Paul Jarrico papers, 1914-2014

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Series III: Political activities, 1938-1995

This series contains material relating to Jarrico's political activism. These documents chart his involvement in various political causes, including the American communist movement, free speech advocacy, the anti-fascist movement, nuclear disarmament, Zionism, and the civil rights movement. They also document Jarrico's membership in major political organizations, including the National Council of the Arts, Sciences and Professions, Progressive Citizens of America, and the Peoples Education Association, and serve as a record of his political donations. Several files document Jarrico's political interests, including the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Gulf War, and Czech civil rights. Jarrico's own political writings are also present in this collection, including speeches and promotional material that he wrote for political candidates and articles on various global issues. This series contains material relating to Jarrico's connection to the deaths at Jonestown in 1978. Material relating to Jarrico's labor organizing and union activities can be found in Subseries IV.1, although many labor-related causes are represented in this series. Jarrico's earliest political writings, including essays completed for college courses, are held in Series V.



Box 30 Folder 5 Donald Freed, 1977-1978

Material about Jonestown. A photocopy of an article "Politics Under the Palms" in Esquire Magazine; Freed's curriculum vitae; correspondence (including a letter to Jarrico from Jim Jones); transcript of an interview with Joseph A. Mazor, Donald Freed, Pat Richartz, and Mark Lane; notes.


Box 30 Folder 6 Jonestown, 1978-1979

Notes and annotated clippings from the aftermath of the deaths in Jonestown.


Box 30 Folder 7 Hollywood for SANE, 1981, 1983-1985

Correspondence, memos, notes, notices, brochures, advertisements, speeches, clippings, gala programs, writer's committee directory. Includes Jarrico and Frank Tarloff's writings for benefit events.


Box 30 Folder 8 Miscellaneous political, 1951, circa 1980-1981

Clippings, church service program, correspondence, statements (about the Hollywood blacklist, Socialist Worker's Party).



Box 33 Folder 4 Lawson brochure (copy), 1953-1955

Material relating to a written tribute to screenwriter John Howard Lawson, published in the wake of his blackslisting. Also includes material relating to testimonial dinner honoring his career. Documents include a list of "VIPs," master of ceremonies scripts, notes, correspondence, biographies and research on Lawson, a photograph of Lawson, and a copy of a brochure of tributes. Also includes draft tributes from Charlie Chaplin, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Witter Bynner, Walter Prichard Eaton, Lloyd L. Brown, Paul Robeson, Howard Fast, W.E.B. Dubois, Earl Robinson, Shirley Graham Du Bois, Xavier Guerrero, Luis Cardoza y Aragón, Jack Lindsay, other members of the "Hollywood Ten" and other writers, intellectuals, actors, and artists. Also includes letters from international officials in China, Bulgaria, Japan, USSR, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Australia, England, Italy, and Mexico.


Box 33 Folder 5 Lawson dinner script, 1955

Master of ceremonies script for a testimonial dinner honoring screenwriter John Howard Lawson. Includes schedule and notes.


Box 33 Folder 6 That was the Blacklist, 1985-1987, 1990-1992, 1995-1997

Retrospective articles and media about the Blacklist. Clippings and photocopies related to Mordecai Richler, Dorothy Healey, the Hollywood Ten, Gordon Kahn, Elia Kazan, Walter Bernstein, Arthur Miller, Jean Muir, Pete Seeger, Carl Marzani, William L. Shirer, Beatrice Braude, and others. Includes photocopies of the Annual Report of the Committee on Un-American Activies and an autobiographical treatment by Joan Scott. Also includes correspondence about research on and coverage of the Blacklist. Includes reviews of films, books, and television about the Blacklist.


Box 33 Folder 7 Paul McGilligan interview and VA Film Festival, 1996-1997

Correspondence and galleys relating to Jarrico's interview with Patrick McGilligan in the volume Tender Comrades: A Backstory of the Hollywood Blacklist. Material relating to the Virginia Festival of American Film (invoices, correspondence, promotional material), in which Salt of the Earth was featured.



Box 74 Folder 5 "Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial" press packet, 1995

Includes a press release and artist profiles. Multiple copies.



Box 76 Folder 1 National Council of the Arts, Sciences and Professions, 1948-1950

Includes memos, pamphlets, the newsletter for the film division, correspondence, notes, clippings, and other materials relating to the organization and its activities.


Box 76 Folder 2 Correspondence regarding organizations, 1938-1947, 1953, 1956

Correspondence regarding political and religious organizations that Jarrico was involved with. Includes letters from the Los Angeles B'nai B'rith, California Action Conference for Civil Rights, American Rescue Ship Mission, National Federation for Constitutional Liberties, Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, Committee to Aid Agricultural Workers, American Russian Institute, United Jewish Welfare Fund, United American Spanish Aid Committee, Free World Association of Hollywood, Hollywood Writers' Mobilization, United Citizens for Victory, Committee for a Jewish Army, Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee, Hollywood Democratic Committee, National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, Musician's Congress Committee, Peoples Educational Association, American Committee of Jewish Artists, Writers, and Scientists, Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Harry Bridges Victory Committee, California Labor School, Hollywood Independent Citizens Committee of the Arts, Sciences, and Professions, Southern Califorina Committee to Win the Peace, Progressive Citizens of America, Friends of Widows and Orphans of the French Resistance, Palestine Histadrut Campaign, American Committee for Yugoslav Relief, David Ignatoff Literary Foundation, Screen Writers' Guild, Blacklistees Meetings, Hollywood Writers' Mobilization, Also includes trial transcripts, typed manuscripts, clippings, Jarrico's notes, checks, brochures, invitations, programs. Includes information about Jarrico's political donations. Includes correspondence from the United States Office of War Information and other professional correspondence. Includes some material relating to "Salt of the Earth."


Box 76 Folder 3 "The Truth About Korea", 1950

Typed manuscript and carbon copy of an article by Paul Jarrico, "The Truth About Korea," published by the Arts, Sciences and Professions Council of Southern California. Folder is annotated.


Box 76 Folder 4 Civil Rights Conference, National Council of the Arts, Sciences, and Professions, 1952

Material (notes, publicity, programs, correspondence) relating to the "Conference on Equal Rights for the Negroes in the Arts, Sciences, and Professions," organized by the National Council of the Arts, Sciences, and Professions, Southern Chapter. Folder is annotated.


Box 76 Folder 5 Fight Back Statements, 1951-1952

Largely relating to the House Committee on Un-American Activities and largely comprises statements from artists and writers denouncing the Committee's actions. Includes brochures and communications from Pickets for Freedom, Facts for Freedom, Champions of the Bill of Rights, and other organizations opposing the Committee. Also includes song lyrics, event invitations, Jarrico's notes, transcripts (of hearings), and other material relating to the Committee's activities. Folder is annotated.


Box 76 Folder 6 Political materials, 1976-1977

Materials relating to the Blacklist, the Campaign Against Abuses of Psychiatry for Political Purposes, Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, the New American Movement, the NAACP, the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Includes material relating to human rights abuses in Czechoslovakia, China, Thailand, Rhodesia, and South Africa. Includes notes, correspondence, clippings, and pamphlets.


Box 76 Folder 7 War content of pictures, 1942-1943

Material relating to Hollywood's role in promoting the Allied efforts through cinema. Includes clippings, administrative documents, notes, correspondence, a list of Axis propoganda points, memoranda (from studios), promotional material, and other printed material. Includes material relating to the Hollywood Writers Mobilzation for Defense, Screen Writers' Guild, and Cinema for Victory.


Box 76 Folder 8 Speeches, dramatizations, radio, 1941, 1943, 1946-1949

Largely relating to the Second World War and Democratic Party Politics. Includes material relating to the election campaign of Henry A. Wallace. Includes speeches by Robert W. Kennedy, Gloria Stuart, and Helen Graham Douglas. Includes radio scripts for "Salt of the Earth" and a dramatization about absenteeism. Includes dramatizations for political rallies.



Box 77 Folder 6 Disbarment hearings, 1955

Material relating to the California State Bar's proposal to disbar lawyers who used the fifth amendment when defending themselves against accusations of "subversive" activities. Includes correspondence, clippings, notes, hearing transcripts, and an information sheet (about the proposal). Relating to an article Jarrico published in "The Nation" about the hearings titled "In re. Freedom."


Box 77 Folder 7 Clippings and miscellaneous, 1951-1952

Includes clippings, brochures, speeches, publicity material, and correspondence. Relating to presidential politics, the House Committee on Un-American Activities, politics in cinema, and atomic warfare. Organizations include the Unitarian Fellowship for Social Justice, Motion Picture Alliance, Committee to End Sedition Laws, Motion Picture Industry Council, and the Screen Writers' Guild.


Box 77 Folder 8 Jencks case, 1954-1956

Relating to the legal difficulties of labor activist Clint Jencks, who worked with Jarrico on "Salt of the Earth" and had been arrested for providing false information on a non-communist affidavit. Largely includes letters and brochures for mailing campaigns about the case and raising money for his defense. Also includes correspondence with the Mine, Mill, and Swelter Workers Union, who were funding part of Jencks's legal fees.


Box 77 Folder 9 China, 1954-1956, 1960-1961, 1974-1976, 1978, 1980-1981, 1986-1987, 1989, 1994

Material relating to Jarrico's interactions with the Chinese Communist Party regarding the distribution of American films (notably "Salt of the Earth") in China. Incudes correspondence, clippings, photographs,



Box 81 Folder 6 Václav Havel, 1990

Clippings about Havel, his politics, and his writings.


Box 81 Folder 7 John F. Kennedy, 1992

Clippings about investigations into Kennedy's assassination.


Box 81 Folder 8 Gulf War, 1990-1991

Clippings about the war (including photocopies), correspondence, notes.


Box 81 Folder 9 Dan Quayle, 1988, 1990-1993

Copies of the "Quayle Quarterly," a magazine opposing Vice President Dan Quayle which Jarrico contributed to. Includes other clippings about Quayle.



Box 83 Folder 2 "Speak Out! Talk Back!" poster, circa 1950s

A poster opposing the House Committee on Un-American Activities.