Dennis Terry/ National Organization for an American Revolution (N.O.A.R.) Collection
Scope and Contents
The Dennis Terry/National Organization for an American Revolution (N.O.A.R.) Collection (1964-1987, undated; bulk 1978-1987) contains four boxes and 2.6 linear feet of memorandums; meeting minutes; flyers; pamphlets; essays; correspondence; clippings; and other documents collected by Dennis Terry, a former chair of the Bay Area chapter of National Organization for an American Revolution (NOAR). Series I: NOAR Records contains material about or generated by NOAR including financial documents, guidelines, material related to committees such as the Central Committee (CC), National Central Committee (NCC), Political Education Committee (PEC), Propaganda Committee (PPC); material related to NOAR locals such as the Bay Area, Detroit, Milawakee, and Muskegeon branches; as well as material regarding the Revolutionary Study Group (RSG); Cadre Training School; and James McFadden, Grace Lee Boggs, and James Boggs correspondence, memorandums, essays, papers, and presentations. Series II: Other Grassroots Organizations contains event and workshop flyers; leaflets; newsletters; fact sheets; press releases; and other documents related to organizations that Dennis Terry was most likely affliated with such as New Action Party (NAP), Michigan Committee for Organizing the Unemployed; United People for Dignity and Change; and other groups. Series III: Subject Files contains clippings; articles; flyers; pamphlets; and other material regarding topics such as: African Americans; education; family; the Jesse Jackson presidential campaign; Native Americans; crime and socioeconomic conditions in Oakland, CA.; political movements; racism; religion; South African apartheid; unemployment; and the women's movement. Series IV: Personal Papers contains papers and final exams authored or co-authored by Dennis Terry from his political science, economics, sociology, creative writing, African American, and Black studies coursework; job applications; resumes; notebooks that contain material related to NOAR committees and revolutionary study group (RSG), essays, and coursework; correspondence; and contact information and resources regarding various political organizations in the community.
Dates
- 1964-1987; undated
- Majority of material found within 1978-1987
Creator
- Terry, Dennis (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection except where notated at file-level.
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
Dennis Terry was born in 1950 in Youngstown, OH. He was the former chair of the Bay Area chapter of National Organization for an American Revolution (NOAR). Terry attended University of California Berkeley and received a B.A. in political science in 1975; and took graduate coursework in political science and public administration at San Francisco State from 1975-1976. From 1970-1981 he held multiple positions as an instructional aide clerk, office clerk, tutor, and library assistant.
James and Grace Lee Boggs were revolutionary socialists who contributed to the founding of National Organization for an American Revolution (NOAR) circa the late 1970s. NOAR was founded on the idea that there should be a new America due to concerns regarding the future of the United States and its citizens. This new America would benefit all man/womankind, and placed an emphasis on the value of mutual respect, responsibility and cooperation in families, communities, and the country. One of their most popular pamphlets, written primarily by James Boggs entitled "Manifesto for an American Revolutionary Party" expressed NOAR's vision of a new, self-governing America and a concept of citizenship in which people accept responsibility for making social, economic, and political deicisions. NOAR also held public forums, organized locals across the country, and published pamphlets and short statements on contemporary national issues and local concerns.
Sources:
WARD, STEPHEN M. In Love and Struggle: The Revolutionary Lives of James and Grace Lee Boggs University of North Carolina Press, 2020.
National Organization for an American Revolution [brochure] Box 1, Folder 1
Constitution of the National Organization for an American Revolution, Adopted at the Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia PA, September 24, 1978 Box 1, Folder 1
Extent
4 boxes
2.63 Linear Feet (two record storage boxes; two document cases)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains clippings; essays; presentations; speeches; event and workshop flyers; newsletters; fact sheets; and other material belonging to Dennis Terry, former chair of the Bay Area chapter of the National Organization for an American Revolution (NOAR). Also included are materials generated by NOAR, and a few of its founding members, James and Grace Lee Boggs such as correspondence, speeches, leaflets, essays, and committee meeting minutes and notes; and material from when Terry was a student such as notes and graded coursework.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into four series
- Series I: National Organization for an American Revolution (N.O.A.R), 1964, 1974-1985
- Series II: Other Grassroots Organizations, 1975-1985; undated
- Series III: Subject Files, 1971-1987; circa 1970s-1980s; undated
- Series IV: Personal Papers, 1974-1986; circa 1970s-1980s
Source
- National Organization for an American Revolution (Organization)
Creator
- Terry, Dennis (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Dennis Terry/National Organization for an American Revolution (N.O.A.R.) Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Karen Clemons
- Date
- 2022-05
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections Repository
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson CA 90747
310-243-3895
archives@csudh.edu