Los Angeles, California - Community Relations Committee Records

Manuscript Collection No. 619

1938-1941. 1 Linear ft.

ACCESS AND PROVENANCE

Duplicate copies of reports of the LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE were donated to the American Jewish Archives by the Urban Archives Center of The California State University, Northridge, in September, 1997. The original records are part of a much larger collection held by the Urban Archives Center.

Literary rights have not been dedicated to the public. Any question concerning literary or copyrights should be addressed to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.

The reports are open to all users and available in the reading room of the American Jewish Archives.

INSTITUTIONAL SKETCH top

The Los Angeles Community Relations Committee (CRC) was formed in 1933. It is believed to be the first of over 100 locally organized Jewish defense organizations in the United States established during the 1930s.

The Jewish Community Relations Committees (JCRCs) were spontaneously organized in response to Hitler's rise to power in Europe and the increase of antisemitic activity by Nazis and similar racist groups in the United States. Between 1933 and 1946 the Los Angeles CRC organized an informant network and reporting system that often proved highly successful in infiltrating and exposing Nazi and other fascist and antisemitic organizations operating in the Los Angeles area, as well as these groups' national and international connections. The CRC amassed a wealth of information that it disseminated in a variety of ways, including its own News Research Service.

Leon L. Lewis, first executive secretary of the Los Angeles CRC, was a past national secretary of the B'nai B'rith's Anti-Defamation League and a disabled veteran of World War I; he used his connections with veterans groups to combat fascism and antisemitism. Through Lewis's connections, the American Legion Department of California asked the CRC to prepare a background report on fascist activities in Southern California for the department to present to the House Un-American Activities Committee, chaired by Representative Martin Dies (commonly referred to as the Dies Committee).

The resulting "Summary Report on Activities of Nazi Groups and Their Allies in Southern California," was presented to the committee in September, 1938. The committee asked for more, and the CRC submitted additions to the first report in September, 1939, and January and July, 1940. The Dies Committee's own investigators also drew heavily on leads and information provided by the Los Angeles CRC, as compiled (for example) in James Steedman's report, "Glimpses from the Subversive Scene in Southern California," which he prepared for his employers on the Dies Committee in June, 1941.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE top

The records of the LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUMMITEE (1938-1941) consist of one record center carton (1 ft.) and contain two reports describing Nazi activities in Southern California from 1938-1941.

The first report, "Glimpses from the Subversive Scene in Southern California," prepared by James Steedman for his employers on the Dies Committee in June, 1941, is contained in one folder. Steedman relied heavily on leads and information provided by the Los Angeles CRC.

The second, "Summary Report on Activities of Nazi Groups and Their Allies in Southern California," is contained in 33 folders. The Summary Report was prepared by the Los Angeles CRC to be presented to the House Un-American Activities Committee (Dies Committee) and was submitted in four sections over a period of 3 years. In the collection the report is divided into four volumes by the date of presentation to the Dies Committee. Each volume contains at least two of four sections: the main text of the report, supplemental text, an index to the volume (names, organizations and subject headings) and exhibits (copies of pamphlets, letters, newspaper articles, and other propaganda materials). The index includes the following headings: Italian fascists, the Movie Industry, Japanese agents, Ku Klux Klan, Henry D.Allen, German-American Alliance, White Russians, and Hermann Schwinn.

The reports held by the American Jewish Archives are duplicates. The originals of the reports, as well as the documentation on which they are based, are contained in the Jewish Federation - Council of Los Angeles Community Relations Committee Collection and are open to researchers at the Urban Archives Center in Oviatt Library at California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge CA 91330-8329; telephone (818) 677-4199; fax (818) 677-2676. The Urban Archives Center, is open from 9am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday; appointments are recommended.

BOX AND FOLDER LISTING top


Box   Folder   Contents

1    1    "Glimpses from the Subversive Scene in Southern California," by James H.
          Steedman, Je 7, 1941

     2    "Summary Report on Activities of Nazi Groups and their Allies in Southern
          California":
            (For D, 1936-S, 1938), S, 1938:
               Part 1: The German-American Bund:
                    Chapters 1-4 [pp. 1-82]
     3              Chapters 5-9 [pp. 83-206]
     4         Part 2: The Main Allies of the Nazis
               Part 3: Leading Fascist Individuals and Organizations [pp. 207-348]
     5         Supplements and Index [pp.349-431]
     6         Exhibits, Nos. 1-33
     7         Exhibits, Nos. 34-66
     8         Exhibits, Nos. 67-96
     9         Exhibits, Nos. 97-109
     10        Exhibits, Nos. 110-123

     11     S 1, 1939:
               Contents and Foreword
     12        Part 1: The German-American Bund:
                    Chapters 1-2 [pp. 433-528]
     13             Chapters 3-4 [pp. 529-614]
     14             Chapter 5 [pp. 615-674]
     15             Chapters 5-6 [pp. 675-752]
     16             Chapter 7; and Supplement Nos. 28-38 [pp. 753-825]
     17        Supplement Nos. 39-42 and Index [pp.826-920]
     18        Exhibits, Nos. 124-154
     19        Exhibits, Nos. 155-172
     20        Exhibits, Nos. 173-179
     21        Exhibits, Nos. 180-196
     
     22     F, 1940:
               Part 2: The Main Allies of the Nazis
                    Chapters 1-2 [pp. 921-994]
     23             Chapter 2 [pp. 995-1061]
     24             Chapter 2 [pp. 1062-1142]
     25             Chapter 2; and Supplements [pp. 1143-1231]
     
     26        Exhibits, Nos. 197-220
     27        Exhibits, Nos. 221-243

     28     Jl, 1940:
               Part 3: Leading Fascist Individuals and Organizations 
                    [pp. 1232-1340]
     29             [pp. 1341-1458]
     30             [pp. 1459-1555]
     31             [pp. 1556-1672]
     32        Exhibits, Nos. 244-254
     33        Exhibits, Nos. 255-293
     34        Exhibits, Nos. 294-314
     35        Exhibits, Nos. 315-335

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