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Catherine G. Stern papers

 Collection
Identifier: 0301

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Scope and Content

The Catherine G. Stern papers include materials from 1951 to 2001 that document Stern's involvement with various civic organizations. Her role with the Los Angeles County Commission of Human Relations, the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation Council, and the Community Relations Conference of Southern California is documented in the collection through correspondence, article clippings, reports, pamphlets, copies of speeches, and memorandums.

Dates

  • Creation: 1951 - 2001

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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.

Biographical note

Catherine "Kate" G. Stern was born on November 19, 1910 in New York, but moved with her family to Los Angeles, California during her elementary school years. She attended Los Angeles High School before enrolling at UCLA where she received a B.A. Degree in English with a minor in Psychology in 1932. Between 1945 and 1960, Stern became involved with various organizations. She began her community efforts with the PTA and then moved on to coordinating councils. She volunteered for the Red Cross at their neuro-psychiatric hospital, she was Chair of the Wilshire Coordinating Council where she formed the first Human Relations Committee, and she served as a member for Governor Pat Brown's Advisory Committee. While serving on the Advisory Committee, she was selected as a delegate to attend the White House Conference for Children and Youth in Washington D.C.



From 1953 to 1991, Stern served on the Board of Directors for the Community Relations Conference of Southern California. From 1960 to 1973, she served on the Board of Directors for the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation Council and as Chair for the Urban Affairs Commission of Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation. She was commissioner of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, President of the L.A. County Commission from 1966-1968, a member of the Board of Directors for Regional Planning Association, and Chair for the "Agony of City Conference" and "Agony of County Conference." In addition, she served on the subcommittee for the Citizen's Advisory Council to L.A. County Regional Planning Commission, the Los Angeles City Social Service commission from 1973-1983, and the KCET Community Advisory Committee from 1979-1989. She received the UCLA Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service 1985.



In addition to her work as a social activist for civil and human rights, Stern also began studying art in 1971 with such notable artists as Robert Bizinsky, Kero Antoyan, and Barbara Hagan. Stern was a member of the Los Angeles Art Association and had over 30 private shows. She was married to Meyer Stern, a former insurance executive, with whom she had two children, Mathilde and Dean. Catherine Stern died on September 23, 2010.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Catherine G. Stern was a social activist for civil and human rights. The papers contain correspondence, administrative papers, reports, and publications from the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, the Community Relations Conference of Southern California, the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights, and other civic, educational, and artistic organizations with which Stern was involved.

Arrangement

Original order and original series designation was maintained with the Stern papers.

Acquisition

The papers were given to the University of Southern California in 1997 by Catherine G. Stern.

Title
The Finding Aid of the Catherine G. Stern papers
Status
Completed
Author
Katie Richardson and Andrew Goodrich
Date
November 2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Sponsor
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the Council on Library and Information Resources.

Repository Details

Part of the USC Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0189 United States