Finding aid to the Bruce Festa collection of political protest audio tapes,
AR 001
Frances Kaplan and Al Bersch, 2023
California Historical Society
September 2023
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
reference@calhist.org
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
Title: Bruce Festa collection of political protest audio tapes
Creator:
Timko, Mike
Creator:
Lynd, Staughton
Creator:
Wallace, George C. (George Corley), 1919-1998
Creator:
Peter, Paul, and Mary (Musical group)
Identifier/Call Number: AR 001
Physical Description:
8 Reels
1 box
Date (inclusive): 1965-1968
Language of Material:
English .
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Edward Bruce Festa and Maryvonne Festa, 2021.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of reel-to-reel audio tapes created by Mike Timko containing
speeches and music taped at political campaigns and anti-war demonstrations held in various
locations across California from 1965 to 1968. Included are speeches by Edmund Gerald "Pat"
Brown, Stuart Symington, Staughton Lynd, Eugene McCarthy, George Wallace, Julian Bond, and
Robert Kennedy. The audio of Robert Kennedy was taped at a whistle stop in Turlock,
California, days prior to his assassination on June 5, 1968. The tapes also include a
performance by the American folk band, Peter, Paul and Mary, who sang as part of Eugene
McCarthy's anti-war campaign in 1968.
Biographical / Historical
These eight reel-to-reel tapes were created by Mike Timko, a social justice activist,
during the time period 1965 to 1968. Timko taped various political campaigns and anti-war
demonstrations that he attended around California and other parts of the United States. In
the early 1970s Timko passed the tapes on to firends and fellow anti-war and civil rights
activists, Edward Bruce Festa and Maryvonne Festa.
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Because of the assembled nature of this collection, copyright status varies across the
collection. Copyright is assumed to be held by the original creator of individual items in
the collection. Unpublished works are expected to pass into the public domain 120 years
after their creation; works published before 1923 have entered the public domain. The
California Historical Society (CHS) is not authorized to grant permission to publish or
reproduce materials from this collection.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item, date]; Bruce Festa collection of political protest audio tapes,
AR-001; California Historical Society.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Audiocassettes
Audiotapes
Political campaigns -- California
Political candidates -- California
Kennedy, Robert F., 1925-1968
Anti-war demonstrations.
Box 1
Songs of children, out of doors
1965-07-23
Songs of children, out of doors
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of children and teenagers singing outside, including the songs "I've
been working on the railroad," and "Do your ears hang low."
Box 1
Opening of Pat Brown headquarters in Los Angeles
1966-05-19
Opening of Pat Brown headquarters in Los Angeles
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown's headquarters in Los Angeles,
California.
Box 1
Staughton Lynd anti-war speech, draft card returners
1968-04-12
Staughton Lynd anti-war speech, draft card returners
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of anti-war speech by Saunton Lynd at Yale University, and draft card
returners.
Box 1
Stuart Symington 1968 California primary, Robert Kennedy supporters, 1968
election
1968-04-23
Stuart Symington 1968 California primary, Robert Kennedy supporters, 1968
election
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of Stuart Symington's campaign during the California primary election
and Robert Kennedy supporters. Also included is audio relating to the 1968 election,
Nixon, and Rockefeller.
Box 1
Robert Kennedy campaigning in Turlock, California
1968-05-30
Robert Kennedy campaigning in Turlock, California
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of Robert Kennedy campaigning on and off a train in Turlock,
California. Campaign speech includes Kennedy discussing his debate with Eugene McCarthy,
reading a telegram he sent to vice president Hubert Humphrey, and speaking on jobs and
the war in Vietnam. Also includes folk singers on the train platform.
Box 1
Eugene McCarthy campaigning at an airport
1968-08-25
Eugene McCarthy campaigning at an airport
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of Eugene McCarthy campaigning at an airport. Includes an interview
with two people on what they think of McCarthy, and folk group Peter, Paul and Mary.
Box 1
Eugene McCarthy and George Wallace speeches and demonstrators at the 1968
Democratic National Convention
1968-08-27
Eugene McCarthy and George Wallace speeches and demonstrators at the 1968
Democratic National Convention
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of Eugene McCarthy speaking at a park across from the Hilton Hotel at
the Democratic National Convention. Recording includes sounds from a George Wallace
demonstration, a speech by Julian Bond, performance by Peter, Paul and Mary, and
McCarthy supporters cheering.
Box 1
Making president (from TV)
1968-11-05
Making president (from TV)
Scope and Contents
Audio recording from television including George Wallace and election returns.
