, Ed, creator.
Hirabayashi, Gordon K.
Kizer, Benjamin H. (Benjamin Hamilton), 1878-1978, creator.
Koramatsu, Fred.
Litchman, Mark M., 1887-1960, creator.
McWilliams, Carey, creator.
Neuberger, Richard L. (Richard Lewis), 1912-1960, creator.
Okamoto, Kiyoshi.
Parker-Bennet, Adele, creator.
Parson, Tom, creator.
Sarruf, Alexander.
Selden, Lauren, creator.
Smith, Elmer.
Smith, James Henry--Trials, litigation, etc.
Strong, Sydney, 1860-1938, creator.
Sweetland, Monroe, creator.
Taylor, Kathleen, creator.
U'Ren, William S., creator.
Vanderveer, George F., creator.
Wakayama, Toko.
Yasui, Minoru.
Organizations:
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington--Archives.
American Union Against Militarism, creator.
Industrial Workers of the World.
It's About Time--Trials, litigation, etc., creator.
Seattle (Wash.). Police Dept.--Trials, litigation, etc., creator.
Socialist Party (U.S.)
United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation, creator.
Subjects:
Centralia Massacre, Centralia, Wash., 1919.
Civil rights--Cases.
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945.
Last modified: November 15, 2007
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