| Creator: | Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice. |
| Title: | Biography: Helen Gahagan Douglas |
| Collection No.: | ohrc014 |
| Dates: | 1973-1983 |
| Quantity: |
Quantity: 22 Interviews (Audio files, transcripts, and collateral materials ) |
| Abstract: | In this project, the life and political career of Helen Gahagan Douglas are detailed in the context of her Hollywood connections and California home. Although Douglas briefly enjoyed opera and acting careers, the majority of the interviews focus on her political activities. A Democrat, she served as a representative from California in the United States House of Representatives from 1944 to 1950, before being defeated by Richard Nixon in her bid for congressional senator. In addition, Douglas' personal life and characteristics are important topics in many of the interviews. |
| Location: | Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030A. Contact ohrc@indiana.edu for more information. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University Archives. For other locations housing the interviews from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office. |
| Language: | Materials are in English |
| Repository: | Center for Documentary Research and Practice Franklin Hall 0030B 601 E. Kirkwood Avenue Bloomington, Indiana 47405 Business Number: 812-855-2856 ohrc@indiana.edu URL: https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu/ |
This collection contains 22 intervies. The interview consists of tapes and typed transcripts, as well as collateral materials.
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier (pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript (deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview. Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University, Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
No(s): 81-032
Physical Description: 59 pp.; 2 audiocassettes, 1 7/8 ips; no index
Scope and Content Note: Martha Allen, Helen Gahagan Douglas' cousin, shares memories of Helen and the rest of the family. She also touches upon some highlights of Helen's career as an actress and politician.
Indexed Terms:
Conditions Governing Access: Open
No(s): 81-027
Physical Description: 24 pp.; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips; no index
Scope and Content Note: Leisa Bronson discusses her experiences in the Democratic Party and her contacts with Helen Gahagan Douglas. She talks about prominent political figures at the time, her involvement in planning and attending political conferences, and her involvement in campaigning.
Indexed Terms:
Conditions Governing Access: Open
No(s): 83-067
Physical Description: 61 pages; 2 audiocassettes, 1 7/8 ips; index
Scope and Content Note: Florence "Susie" Clifton discusses her relationship and memories of Helen Gahagan Douglas and Douglas' political career in California. Gahagan Douglas served in the House of Representatives from California from 1944 to 1950, before entering into an ill-fated election for Congressional senator versus Richard Nixon. Clifton speaks of California politics, Douglas' opera and acting careers, California electoral districts, African-Americans in the context of California politics, Douglas' campaign for the senate, and the sources of campaign funds. A politician herself, intensely involved with the Democratic party, Clifton speaks of the California State Central Committee, and Congress. Finally, she speaks of Helen Gahagan Douglas' associations with such well-known figures as her husband, actor Melvyn Douglas, Jimmy Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Harry S. Truman.
Indexed Terms:
Access Status: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 83-058
Physical Description: not transcribed; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips, 34 minutes
Scope and Content Note: Eloise Cohen discusses the life and political history of Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 81-028
Physical Description: 86 pages; 3 audiocassette tapes, 1 7/8 ips, no index
Language: English .
Scope Note: Alis DeSola, born in 1902, recounts her friendship with Helen Gahagan douglas in the acting and political world. She discusses their lives as young women in the 1920s at Barnard and the gender roles in academia, such as her experience as a philosophy student at Columbia. She goes on to discuss the complicated experience of women balancing career, children, and marriage. DeSola also speaks on the difference between an intellectual and intellectualism.
Indexed Terms:
Access Status : Open
No(s): 73-019
Physical Description: 262 pp.; 8 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 10 hours, 30 minutes
Scope and Content Note: Helen Gahagan Douglas was born in New York City in 1900. She grew up in a large, cultured family that valued education and attended Barnard for two years before leaving to pursue a singing and acting career. Gahagan Douglas performed in several Broadway plays and sang all over the world before marrying Melvyn Douglas in 1930. She continued singing and acting for some time but became involved in politics. Gahagan Douglas was elected Democratic National Committee woman from California and served in the U.S.A.. House of Representatives from 1944 to 1950. In 1950, she ran against Richard Nixon for the United States Senate and lost. After this, she withdrew from politics but remained a speaker and activist. In the interview she talks about these aspects of her life and also, her family and upbringing.
Indexed Terms:
Conditions Governing Access: Open
No(s): 83-065
Physical Description: not transcribed; 2 audiocassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour, 30 minutes; no index
Scope and Content Note: Philip Dunne, born in 1908, recalls his memories of and association with Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 83-069
Physical Description: not transcribed; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 2 hours; no index
Scope and Content Note: In this interview, Creekmont Fath discusses his associations with and memories of Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 81-031
Physical Description: 51 pp.; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips; no index
Scope and Content Note: Walter Gahagan, Jr., Helen Gahagan Douglas' younger brother, shares his memories of his sister. He discusses growing up in Brooklyn, New York and Helen's interest in theater and opera. He touched upon some aspects of Helen's political career. He also talk about running the family construction business, and the reasons for its final dissolution.
Indexed Terms:
Conditions Governing Access: Open
No(s): 83-061
Physical Description: 27 pp.; 1 cassette, 1 7/8 ips, 42 minutes; no index
Scope and Content Note: Greenaway, born in 1929, describes California politics in the nineteen forties, nineteen fifties, and early nineteen sixties, including the operation of the California Democratic Committee, its candidates for local, statewide, and national offices, and the use of rumors of opponents' affiliation with the Communist Party ("red smear") for political gain.
Indexed Terms:
Conditions Governing Access: Open
No(s): 83-066
Physical Description: not transcribed; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour, 22 minutes; no index
Scope and Content Note: In this interview, Sharon Lybeck discusses her memories of and association with Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 81-30
Physical Description: 19 pp.; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips, no index
Scope and Content Note: Paul Meyers graduated with a bachelor of fine arts from New York University in 1938. He discusses his early acting experiences, the Broadway climate of the twenties and thirties, and the union-like activity of Equity in casting actors. He then speaks briefly about the acting of Helen Gahagan Douglas, her desire for more serious roles, and the scope of her acting notoriety.
Indexed Terms:
Conditions Governing Access: Open
No(s): 83-059
Physical Description: not transcribed; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips, 36 minutes; no index
Scope and Content Note: In this interview, H.L. Mitchell recalls memories and associations with Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 83-062
Physical Description: not transcribed; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips, 46 minutes; no index
Scope and Content Note: Claude Pepper, born 1900 and died 1989, discusses his association with Helen Gahagan Douglas, his thoughts about her, and his memories of her.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 83-060
Physical Description: not transcribed; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips, 26 minutes; no index
Scope and Content Note: Esther Peterson, born in 1906, recalls her association with Helen Gahagan Douglas and her memories of Gahagan Douglas.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 83-068
Physical Description: not transcribed; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips, 38 minutes; no index
Scope and Content Note: Alan Rivkin discusses Helen Gahagan Douglas and his association with and memories of her.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 83-063
Physical Description: not transcribed; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips, 50 minutes
Scope and Content Note: Anne Seymour, born 1909 and died 1988, recalls and discusses her relationship with Helen Gahagan Douglas in this interview. An actress herself, Seymour speaks of Douglas' acting and political careers.
Indexed Terms:
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 83-064
Physical Description: not transcribed; 2 audiocassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 158 minutes
Scope and Content Note: In this interview, Elizabeth Snyder recalls and discusses her association and relationship with Helen Gahagan Douglas. In addition, she speaks of the life, career, and political history of Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 81-025
Physical Description: 70 pp.; 2 audiocassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 70 minutes; no index
Scope and Content Note: Nan Stevens, secretary to Hollywood and Broadway stars, dedicated a considerable amount of her career to Helen Gahagan Douglas and Melvyn Douglas. In this interview, she discusses her relations with Carol Bruce and the Douglases, the Douglases' health and aging, their parenting skills, Melvyn Douglas' acting career, and his wife's singing career. In particular, Stevens discusses her personal relationship and recollections with the Douglases.
Indexed Terms:
Conditions Governing Access: Open
No(s): 83-057
Physical Description: not transcribed; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips, 5 minutes
Scope and Content Note: Esther van Waggoner Tufty, born 1896 and died 1986, talks briefly on the life and political history of Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 83-056
Physical Description: not transcribed; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips, 30 minutes.
Scope and Content Note: Terrell Webb discusses the life and political history of Helen Gahagan Douglas.
Conditions Governing Access: Restricted: Contact center staff for more information
No(s): 81-026
Physical Description: 31 pp.; 1 7/8 ips; no index
Scope and Content Note: Jacob Zeitlin was involved with Helen Gahagan Douglas's California political campaigns. he discusses her and his perceptions of her career. He also talks about campaign contributions and funding, communism and House Un-American Activities Committee, and Hollywood's influence on California politics.
Indexed Terms:
Conditions Governing Access: Open
No(s): 81-029
Physical Description: 18 pp.; 1 audiocassette, 1 7/8 ips; no index
Scope and Content Note: Paul Ziffron, active in Democratic politics at both the national and state levels from the late nineteen thirties, discusses the political activities, platforms, and campaigns of Helen Gahagan Douglas. Ziffron speaks of how the Korean War, the communist scare, and her opponent in the California Senate election, Richard Nixon, and his reputed dirty politics. In addition, Ziffron recalls how and why Douglas rose to the political levels that she did, and his relations with her and other members of their group.
Indexed Terms:
Conditions Governing Access: Open