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Claire Courtney Collection - Finding Aid

Collection Number

2010.02

Contact Information

The University Library, Special Collections
Cal Poly Humboldt
One Harpst Street
Arcata, California 95521

Processed By

Preliminary finding aid by Edie Butler, M.A., C.A.
Container list and arrangement by Kristina Schmitt

Date Collection Processed

2010

Language

English

Collection Creator

Claire Courtney

Dates Covered by Collection

1960s-1990s

Size of Collection

2.5 cubic feet

Abstract

The collection contains notes and documents from the formative years of the Humboldt County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission, League of Women Voters, reproductive rights organizations, and the Humboldt Bay League (precursor of the Humboldt Bay Recreation and Conservation District).

Access

Unprocessed – available by appointment

Copyright

Copyright to Claire Courtney's writings has been deeded to Cal Poly Humboldt. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Special Collections Librarian.

Acquisition Information

Shortly after Claire Courtne's death in 2008 her daughter, Pamela Masterson, deeded the collection to the Archives of Northwestern California Activism of the Center for Environmental Economic Development (CEED) and on April 15, 2010, CEED deeded the collection to the Cal Poly Humboldt Library's Special Collections.

Biographical Information

Claire Courtney was active in progressive and environmental organizations and Democratic Party politics in Humboldt County from the time she arrived in the mid 1950s until shortly before her death in 2008. A native of New York City, she and her new husband Harold Courtney, moved to the west coast where Mr. Courtney was soon employed as a forester, for the USFS in Hoopa. A few years later they moved to the Eureka area. They had four children and then divorced in the 1970s. Claire was committed to the betterment of her community.

Scope and Content of the Collection

The collection contains notes and documents from the formative years of the Humboldt County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission, League of Women Voters, reproductive rights organizations, and the Humboldt Bay League (precursor of the Humboldt Bay Recreation and Conservation District). Files contain information about the committees' activities and related commissions, both local and statewide.

Six cassette tapes record a variety of events: KHSU broadcast on Headwaters, 1993 Eureka Health Forum, [Frank] Riggs-McKinleyville in 1995, and the Northcoast Board of Directors meeting in January 1997.

Files from Claire's years of service on the Board of Directors of the Northcoast Environmental Center have been donated to that organization.

Arrangement of the Collection

Most of the items are in file folders. The folders are in the same order as they were found in the boxes from Claire's home. Some personal items relating to the children (school photographs, report card) were returned to the family at the time the collection went to CEED.

 

Container List

Box 1 

Biographical information
  1. Correspondence and Applications for College and Universities- Eric  [1966]
  2. Financial Aid Records/Forms/Info, 1975-1976
  3. Claire Courtney’s Homework, [1974-77]
  4. [Personal Notes from Claire], [n.d.]
  5. Notice of Academic Space Reservation HSU, 1976-71
  6. Law School Admissions Bulletin 1972-73 

 

Human Rights Work
  1. [UNICEF- United Nations Children's Fund], [1966-67]
  2. Human Resources- Econ, [1967-73]
  3. Community Action Program-OEO-Publications, [1968-69]  
  4. League of Women's Voters, [1963-70]
  5. Peace [Vietnam War], [1969-70]
  6. 1972 Grand Jury- Report to:, 1972 [see also Human Rights Commission]
  7. Symposium- 1967 · Brochure- Printed, 1967
  8. Human Rights Commission, [1973-75]
  9. Robinson, Maejorie RO/Fed, [1969-74]
  10. S.1-Federal Criminal Code, [1974-76]
  11. Police / Community Relations, [1969]
  12. People of the State of California (plaintiff) V. Ingomar Club et al (defendant), [1974-75]
  13. Adult Correctional System Studdy H.C.Norris Babington Report- 1973, [1975]
  14. Correspondence-, [1973-76]
  15. Jail Project/Policy  Litigation, [1974-75] [ see also ACLU]
  16. Lt. Gov.’s Task Force on Women in the Economy,1976
  17. Status of Women Advisory Com Minutes to Be Typed, [circa 1970s]
  18. Humboldt County Advisory Committee of Status of Women, [1976]  
  19. Human Relations, [1968-76]
  20. Humboldt County Adult Correctional System Study, July, 1973
  21. [Social Services], [Circa 1970s]
  22. [Legal Services ], [1976-92]
  23. Humboldt Democrats Central Committee, 1992
  24. [Humboldt Democrats Central Committee Financials], [1992]
  25. [Democrat of the Year], 1992
  26. [Six Rivers Planned Parenthood], [1998-99] [see also Frank Riggs]
  27. [Unitarian Universalist], [1963-76]
  28. [Health], [circa 1970s], [see also cassettes]

 

Box 2

American Civil Liberties Union Human Rights Work
  1. Rape Legislation- ACLU, [1947]
  2. Info for Press Releases, [1964-65]
  3. Correspondence- symposium ‘67 Letterheads- Envelopes, 1967
  4. News Clippings, ACLU Chapt. [1970-75]
  5. Legal Counsel Procedures ACLU, [1972]
  6. American Civil Liberties Union Organization, [1973]
  7. ACLU New Clippings, [1973-76]
  8. Membership Recruitment ACLU, [1973-74]
  9. [ACLU Correspondence], [1973-76]
  10. Legislative Action  [ACLU], [1973-75]
  11. Bill of Rights Award [ACLU], [1973-75]
  12. Student Affiliate ACLU chapter, [1974]
  13. Affiliate Board Minutes [ACLU], [PT1]
  14. Affiliate Board Minutes [ACLU],  [PT2]
  15. Affiliate Board Minutes [ACLU], [PT3]
  16. Affiliate/Bd. Directors, [ACLU], [1974-1975]
  17. Women's Rights Project - ACLU, [1974 - 1975]
  18. Chapter Committee- ACLU+(Chapter Conference Info.), [1974-1976]
  19. Letterhead, Redwoods Chapter, ACLU, [circa 1970s]
  20. Affiliate Board Minutes [ACLU],1975
  21. ACLU Correspondence/Events, [1975-1976]
  22. Affiliate Board Minutes [ACLU], 1976

 

Box 3

Politicians/Politics  
  1. Proposition 14, [1964]
  2. Jess Unruh, [1968-70]
  3. Kortum for Congress, [1970]  
  4. Kortum for Congress pt2, [1970]
  5. Birch Bayh, [1970-71]
  6. George Brown Campaign - U.S. Senate, [1970-71]
  7. Waldie [Jerome R.Waldie], [1970-73]
  8. [U.S Senator Alan Cranston], [1970-75]
  9. McCarthy- Stark Borton, [1972]
  10. McGovern, [cercia 1970’s]
  11. [Budgets in California],  [Circa 1970s]
  12. [U.S Military Budget/Weapons], [1975- 92]
  13. [Variety of Running officials], [1976-93]
  14. Frank Riggs, [Circa 1990s] [see also cassettes]
  15. Dan Hamburg, [1992- 93] [see also oversized flat box]
  16. [Running Officials of 1992 Stance on Abortion], [1992]
  17. [Elections and the Politics of Reproduction: Implications for 1998], [1998]

 

 

Environmental Work 
  1. Ecology Corps, Humboldt Eco Center/ Weott, [1972]
  2. Humboldt Bay Leuge, [1969]
  3. [Humboldt County Harbor District], [1968]
  4. [Recycling in Arcata], 1976
  5. North Coast Environmental Center, 1999
  6. Klamath Province Advisory Committee, [1998-2000]
  7. CM Initiative[ California Marijuana  Initiative], [1970-75]
  8. [Keep Vehicles off Black Sands Beach], [1993-98]
  9. Summary California Coastal Plan California Coastal Zone Conservation Commission, 12-1-1975
  10. An Invitation from the Klamath-Siskiyou Alliance, [Circa, 1990]
  11. [Pacific Lumber Company], [1995-99]
  12. [Erin Forrest/ Bureau of Indian Affairs], [Circa 1970s]

 

Personal Papers and Research 
  1. Victimless Crime-Project, 1974 -1975
  2. [Julia M. King Certificate of Discharge Papers], [1943-53]
  3. Women's Entrepreneur Dictionary of Northern California, 1996-98
  4. [Book Club], [1995-97]
  5. Coordinating Council for Higher Education, 1972
  6. The Midnight Bridge by Mary Norbert Korte, 1970
  7. Iva Toruri (d’AQUINO): Victim of a Legend, [n.d.]
  8. I.F. Stone Weekly the Movie, [1974-75]
  9. [Women's Resumes], [Circa 1970s]
  10. [Flaningon, Print of Artwork, A Man in Street Style Clothing], [n.d.]
  11. (Sketch) By Bev McDonald [Teaching about China SketchBook], [1978]
  12. Bibo and Bear [Casual Fine Dining Ferndale Sample Menu], [n.d.]
  13. Black and white, alone… Poetry Notebook by Deirdre Courtney, [1-14-1975]
  14. The Paper Cafe volume 1 issue 1, July 1992
  15. Cassette Tape 1-6 

 

Box 4
 Oversized 
  1. Friends Don't Let Friends Vote Republican [Poster], [n.d.]
  2. [Mounted Picture #1],[n.d.]
  3. [Mounted Picture #2], [n.d.]
  4. [Framed Image of a Group of People in Regalia], Notes from Verso: 2nd from left: Paul Kuska, 4th from left: Albert Gray, Tall man in Back row: Dan Hamburg (?), congressional representative, [n.d.]   

 

Arrangement of the Collection

The collection has been organized into categories, some in chronological order when beneficial. 

There are seven categories composed of: 

  • Biographical information: including information on Claire's family
  • Human Rights Work: focusing on work done outside of the American Civil Liberties Union, though some overlap and are noted if so.
  • American Civil Liberties Union Human Rights Work: focuses on human rights work done through the ACLU. There is information on the ACLU on a national, state (North Coast chapter), and local level (the Redwood chapter) involving correspondence, meeting information/details, and financial information. All of which is ordered by date.  
  • Politicians/Politics: Covering running and elected politicians, proposed bills, and civil discourse surrounding them. Organized by date, ranging from 1964 to 1998
  • Environmental Work: Continuing information on local and state legislation, environmental movements, and local companies.
  • Personal Papers and Research contains a plethora of information spanning from art to legal documents. There are also cassettes that touch upon prior categories and are noted on the connecting topic.
  • The last box is made up of oversized material, including photos and a poster with unknown dates.  

 

 

 

 

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