Resources for Mid-20th Century San Francisco Protests and Social Movements

Twice a year, one of the archivists here in the San Francisco History Center, travels across town to visit the undergraduate history classes at San Francisco State University (SFSU). The goal is to share primary resources available in the San Francisco Public Library and connect the students with these materials for their research papers. The opportunity gives the archivists an inside-view of what young historians are interested in and want to research more about - specifically with San Francisco and California history. Every semester, approximately 30% of the research topics relate to social movements and protests. Based on popularity, below is a curated version of archival collections, ephemera files and books to start the investigative process in selected social movements that occurred in mid-20th century San Francisco. Yes, you may find most of these resources in our online catalog but there's also a few pro-tips added to guide the research!

Civil Rights:

Eighteen year old Tracy Sims of SF CORE participating in statewide protest of Bank of America to secure more jobs for minority community members, May 1964.

• The Postwar Struggle for Civil Rights: African-Americans in San Francisco, 1945-1975 by Paul T. Miller. Miller did some of his research using the archives in the San Francisco History Center.
• List of books, newspapers and other resources in our blog mini-series African-Americans in San Francisco.
• SFSU's History Department created the Bay Area Social Justice History Project that includes interviews, letters, and photos from San Francisco Public Library. The extensive bibliography contains resources available at SFPL. 

Vietnam War Protests:

Mothers leading Antiwar protestors down Oak Street to Federal Building, April 1965

• Marjorie Colvin San Francisco Bay Area Antiwar Papers, 1965-1971: Newsletters, fliers, magazines, correspondence, ephemera, and snapshot photographs documenting the anti-Vietnam War movement in the San Francisco Bay Area. The papers appear to be those of Marjorie Colvin, an antiwar activist who edited the Vietnam Day Committee's magazine Did You Vote for War? (1965) and was involved in the Bay Area Peace Action Council, which among other activities, worked to get a referendum on the ballot in San Francisco calling for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Vietnam.  
• Downtown Peace Coalition Records: The Downtown Peace Coalition (DPC) was a San Francisco organization active from 1969-1972. The collection consists of correspondence, agendas, leaflets, flyers, financial statements, newspapers, and ephemera advocating for the end of the Vietnam War, the use of nuclear power, San Francisco district elections and the United Farm Workers boycott.
• San Francisco Ephemera Collection: Files--

• Peace marches and Vietnam War protests circa 1961-1975
• Protests. Vietnam War

San Francisco State College Strike:

San Francisco State Collect Student Strike, 1969. Photo by Greg Kelly.

• I Believe: San Francisco State College Strike Scrapbook by Valerie Anthony: Clippings from campus and city newspapers and fliers on the San Francisco State College strike, 1968-1969, collected by Valerie Anthony, together with her typewritten commentaries.
• Community reaction to the San Francisco State Strike: We shared the discovery and samples of 200 citizens' letters sent to Chief Cahill during the processing of the San Francisco Police Department Records. 

Alcatraz Island Indian Occupation:

Alcatraz Island Indian Occupation, c. 1970. Photo by Sam Silver

• Alcatraz Indian Occupation Records: Correspondence, minutes, legal files, promotional materials, publications, petitions, and a few objects and photographs documenting the activities of Indians of All Tribes, its governing council, and individuals involved in the occupation of Alcatraz from Nov. 1969 - June 1971
• San Francisco Ephemera Collection: Files--

• Islands. Alcatraz. Indians - Magazine articles and newspaper clippings
• Islands. Alcatraz primer 1970

Pro-tips on researching social movements and protests at San Francisco Public Library:

1. Always start with a catalog search.
2. Use your San Francisco Public Library card to access the San Francisco Chronicle Current and Historical database. Full-text of the newspaper 1869 - current.
3. Explore digital images of protests and picketing, uprisings and riots, and activists.
4. Ask a librarian! Text, email, call or visit!