Stew Albert and Judy Gumbo Albert papers, 1938-2006 (majority within 1968-2006 )
24 boxes, 2 oversize boxes (approximately 28 linear feet)
24 boxes, 2 oversize boxes (approximately 28 linear feet)
The Stew Albert and Judy Gumbo Albert Papers offer insight into the lives of two activists who were involved in anti-Vietnam war protests, members of the Youth International Party (Yippies), and had ties to groups such as the Black Panther Party and the Weather Underground. This collection contains a variety of materials, including manuscripts, FBI files and court documents, photographs, slides, and negatives, artwork, audiovisual material, realia, scrapbooks, and posters. Besides documenting their lives and activities, the collection also offers a glimpse into an aspect of American activism in the 1960s and afterwards, including antiwar protests and the women's liberation movement. The Alberts had close ties to other prominent figures in the movement, such as Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, who are well-represented in this collection through writings, correspondence, photographs, and audio interviews.
With roughly 28 linear feet of materials, the Stew Albert and Judy Gumbo Albert papers are divided into 12 series: Manuscripts and Writings; Name and Correspondence; Personal; Topical Files; FBI Files; Court Documents; Photographs, Slides, and Negatives; Artwork; Audiovisual; Realia; Scrapbooks; and Posters. Researchers should note that books have been separated from the collection and cataloged individually.
24 boxes, 2 oversize boxes (approximately 28 linear feet)
27.25 linear feet (28 boxes) — Posters in Box 28. — Audio cassette in Box 11. — Newspapers clippings are scattered throughout the collection.
In general, most of the series consist of similar kinds of material: Reuben's research notes, drafts of his writings, correspondence, clippings, and reviews of other writings about the case or individual. Some of the series have further value because they include Reuben's collection of printed material about the case. For example, Reuben was particularly active in the Committee to Secure Justice in the Rosenberg Case, and the Rosenberg series includes some of the printed matter put out by this organization. Reuben also collected correspondence of the Civil Rights Congress, a major organization lobbying on behalf of the Trenton Six.
In many ways, the Reuben papers are an assemblage of secondary material. Reuben had little first-hand dealings with either the Rosenbergs or the Trenton Six. Nevertheless, the files have value for their documentation of the manner in which this one investigative reporter worked. Reuben was a meticulous and persistent researcher, who tracked down a variety of leads in a story, first analyzing the available court transcripts and other official records, then corresponding as much as he was able with the people involved in the case (including other writers like himself), and finally monitoring the amount and kind of press coverage given to the case. Unfortunately, Reuben did not gain as much first-hand contact with the principals in his investigations as he would have liked, and thus the collection is not as substantive as the researcher might like. Reuben 's correspondence, furthermore, is often superficial and anecdotal in character. Another disappointment of the collection are Reuben 's notes and drafts, which because they are fragmentary or unidentified, are difficult to use and of questionable research value.
27.25 linear feet (28 boxes) — Posters in Box 28. — Audio cassette in Box 11. — Newspapers clippings are scattered throughout the collection.
Current results range from 1938 to 2006