Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Hill, Margaret E.
- Abstract:
- Press releases, bulletins, correspondence, pamphlets, clippings, brochures, photographs, motion picture film, and phonorecords, relating to fundraising in southern California for World War II relief activities. Sound use copies of sound recordings available.
- Extent:
- 5 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 9 envelopes, 4 motion picture film reels, 3 phonorecords (5.5 Linear Feet)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Margaret E. Hill papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Margaret E. Hill papers document her years working for World War II relief organizations in southern California. The papers consist of press releases, bulletins, correspondence, pamphlets, clippings, brochures, photographs, motion picture film, and phonorecords.
As chair of American Relief for France in Southern California, Hill was primarily responsible for fundraising. Her projects for the organization, including the city of Los Angeles's adoption of Calais and Argentan, are documented in the American Relief for France file. She also led a program to send packages to French orphans after the war; files about this initiative include dossiers, lists, and photographs of the children served. In gratitude, the city of Calais sent Hill albums of photographs and children's drawings, all of which can be found in the Oversize material file.
In July 1942 Hill represented French relief at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations War Relief Council (UNWRC). The Council was incorporated in California to coordinate the activities of relief agencies for China, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Holland, Norway, the Philippines, and Poland. After being appointed executive secretary in 1943, Hill ran a fundraising campaign that included radio programs publicizing relief efforts, transcripts and recordings of which are included in the United Nations War Relief Council and Sound recordings files.
As a coordinator of relief efforts throughout southern California, Hill collected and received Photographs, Films, and Printed Matter produced by other World War II relief agencies.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Margaret E. Hill graduated from Mills College in 1922 and received advanced degrees from Western Reserve University and the University of Grenoble. In 1935 she moved to Los Angeles to teach French at the Marlborough School. From 1942 to 1947 she held positions in relief organizations in the Los Angeles area, serving as the southern California chairman of American Relief for France, executive secretary of the United Nations War Relief Council for Southern California, and vice-chairman of the Los Angeles County War Chest. To commemorate her relief work, Hill was decorated by the French government with the Legion of Honor in 1947. After the United Nations War Relief Council was dissolved in December 1947, Hill resumed her teaching career at the Anoakia School for Girls in Arcadia, California. She retired in 1967.
- Acquisition information:
- Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1979.
- Physical location:
- Hoover Institution Library & Archives
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Box FH27 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
- Terms of access:
-
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Margaret E. Hill papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
- Location of this collection:
-
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford UniversityStanford, CA 94305-6003, US
- Contact:
- (650) 723-3563