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James Goltz and Jean Wood ethnographic fieldwork research on the Committee Against the Briggs Initiative, Los Angeles chapter

 Collection
Identifier: Coll2014-003

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Scope and Contents

Ethnographic fieldwork research of James Goltz and Jean Wood regarding their study of the Committee Against the Briggs Initiative (CABI), Los Angeles chapter, conducted in 1978-1979. The collection includes audio recordings and transcriptions of 29 interviews with members of CABI as well as field notes, administrative records, media clippings, and promotional materials.

Dates

  • Creation: 1975-1979

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Administrative History

In 1978, Senator John Briggs introduced California Proposition 6, the "Briggs Initiative," to prohibit gay and lesbian people as well as those who advocated for gay and lesbian rights from working in public schools. The Committee Against the Briggs Initiative (CABI) formed in the spring of 1978 to fight the proposition. Multiple CABI chapters formed across California, the largest of which were in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. CABI's efforts contributed to the defeat of the proposition in the November 1978 election by a margin of 58% to 42%.

The impetus for the research was a two-quarter graduate seminar at UCLA on Ethnographic Fieldwork conducted by Professor Robert Emerson (Sociology 217A and B). Students were instructed to select a setting in which the principles of participant observation, in-depth interviewing, field-note taking, document collection and other ethnographic methods could be practiced. James Goltz and Jean Wood chose the The Committee Against the Briggs Initiative (CABI) chapter in Los Angeles and conducted interviews with members, attended meetings, and participated in demonstrations and public actions, including picketing a fast food restaurant whose owner had made contributions to the passage of the initiative. All interviews were conducted in-person using a standard questionnaire. The papers written by Goltz and Wood for the seminar are not included in the collection.

Source: Box 1/folder 1, James Goltz Ethnographic Fieldwork Research on the Committee Against the Briggs Initiative, Los Angeles Chapter, Coll2014.003, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Extent

0.8 Linear Feet (2 boxes.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Ethnographic fieldwork research materials of James Goltz and Jean Wood regarding their study of the Committee Against the Briggs Initiative (CABI), Los Angeles chapter, conducted in 1978-1979. The collectin includes 29 interviews with members of CABI as well as field notes, administrative records, media clippings, and promotional materials. CABI was formed when Senator John Briggs introduced California Proposition 6, the "Briggs Initiative," in 1978 to prohibit gay and lesbian people as well as those who advocated for gay and lesbian rights from working in public schools.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically.

Acquisition

Donated by James D. Goltz, January 10, 2014.

Separated Materials

Separated to the ONE audiovisual collection

Audiocassette interviews with Jinx Beers, Steve Brooks, Nancy Brown, Cedric Burns, Ann Egleston, Lee Evans,Larry Goldsmith, Wayne Heiber, Barabara Field/Steve Hockeman, Bill Hoover, Michael Itkin, Bill Jarrico, Ruth, Jessen, Steve Kent, Eugene London, Muriel Marushka, Rae Martinoff, Joyce McEvay, Susan McGrievey, Bob Nelson, John O'Brien, Bill Perdue, Sidney Plotnick, Charles Rosen, Toska Savva, William E. Smith, Jack Welch and Pat Wellner.

Audiocassette recordings titled: post-election, election night, and recollections.

Separated to the ONE button collection

"No on Proposition 6," white with blue writing and red border and torch symbol, 2.25-inch diameter.

"no 6," red with white lettering, 1-inch diameter.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Lizzie Hernandez, January 17, 2014.

Title
Finding Aid to the James Goltz and Jean Wood ethnographic fieldwork research on the Committee Against the Briggs Initiative, Los Angeles chapter
Status
Completed
Author
Lizzie Hernandez
Date
(c) 2014
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Sponsor
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Repository Details

Part of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, University of Southern California Repository

Contact:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles California 90007 United States
(213) 821-2771