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American Civil Liberties Union Records: Subgroup 3, Regional Offices Files Series
Notifications
Held at: Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The ACLU is the preeminent civil liberties organization in the United States. The ACLU describes itself as "our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country." Since its inception in 1920, the ACLU has played a part in nearly every significant American social or political issue in the 20th century. This includes important work in the areas of civil rights, children and women's rights, freedom of speech (and all First Amendment questions), and due process, among many others.
For a more detailed history of the ACLU, please see the history in the finding aid for the processed portion of the ACLU Records.
The Regional Offices series documents the work and administration of the ACLU's three regional offices: Mountain States Regional Office, concerned with civil rights in the west and Native American rights, the Southern Regional Office, focusing on civil rights in the south, and the Washington, D.C. office, which concentrates on national legislation and the actions of the federal government. The files include correspondence, case files, office publications, research files, and the papers of individual staff members.
Historical sketch based on In Defense of American Liberties: A History of the ACLU by Samuel Walker. See also Samuel Walker's The American Civil Liberties Union: An Annotated Bibliography.
FOR DIGITIZED CONTENT: Please see the Guide to the American Civil Liberties Union Records.
Materials are transferred from the ACLU annually.
A group of Laura W. Murphy's papers (20 boxes) was donated in 2004, but was not accessioned and processed until 2013 (ML.2013.020), when the papers were added to the ACLU Records, Subgroup 3. They can be found in Subseries 5C: Washington, D.C. Regional Office, under "Staff Files."
This finding aid describes a portion of the American Civil Liberties Union Records held at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. For an overview of the entire collection, instructions on searching the collection and requesting materials, and other information, please see the Guide to the American Civil Liberties Union Records.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
Materials in MC001.03.05 in Box 4506 have been treated for mold; however, materials may still be fragile and exhibit signs of damage. Researchers should exercise caution when handling these materials. Not all materials were salvaged.
This collection was processed by Adriane Hanson in 2010-2012 with the assistance of Special Collections Assistant David Gillespie and student assistants Brandon Joseph, Abbie Kimbell, Jamie LaMontagne, and Emma Watt. Finding aid written by Adriane Hanson in April 2012. Description of Subseries 5B: Southern Regional Office written by Brenda Tindal in May 2012. A group of Laura Murphy's papers (ML.2013.020) was processed in July 2013 by Sara Griffiths and Rachel Wilson '16. Records were removed to archival boxes at this time. Personnel records were separated from the rest of the collection and placed in separate boxes.
Boxes 3644, 3791, 3792, 4072, 4114, 4142, 4281, 4311, and 4533 were treated by American Freeze Dry, Inc. for mold.
Development records, personnel records, and mold-damaged records were separated from this series during processing.
Organization
- American civil liberties union
- American Civil Liberties Union. Mountain States Regional Office
- American Civil Liberties Union. Southern Regional Office
- American Civil Liberties Union. Washington Office
Subject
- Civil rights -- Southern states
- Civil rights -- United States
- Civil rights -- United States -- Cases
- Civil rights -- West (U.S.)
- Discrimination -- Southern States
- Government accountability -- United States
- Indians of North America -- Civil rights. -- 20th century
- Legislation -- United States
- National security -- Law and legislation -- United States
- Suffrage -- United States
- United States -- Emigration and immigration -- Government policy
- Publisher
- Public Policy Papers
- Finding Aid Author
- Adriane Hanson; Brenda Tindal
- Finding Aid Date
- 2012
- Sponsor
- These papers were processed with the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and the John Foster and Janet Avery Dulles Fund.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
The Regional Offices series documents the work and administration of the ACLU's three regional offices: Mountain States Regional Office, concerned with civil rights in the west and Native American rights, the Southern Regional Office, focusing on civil rights in the south, and the Washington, D.C. office, which concentrates on national legislation and the actions of the federal government. The files include correspondence, case files, office publications, research files, and the papers of individual staff members. Please see the subseries descriptions for additional information about the contents of each subseries.
This series is a continuation of ACLU Records: Subgroup 2, Subseries 1G: Regional Offices, 1953-1985.
Divided into three subseries: Mountain States Regional Office, Southern Regional Office, and Washington, D.C. Regional Office.
Physical Description959 boxes
The Mountain States Regional Office subseries documents the administration and work of the office, which focused on civil liberties in the western United States and Native American rights. The files include the records of area affiliates, notably the Wyoming affiliate, case files, and reference (subject) files on the full range of civil liberties issues that the ACLU addresses. Also included are files on the Crisis Area Fund Grant program, the Indian Rights Committee, and the general administration of the office.
In Subgroup 2, see also Subseries 1G: Regional Offices, 1953-1985.
The boxes are arranged alphabetically by subject or document type.
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Todd Hall v. State
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Hatfield v. Rochelle Coal Company and Leonard v. Converse County School District No.2
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The State of Wyoming v. Roy Joseph Ochoa aka Jonathon M. Nielson
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Also includes Mahoney v. District of Columbia, Hirsh v. City of Atlanta, and Roe v. Wade.
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This case, civ. no. 90-0072-S-HLR (D. Idaho 1990), was a "conditions of confinement" lawsuit against the Blaine County Jail in Hailey, Idaho. The case ended with a consent decree under which the defendants were obligated to fix the deficiencies.
Physical Description1 folder
This case, civ. no. 90-4145 (D.S.C. 1990), was a "public employee free speech" case in South Dakota. Bahr was a public employee who was disciplined by his supervisors after publicly criticizing the mayor and city commissioners. After filing the lawsuit, the city rescinded its reprimand of Mr. Bahr and submitted an Offer of Judgment which Mr. Bahr accepted.
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This case, civ. no. 81-1165-S-EJL, regards a prisoner's rights. In 1995, the Idaho Department of Correction filed a motion seeking to amend a court order entered in this case in 1987 so that they could begin to "double-cell" inmate living units. Pevar agreed to represent the inmates in challenging that motion, with the particular help of David Nyberg, a prisoner. Soon after the case was one, the Idaho Department of Correction transferred Nyberg to Florida. The ACLU filed a motion to hold the defendents in contempt, claiming that the transfer was retaliatory. The case was eventually settled -- Nyberg was sent to Nevada at his request and obtained damages.
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This case (943 P.2d 933 Idaho 1997) attented to have the Idaho Supreme Court rule that correctional officials at Idaho's "boot camp" program were disobeying the due process procedural requirements imposed on them by an earlier Idaho Supreme Court decision in determining whether participants in this program should be recommended for parole. The court avoided the constitutional claims and ruled against Buffington in a 3-2 decision on state-law grounds.
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This case (51 F.3d 894 9th Circuit 1995) helped establish the right of access to courts for persons institutionalized in mental hospitals. The Ninth Circut held that the right of access to the courts extends only through the pleading state of the case and not throughout the entire case.
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This case (Civ. No. 90-5001 D.S.D. 1990) concerned conditions of confinement in the Fall River County Jail in Hot Springs, South Dakota. It was settled on favorable terms just prior to trial.
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In this case (Civ. No. 97-36020 9th Circuit 1997), the issue was a rule by the Idaho Department of Correction making it difficult for inmates to obtain photocopies of documents needed in litigation. The ACLU agreed to file a limited representation in this case, seeking to help Drennon (an inmate) pursue the photocopy issue). The court rendered that issue moot by instructing the district court to make the necessary copies.
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This case (94 F.3d 1287 Ninth Circuit 1996; cert. denied 520 U.S. 1103 1997) challenged a policy of the Alaska Department of Corrections that prevented inmates from obtaining the photocopies they needed for litigation. The district court dismissed the case on res judicata grounds, holding that the plaintiff should have litigated the issue in a prior class action case. The ACLU appealed, and the Ninth Circuit Court ruled in their favor. The defendants filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court, which was denied. The case was then remanded. While the case was pending on remand, the defendants changed their photocopy policy, which mooted the claim for injunctive relief. The ACLU continued to pursue Mr. Hiser's claim for damages, but the district court and the Ninth Circuit in a subsequent unreported decision granted summary judgment to the defendants on that claim.
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Timothy Hiser is a Native American prisoner who was forced to have his hair cut by prison officials. He filed a lawsuit seeking damages (Civ. No. 89-3046-TS D. Idaho 1992), claiming that an earlier consent decree obtained against these same officials protected all Native American prisoners from having their hair cut if they had a religious objection to the procedure. After the suit was filed pro se, the ACLU agreed to represent Mr. Hiser. The state then settled the case, agreeing to pay damages to Mr. Hiser and pay the ACLU attorney's fees.
Physical Description1 folder
In this case (Civ. No 93-126-M Oklahoma 1993), the ACLU represented Judge Melinda Monnet in a discrimination lawsuit against the other judges on her court, alleging sex discrimation. The district court granted summary judgment to the defendants based on qualified immunity and the plaintiff decided not to appeal.
Physical Description1 folder
When persons in Idaho were found not guilty by reason of insanity, they were placed in a prison medical facility (where they received minimal rehabilitative care) rather than a civil mental facility. This lawsuit (Civ. No. 84-1164 Idaho 1984) ended that practice and secured damages to three people subject to this policy. The court also granted attorneys' fees to the ACLU.
Physical Description1 folder
This suit (Civ. No 91-0296-S-EJL Idaho 1991) alleged invasion of privacy on behalf of prisoners. The case was settled; each inmate recieved damages, the ACLU obtained attorney's fees, and the Deputy Warden issued a written apology to all six inmates subject to the incident.
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In this case (Civ. No. C88-0161-B Wyoming 1988), school officials strip seached the plantiff, a student, looking for chewing tobacco. The ACLU filed suit based on the invasion of pricay, and the case was soon settled. Defendants agreed to pay damages to the plaintiff, attorney's fees to the ACLU, and to enact a policy that permits a strip seach of a student only when necessary to find a weapon.
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This case (795 F. Supp. 134 Montana 1992) was filed in 1985 on behalf of visitors to the Montana State Penitentiary who were strip searched by prison officers when they came to visit prisoners. The case ended with a settlement agreement that required the prison to provide visitors with procedural safeguards before subjecting them to a strip search. In 1992 and 1994, the ACLU filed contempt actions to enforce the agreement. During the course of this litigation, the ACLU obtained two decisions from the court. In an unpublished decision, the court held that the intended beneficiaries of a settlement agreement may seek to enforce that agreement through a contempt action. The secoond decision awarded attorneys' fees to the ACLU for post-judgment monitoring of a settlement agreement.
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Federal District Court, Wyoming.
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Federal District Court, New Mexico.
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Federal District Court, Idaho.
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Federal District Court, Wyoming.
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Federal District Court, Wyoming.
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Federal District Court, North Dakota.
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Federal District Court, North Dakota.
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Federal District Court, North Dakota.
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U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
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U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
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Federal District Court, North Dakota.
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Federal District Court, North Dakota.
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Federal District Court, South Dakota.
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Federal District Court, Montana.
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Federal Disctrict Court, South Dakota.
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U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
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Federal Disctrict Court, Nevada.
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Federal Disctrict Court, Nevada.
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Federal Disctrict Court, Wyoming.
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Federal Disctrict Court, Idaho.
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Federal Disctrict Court, Nevada.
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Federal Disctrict Court, Montana.
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Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
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Federal Disctrict Court, Idaho.
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Federal Disctrict Court, Idaho.
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Federal Disctrict Court, Idaho.
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From Mudd Library correspondence with Stephen Pevar: "Beginning in 1986, and lasting until we closed, we had a Legal Panel of 8-10 attorneys who met as needed (usually once every 4-6 weeks) and reviewed potential cases. For each meeting, staff counsel Stephen Pevar prepared case summaries for all current and potential cases. This file therefore contains the most complete summary of all cases we litigated, and those we considered."
Physical Description1 box
From Mudd Library correspondence with Stephen Pevar: "Beginning in 1986, and lasting until we closed, we had a Legal Panel of 8-10 attorneys who met as needed (usually once every 4-6 weeks) and reviewed potential cases. For each meeting, staff counsel Stephen Pevar prepared case summaries for all current and potential cases. This file therefore contains the most complete summary of all cases we litigated, and those we considered."
Physical Description1 box
From Mudd Library correspondence with Stephen Pevar: "Beginning in 1986, and lasting until we closed, we had a Legal Panel of 8-10 attorneys who met as needed (usually once every 4-6 weeks) and reviewed potential cases. For each meeting, staff counsel Stephen Pevar prepared case summaries for all current and potential cases. This file therefore contains the most complete summary of all cases we litigated, and those we considered."
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Title VIII, Utah.
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Due process, Nevada.
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Woman's right to change her name, South Dakota.
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Textbook fees unconstitutional, North Dakota.
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Conditions of county jail, Wyoming.
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Releasing information on prior convictions, Wyoming.
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Police brutality, Idaho.
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Display of ten commandments on classroom wall, North Dakota.
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Freedom of association.
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Card counting case, Nevada.
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Loitering statute, Nebraska.
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Kerry Eugene Garnett v. Leonard D. Munker, Duane Shillinger, and Governor Edgar Herschler
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Ku Klux Klan (KKK) v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
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Marbury v. Madison
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The main subjects are prisons, capital punishment, and the separation of church and state. Other subjects include censorship, Nixon, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the conduct of law enforcement, free speech, rights of the disabled, and the environment.
Physical Description1 box
This subseries documents the activities of the Southern Regional Office from the 1960's to the 1980's, including records of its formation and the court cases in which its staff litigated. In general, this subseries contains correspondence, memos, court documents, amicus briefs, publications, testimony, reports and studies, administrative files, personnel records, meeting minutes, and documents related to the history of the office. The Southern Regional Office files are grouped under eleven headings: Administrative files, Affiliates, Briefs, Case Files, Challenges, Georgia Voting Rights Legislation, Minority Land Project, Operation Southern Justice, Staff, and Subject files.
The Case files constitute the largest component of the Southern Regional Office records. This section contains 306 boxes of material, documenting court cases for which the office provided litigation in the thirteen Southern states. There is a generous amount of material pertaining to cases such as Armour v. Nix (1979), which held that an interdistrict remedy to integrating schools is not appropriate; Busbee v. Smith, relating to the legislative redistricting and elections, holding that elections could be held after the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, among other major cases. Many of the case files document ACLU's efforts to challenge injustice and segregation in public arenas, including schools, juries, prisons, and employment. Researchers might also be interested in the transcript and case materials in the Clay v. The United States which involved famed boxer and conscientious objector, Muhammad Ali, detailing his refusal to be inducted into the United States Army and the legal and professional ramifications that followed. Relatedly, the Briefs section includes material related to civil suits, appeals and appellant briefs, including those related to the Democratic Party of the State of Mississippi, the National Democratic Party, and the National Democratic Party of the State of Mississippi, among others.
The Administrative files include letters of correspondence and other documents related to the formation of the Southern Regional Office, organizational membership, financial and legal reports, and ACLU litigation policies and guides. In terms of the personnel and leaders associated with the regional office, researchers will find the Staff section of this subseries of interest, as it contains materials related to staff attorneys Morris Brown, Emily Calhoun Carssow, Christopher Coates, as well as case files compiled by director Charles Morgan Jr. In addition, the Affiliates section largely consists of records related to other regional chapters based in the South and its leadership structures.
The Alabama section contains records on the state's politics, census figures, voter laws, and various documents related to Alabama court cases. Relatedly, the Challenges records include materials concerning laws governing elections, due process, and the Southern Regional Office's preemptory challenges in the South, especially in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.
In earmarking voting rights and racial discrimination as their signature aims, the Southern Regional Office initiated various projects to address these issues. In this subseries, there are records related to the offices' work on the Georgia Voting Rights Legislation; the Minority Land Project, which sought to investigate discriminatory practices in home and landownership and assist and educate minority landowners on their property rights; and Operation Southern Justice, a program that addressed segregation in the South's judicial systems. More generally, the Subject files covers the gamut of civil liberties issues in which the office was involved, as well as information pertaining to external organizations and projects that focus on ensuring civil liberties.
In Subgroup 2, see also Subseries 1G: Regional Offices, 1953-1985 and Subseries 3C.6: Equality Before the Law: Voting Rights, 1941-1975. In Subgroup 3, see also Subseries 2K: Voters' Rights Project.
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Contempt proceeding of Community Action Group v. City of Columbus.
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