Student Strike of 1970 Files, 1968-1971
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Smith College Archives Northampton, MA
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Student Strike of 1970 Files
Creation of Student Strike of 1970 Files
Time of Creation of Student Strike of 1970 Files
Smith College.
Biographical History for: Student Strike of 1970 Files
Biographical Note The idea of a nationally coordinated student strike developed over a period of at least two years of growing tension between the federal administration and minority and student groups who expressed dissatisfaction with the undeclared war in Vietnam, the military draft, and economic consequences of the war. Coordinated by the National Moratorium Committee (organized in June 1969), Moratorium Days held on October 15, 1969 and November 15, 1969 included the suspension of classes, neighborhood canvassing, protest marches and petitions. The third week in March 1970 was proclaimed National Anti-Draft Week. Planned demonstrations were held at local draft board offices, and "we won't go" petitions were circulated. In 1970, the Fast for Peace was held on April 13, 14, and 15, as an expression of moral concern about the war. In early May, student opposition intensified with the knowledge of the expansion of the conflict into Cambodia, President Nixon's April 3 announcement of his decision to resume bombing in North Vietnam, and the treatment of dissenters in the United States. On May 4, the day of the killings on the Kent State University campus, "leaders of the National Student Association and the former Vietnam Moratorium Committee officially called for a nationwide strike of indefinite duration" (Facts on File 1970, p.299). At Smith, the Moratorium Days were occasions for student involvement in the local community. Smith students staffed the Green Street Moratorium office, canvassed residents, and coordinated marches down Main Street with the cooperation of local businesses. The first Moratorium Day was October 15, 1969 and was called Work for Peace Day at Smith. Smith's Chaplain the Rev. Richard P. Unsworth participated in a memorial service for Hampshire County veterans held at the Unitarian Church. On the second Moratorium Day, November 15, 1969, a contingent of 250 Smith students and 10 Smith professors attended the march in Washington, D. C to protest the Vietnam War. In Northampton, the weekend of November 15 included a teach-in at Wright Hall, a silent march from Helen Hills Hills Chapel to the center of Northampton and back, and well-attended coffee klatches held in a number of Northampton homes. A timeline of activities at Smith during the May, 1970 Strike is provided below. During and after the strike, alumnae and friends of the college became involved. On May 30, President Mendenhall announced that his office was receiving 10 letters a day expressing opinions about the strike (tape recording of last Chapel,../../70). Many seminars were repeated during Commencement Weekend for the benefit of alumnae and parents, and a video tape of many of the strike activities was shown. The following organizations formed at Smith due to the strike: the Strike Committee, the Education Committee, the Community Action Committee, Union for National Draft Opposition, Committee on Justice and Repression at Home, Unofficial Committee of Concerned Citizens, Committee on Governance, and the People's Lobby. The activities of the People's Lobby continued beyond the academic year, with students working in Northampton, in Washington D. C., and in their hometown to spread information and coordinate lobbying efforts. Several existing Smith organizations took part in Strike activities; these include: the Student Government Association, the Committee on Educational Policy, the Faculty - Student Committee, and the Young Republican Club. May 4, 5 p.m.At regularly scheduled all-college meetings, a few students and a professor speak about strike issues, and there is a discussion of race/foreign policy distinction.May 4, 8 p.m.About 30 people opposed to the strike gather in front of Neilson Library. Meanwhile at Paradise pond, Professor Donald Robinson offers a plan for lobbying Congress.May 5About 300 students rally at Davis to hear speeches against U. S. action in Cambodia and in support of Bobby Seale.Smith students vote to strike, 1547 to 437 (12 abstentions).Smith faculty vote to suspend all normal college activities from May 6 to May 10.May 5,ca. 11 p.m.In response to a controversy over whether President Mendenhall had announced the results of the student strike vote at the faculty meeting, students and professors stand outside the President's house in the rain until it is announced that there was a failure of communication and that a faculty meeting will be held the next day.May 6At an all-college meeting, the Sid Waller '70 speech and the BSA speech, both contained in this collection, are delivered.May 7, 4 p.m.The Government Department sponsors a lecture at the J. M. Greene Hall on President Nixon's policy in Cambodia.May 7,5 p.m.A student statement of purpose is read to 15 area clergy and 40 Smith students at a meeting in the Helen Hills Hills Chapel lounge led by the Rev. Richard P. Unsworth and Rabbi Yechiael Lander.May 8, 9 a.m.A memorial service is held in the Helen Hills Hills Chapel for the Kent State dead.May 9Smith students attend a protest march in Washington, D.C.May 10Students from Smith and other area colleges canvass local residents.Black Panther Doug Miranda lectures in the Quad to a group of about 300 people.May 31Commencement exercises bring the Student Strike at Smith College to a close; however, many organizations and students remained active throughout the summer.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The approximately one linear foot of files relating to the Student Strike of 1970 consist of a variety of materials including correspondence, diaries, notes, speeches, notices, posters, memoranda, photographs, petitions, newsletters, packets, press releases and newspaper clippings. Although the collection spans March 11, 1968 - March 19, 1971, most of the material dates from mid April to early June, 1970. This collection provides material from a wide variety of sources representing different view points concerning the Student Strike of 1970. The material specific to Smith College includes first person accounts, such as notes, diaries, and correspondence in addition to newsletters, packets, and statements. Of particular interest are the correspondence of Sien-Nyat Chin '73; the diaries of Lucy Bodine '72, and Sarah Gordon '72 and student speeches. Also of interest are the material from faculty and staff, such as the correspondence and notes of Michele Aldrich, an exam of Charles Melvin, memoranda from President Mendenhall, and a petition drafted by Cecilia Marie Kenyon. Organizations mentioned in the SMITH - General series include the Unofficial Committee of Concerned Citizens, the Committee on Governance, the Student Government Association, the Committee on Educational Policy, the Faculty - Student Committee, and the Young Republican Club. The collection also shows how the Student Strike of 1970 at Smith was organized and structured to include educational programs, lobbying, economic boycotts, and community action programs. The effort was to make an impact on both local and national levels.
Student strikes--Massachusetts--Northampton.
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Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975--Protest movements--Massachusetts--Northampton.
Smith College--Strike, 1970.
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series
SERIES I. SMITH (March 11, 1968 - March 1971, n.d.)
The first and largest subseries, SMITH - General, contains material originating from individuals and administrative offices, as well as material of unknown origin. The hierarchy of Smith College is ignored, and this series is divided into nine of the special committees that were active during the strike. The subseries include: General, Canvass Committee; Economic Boycott Committee; Education Committee; People's Lobby; Committee on Political Repression at Home; Strike Committee; Union for National Draft Opposition; and William Allan Neilson Library.
General
Correspondence
General May 11 - Jun 6, 1970, n.d.
Aldrich, Michele May 4 - 20, 1970
Alumnae Mar 11, 1968 - May 20, 1970
United States Congress May 7 - Jul 7, 1970, n.d.
Enclosures Oct 31, 1969 - Jun 5, 1970
Diaries
Bodine, Lucy '72 May 8 - 16, 1970
Gordon, Sarah '72 May 3 - 10, 1970
Directories n.d.
Exams May 30, 1970, n.d.
Fact sheets c. May 9, 1970
Memorabilia n.d.
Memoranda
General May 12, 1970, n.d.
Faculty and staff Apr 17 - Jun 1, 1970, n.d.
President Mendenhall May 14 - 19, 1970
Registrar, Office of May 7 - 11, 1970
Treasurer, Office of May 11, 1970
Newsletters May 4 - 5, 1970
Notes of meetings
General May 5, 9, 1970, n.d.
Aldrich, Michele n.d.
Notices, posters Feb 20 - Jun 1, 1970, n.d.
Petitions May, 1970
Photographs Spring 1970
Press releases and letters to editor May, 1970, n.d.
Reports May 12, 1970
Speeches May 4 - 31, 1970
Statements
Faculty and staff May 5 - 12, 1970, n.d.
Students May 10, 1970, n.d.
Strike votes, ballots May 5, 1970, n.d.
Subjects
Memorial Service May 8, 1970
Questionnaires May 15, 1970, Mar 19, 1971, n.d.
Canvass Committee
Canvasser's packet May 10, 1970
Economic Boycott Committee
Notices, statements, report n.d.
Education Committee
Memoranda c. May 8, 1970
Schedules May 12 - 18, 1970
Seminars
- notes May 8, 1970, n.d.
-notices, schedules, reading lists May 7 - 18, 1970
Guidelines for Community Action May, 1970, n.d.
The Role of Science in American Democracy c. May 8 - 20, 1970
The Smith Strike as History May 9, 1970
People's Lobby
Correspondence May 7 - 29, 1970, n.d.
Directory c. May 13, 1970, May 8, 1970
Information
about correspondence with Congress May 6 - 8, 1970, n.d.
general, statements of purpose c. May 6, 1970, n.d.
Newsletter Jun 16 - Sept 8, 1970
Packets
Introductory packet and policy statement May 9 - 13, 1970, n.d.
Alumnae packet early May, 1970
Legislative research information sheets n.d.
Packet sent to other schools May 12, 1970, n.d.
Washington packet lobbying May 11 - 13, 1970
First packet to state captains late May, 1970
June 1 packet Jun 1, 1970
June 17 packet Jun 17, 1970
July 3 packet Jul 3, 1970
August 21 packet Aug 21, 1970
Photographs n.d.
Press releases and letters to editors May 9, 1970, n.d.
Political Repression at Home, Committee on
Fact sheet n.d.
Strike Committee
Directory c. May 7, 1970
Memoranda May 3 - 8, 1970
Office messages May 9, 1970, n.d.
Newsletters May 4 - 31, 1970
Schedules May 5 - 31, 1970
Union for National Draft Opposition c. May 8 - 13, 1970
William Allan Neilson Library
Bibliographies May 7, 8, 21, 1970, n.d.
SERIES II. OTHER COLLEGES (February - June 19, 1970, n.d.)
This series is divided into Local and National subseries. The Local subseries consists of material from Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mt. Holyoke College, and University of Massachusetts. This subseries also includes material from organizations affiliated with the five colleges and other local organizations. The National subseries includes material from Dartmouth College and Yale University, as well as from various other colleges in the U. S. In addition, it includes a letter from the American Council on Education regarding tax exemption and political activities at colleges.
Local
5-College Communications Center
Newsletter May 8 - 10, 1970
Memorandum, petition, report May 13 - 15, 1970
Schedules May 7 - 16, 1970
Amherst College May 4 - 8, 1970, n.d.
Hampshire College May 7 - 13, 1970
Mt. Holyoke College May 7 - 25, 1970, n.d.
University of Massachusetts Mar 3 - May 17, 1970, n.d.
Valley Peace Center newsletter May 9 - 14, 1970
Other organizations c. May 1970
National
American Council on Education Jun 19, 1970
Dartmouth College May 6 - 27, 1970
Yale University Apr 19 - May 18, 1970
Other institutions Febr - Jun 13, 1970, n.d.
SERIES III. NEWSCLIPPINGS (May 6 - September 29, 1970. n.d.)
This series contains newsclippings pertaining to Smith College and the other area colleges. There are also national newclippings relating to the nationwide Student Strike of 1970.
Various May 6 - Sept 29, 1970