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Carolee Gardner Trefts Pasadena School Board Collection

 Collection
Identifier: SPC-2018-013

Scope and Contents

The collection is comprised of a variety of pieces of writing, some of which were written specifically by Carolee Gardner Trefts, including her correspondence, notes and research compiled from newspapers, city organization meetings and agenda minutes. There is a typed manuscript from the 1950s and 1960s written by the head of the teachers'union, which provides historical background into the issues of the school district. There are also court case papers from 1974-1975 regarding modifications to the "Pasadena Plan". In 1970, the District Court, ordered the Board to submit a plan for desegregation of the Pasadena schools. The "Pasadena Plan" was developed and implemented in 1971. Some teachers, parents and students wanted modifications to the plan, which was the basis of these court case papers against the Pasadena City Board of Education. The newspaper articles mainly cover the Pasadena School Board elections, meetings and the issues surrounding the court cases from the early to mid-1970s.

Dates

  • 1963-1979, 1981, 1983, 1999, 2004
  • Majority of material found within 1970-1979

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrctions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

Carolee Gardner Trefts, the creator of this collection, was involved in many civil rights issues in Southern California during the 1960s and 1970s. She was an employee of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC). She also garnered support from the NAACP, parents and students in the Pasadena School District against the unjust actions towards the minority students by some of the Pasadena School Board members.

Extent

3 Linear Feet

9 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection is comprised of various research items compiled by Carolee Gardner Trefts, including her own writings. It mainly documents the history of the Pasadena, California School Board's controversy regarding desegregation and busing effecting the minority students and the internal turmoil within the school board itself between members and school parents. The research also includes a manuscript by Harry Tyler from the 1950s and 1960s, which provides background information for some of the issues that are brought to the forefront in the 1970s. Additionally, there is material from the NAACP, school board members, newspaper articles as well as many other pieces of information referencing civil rights issues in the Los Angeles area and across the United States.

Arrangement

Arranged in 9 boxes.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Louanne Heintz in November 2017.

Title
Inventory of the Carolee Gardner Trefts Pasadena School Board Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Louanne Heintz
Date
November 2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson CA 90747
310-243-3895