Strike for Peace Collection

On May 6th, 1970, Humboldt State College administration organized a campus forum to discuss President Richard Nixon’s military expansion into Cambodia. Around 3,000 students and community members gathered on the quad in front of the Van Duzer theater to participate. Nixon’s expansion into Cambodia had previously occurred on April 30th of the same year following his public promises to withdraw troops from Vietnam. On May 7th, 1970, the day after the administration organized campus event, the Student Legislation Council (SLC) of the University decided to initiate a war protest through nonviolent methodology, naming the demonstration the "Strike for Peace". The student-organized strike included criteria that impacted the whole of the University; throughout the week of protest (from May 11th-15th), the bell of Founders Hall would be rung four times every half hour and the American Flag was flown at half mast below two completely hoisted flags (a black one, to represent mourning, and a peace flag). To this day the Strike for Peace is the largest demonstration in Humboldt County’s history and drew support from Humboldt University faculty and students as well as Humboldt community members.

Access

The collection is open for research by appointment. Digitized materials available online at https://strikeforpeace.omeka.net/

Copyright

Copyright has not been assigned to Cal Poly Humboldt. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce in any format, please contact the Special Collections Librarian.

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated in two parts by William (Bill) Wells and Kathryn Corbett. William Wells donated his part sometime before the year 2000. Kathryn Corbett donated her half on February 14, 2005.

Biographical Information

Kathryn Corbett was a faculty member at Humboldt State from 1952 to 1980. During her time here she was professor and chair of the departments of Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work and founded the university’s Women's Studies program. At the time of the strike, she was president of the general faculty and a professor of sociology. She worked closely with both administration and students during the strike and donated artifacts she had leftover from the strike

Scope and Content

The collection contains anti-war ephemera produced from the Humboldt State College campus protest against the American involvement in the Vietnam War. The content include posters, planning and communication documents, government documents, newspapers, hand-outs, informational pamphlets, photographs, and negatives.

Arrangement of Collection

Items are arranged into 3 boxes based on item format. Box 1 contains newspapers and is arranged chronologically and by newspaper outlet. Box 2 contains documents that are arranged into series based on item type, general category or creator; each series delineated chronologically. Box 3 contains posters, with he dated posters being arranged chronologically.

Container List

Box 1

Series: Newspapers
1. Off our backs; March 19, 1970
2. Times standard; May 6, 1970 - May 15, 1970
3. Lumberjack; May 6, 1970, May 11, 1970, May 15, 1970
4. Times standard article - the problem . how to fight a war; May 8, 1970
5. Times standard article - humboldt state formula; May 8, 1970
6. Article hsc peace students ask community aid; May 8, 1970
7. Strike for peace report; May 11, 1970
8. The Arcata Union; May 15, 1970
9. The time; May [15] 1970
10. The Arcata Union Article - show area involvement/striking students reach 16,000 homes; May 21, 1970
11.Arcata strike sentinel; June 1970
12. La times; June 7, 1970
13. Times standard article - war attitude not changed by hsc drive; June 17, 1970

Box 2

Series: Associated Groups

1. United Methodist Church response; March 25, 1965
2. Contact information; May 1970
3. Affinity groups; May 1970
4. Faculty Response; May 1970, April 28, 1970

Series: Media on Strike
5. News Articles - Jack Hitt; June 1965
6. Press releases; May 12, 1970 - May 18, 1970
7. Hornboldt Press; May 12, 1970
8. Press packets; May 18, 1970
9. Saturday Review . Kent state; August 29, 1970

Series: Vietnam Info
10. Newsletters on Vietnam; June 1965 - May 20, 197
11. Research Materials - Vietnam; May 1970

Series: Kathryn Corbett
12. Kathryn Corbett: Nixon’s Response; 1968 - April 1972
13. Kathryn Corbett: statement on strike; May 1970
14. Kathryn Corbett: Siemens memorial; October 23, 1978

Series: President Cornelius Siemens
15. Siemens Statement on War & Strike; May 6, 1970
16. Siemens Telegram to Nixon; May 1970

Series: Administrative Response
17. Administrators response to strike; May 6, 1970 - May 13, 1970
18. Flagpole Correspondents; May 7, 1970 - May 18, 1970

Series: Strike bulletins
19. Strike Bulletins; May 7, 1970 - May 10, 1970
20. Strike Bulletins; May 11, 1970 - May 14, 1970
21. Strike Bulletins; May 15, 1970 - June 1970

Series: Organizing Documents
22. Petitions; May 1970
23. Recruitment letters . Strike for Peace; May 1970
24. Strike Schedule; May 7, 1970 - May 19, 1970
25. Rules for Strikers May 1970
26. Resolutions on Sfp . Core Committee; May 1970 - May 19, 1971

Series: William Wells
27. Notes - William wells; May 1970
28. Article drafts - William wells; May 1970

Series: Strike Artifacts
29. Photos and Artifacts; May 1970
30. Songs for strikers; May 1970
31. Strike for Peace Flyers; May 1970
32. Simultaneous campus activities; May 15, 1970 - May 16, 1970
33. Plastic Wear; May 1970/February 25, 2005

Box 3

Series: Oversized Posters