United Farm Workers Information Fair collection, circa 1959-1975 and undated

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Summary

Creators:
Newcomb, Elizabeth E. and Newcomb, Robert L.
Abstract:
This collection comprises fliers, reports, newsletters, photographs, bumper stickers, and ephemera compiled for use at the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) Information Fair held in San Fernando, California in 1969. The collection is particularly strong in documenting the United Farm Workers (UFW) trade union and its formation; UFW-organized boycotts and strikes, including the Delano Grape Strike from 1965 to 1966; and the working and living conditions of migrant agricultural laborers. Other files document the economic and legal aspects of farm labor, ties between churches and the farm labor movement, and the effect of pesticides on farm laborers. Approximately ten photographs by unidentified photographers depict UFW founder and president Cesar Chavez and others at rallies; agricultural laborers, including children, at work; migrant camps; and medical and dental clinics for laborers.
Extent:
2.6 Linear Feet (4 boxes and 2 oversize folders)
Language:
The bulk of the collection is in English. Select materials are in Spanish.
Preferred citation:

United Farm Workers Information Fair collection. MS-R015. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection comprises fliers, reports, newsletters, photographs, bumper stickers, and ephemera compiled for use at the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) Information Fair held in San Fernando, California in 1969. The collection is particularly strong in documenting the United Farm Workers (UFW) trade union and its formation; UFW-organized boycotts and strikes, including the Delano Grape Strike from 1965 to 1966; and the working and living conditions of migrant agricultural laborers. Other files document the economic and legal aspects of farm labor; ties between churches and the farm labor movement; and the effect of pesticides on farm laborers. Approximately ten photographs by unidentified photographers depict UFW founder and president Cesar Chavez and others at rallies; agricultural laborers, including children, at work; migrant camps; and medical and dental clinics for laborers.

All items were collected by Robert L. and Elizabeth E. Newcomb. Robert was a senior lecturer at UC Irvine (UCI) in the Department of Social Science until his retirement in 2006. In 1970 he taught a farm labor and business course at UCI. Elizabeth was Coordinator of Volunteers for the UCI Health Education department.

Biographical / historical:

The California farm labor movement began in the 1960s when the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee began unionizing California farm workers. The National Farm Workers Association was founded by Cesar Chavez, and later became the United Farm Workers of America (UFW). In 1968 Chavez launched a boycott of California table grape growers and was successful in mobilizing consumer support throughout the United States. In 1970 the UFW, with Chavez as president, became a member union of the AFL-CIO. Chavez made people across the country aware of the struggles of farm workers for better pay and safer living conditions and succeeded by using nonviolent tactics including boycotts, fasting, pickets, and strikes.

Chronology
Date Event
1962
Cesar Chavez founds the National Farm Workers Assocation.
1966
Cesar Chavez and a band of strikers embark on a 340-mile pilgrimage from Delano to the steps of the state capitol in Sacramento to draw national attention to the situation of farm workers.
1966-1967
A boycott and strike of the DiGiorgio Fruit Corp. forces the giant grape grower to agree to an election among its workers. The workers vote for the United Farm Workers (UFW), led by Chavez.
1966-1967
The UFW strikes the Giumarra Vineyards Corporation, California's largest table grape grower. In response to the boycott other grape growers allow Giumarra to use their labels. As a result, the UFW begins a boycott of all California table grapes.
1967-1970
Hundreds of grape strikers disperse across North America to organize an international grape boycott. Millions of Americans rally to the farm workers' cause, called "La Causa."
1969
United Farm Workers Organizing Committee Information Fair in San Fernando, California.
1970
As the grape boycott grows, most California table grape growers sign UFW contracts.
1972
The UFW is chartered as an independent affiliate by the AFL-CIO, becoming the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO.
1973-1975
According to a nationwide poll conducted by Louis Harris, 17 million Americans are boycotting grapes. Many are also boycotting lettuce and Gallo wine.
Acquisition information:
Gift of Robert L. and Elizabeth E. Newcomb, date unknown. Additional material was donated by the Newcombs in 2011.
Processing information:

Processed by Karen Rosen, 2001. Additional materials processed by Ernesto Bassi and Audrey Pearson, 2008.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged topically. Materials are arranged alphabetically within each topical grouping.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Preferred citation:

United Farm Workers Information Fair collection. MS-R015. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Location of this collection:
P.O. Box 19557
Irvine, CA , US
Contact:
(949) 824-3947
spcoll@uci.libanswers.com
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