The Bettina Aptheker papers contain biographical material, correspondence, instructional materials, research notes, grant proposals, writings, speeches, lectures, and material concerning her political activism, including the Free Speech Movement and the trial of Angela Y. Davis. Aptheker is a professor of feminist studies, political activist, and author.

Bettina Aptheker (1944-) is a professor of feminist studies, political activist, and author. Both of her parents were political activists and members of the U.S. Communist Party. Her father, Herbert Aptheker, was a prominent Marxist historian in African American history and author. Aptheker's first job was in W.E.B. Du Bois' home. Her father was Du Bois' friend and literary executor. Aptheker attended the University of California, Berkeley from 1962-1967 and received her A.B. in History. While at UC Berkeley, she was an activist in the W.E.B. Du Bois Club of the Communist Party USA and a leader in the Berkeley Free Speech Movement. In the 1970s, Aptheker worked for the defense in Angela Y. Davis' murder and conspiracy trial. Aptheker wrote a book about the trial, The Morning Breaks: The Trial of Angela Davis, which was published in 1974.

47.5 Linear Feet 40 document boxes, 27 half cartons, 11 cartons, 3 flat boxes, 1 half document box

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