Subseries C. Letters sent to Marin County jail, 1970-1973 (#52.8-56.9, 205FB.4-205FB.5, 204F+B.12)
Scope and Contents
Subseries C, Letters sent to Marin County jail, 1970-1973 (#52.8-56.9, 205FB.4-205FB.5, 204F+B.12), includes both letters of solidarity and hate mail sent to Davis while she was incarcerated at the Marin County jail - some of the letters are also addressed to Captain Harvey Teague, chief of Marin County police, and/or to other law officials (Deputy Sheriff Gossett, Judge Warren McQuire). These letters were not delivered to Davis at the time she was in the Marin County jail. They were discovered later by Captain Teague's daughter, who sent them to Davis.
The majority of the subseries are letters and postcards of solidarity from around the world. Letter-writing campaigns and petitions in support of Davis's release were sent from Belgium, Hungary, Italy, the Soviet Union, and East Germany. As part of a state-sponsored campaign, school children in East Germany sent template postcards to Davis often accompanied by drawings and personal messages letters in German.
Unopened letters were opened by the archivist and arranged by country of the sender. Empty envelopes are also arranged by country. Folders are arranged alphabetically, with envelopes filed at the end.
Dates
- Creation: 1937-2017
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1968-2006
Language of Materials
Materials in English.
Access Restrictions:
Access. Collection is open for research. Folders #6.6, 15.6, 18.7, 57.6 and 57.7 are closed until 2046, as specified in the agreement between Angela Y. Davis and the Schlesinger Library.
An appointment is necessary to use any audiovisual material.
Extent
119.12 linear feet ((197 + 1/2 file boxes, 4 folio boxes, 14 folio+ boxes, 8 oversize boxes) plus 3 supersize boxes, 3 supersize folders, 120 photograph folders, 16 folio photograph folders, 10 folio+ photograph folders, 642 slides, 147 audiotapes, 65 videotapes, 12 CDs, 38 DVDs, 2 motion pictures, 5 phonograph records)7.92 Megabytes (1 file)
Physical Location
Collection stored off site: researchers must request access 36 hours before use.
Creator
- From the Collection: Davis, Angela Y. (Angela Yvonne), 1944- (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository
The preeminent research library on the history of women in the United States, the Schlesinger Library documents women's lives from the past and present for the future. In addition to its traditional strengths in the history of feminisms, women’s health, and women’s activism, the Schlesinger collections document the intersectional workings of race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class in American history.