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Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement

The Free Speech Collection is primarily comprised of audio recordings produced by independent journalistColin Edwards from 1964-1967. Edwards was a journalist working with Canadian Broadcasting, the BBC and Pacifica Radio among others. His work represents a comprehensive account of the major perspectives, ideas, events and figures of the Free Speech Movement, the Sproul hall sit-in and the subsequent changesconcerning the rights of students to engage in political activity on the UC-Berkeley campus. These changes, best known as the December 8th Resolutions, were put to the test in 1966 during the “Little Free Speech Movement” in which students’ political rights were again brought into question.This part of the collection focuses on the November 30th, 1966 confrontation between anti-war demonstrators and a Navy recruiting table that was set up in the student union building. Many students and non-students were arrested and disciplined, and students responded with a strike that disrupted campus activities. Ultimately, UC president Clark Kerr was dismissed by newly-elected Governor Reagan and the Board of Regents for being “too soft” onprotesters.

One of the strongest aspects of thiscollection is Colin’s ability to speak with all the major players: students,professors, administrators, local political and police representatives as wellas members of the corporate media. This provides a vibrant context with whichto understand the movement and its lasting effects on the political culture ofthe UC Berkeley campus. It also shifts the focus of the movement fromwell-known figures to people whose names that we might not know but played anequally important role in the success of the movement. In addition to hisinterviews, the collection also features speeches and rallies held by the FSM,Student Senate Debates in which major FSM issues were decided and even audiofrom Mario Savio's birthday party.

This is one of the definitive audiocollections of the Free Speech Movement and represents an important addition tothe dominant narrative that limits the free speech movement and itsaccomplishments to the work of a couple of dedicated students. The audioprovides evidence of the significant linkages between the civil rightsstruggles being waged by African-Americans and the Free Speech Movement, themass nature of the protests and the true politically diversity of student andfaculty participants.  

The FSM is equally as relevant todayas it was in the 1960s. Check out two of our interns' blogs about thecontemporary relevance of this collection:

Documents

Mario Savio Speaks at Sproul Hall Mario Savio Speaks at Sproul Hall
Format: mp3Collection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Mario Savio, one of the leaders of the Free Speech Movement (FSM) at UC Berkeley, from his famous speech just before the occupation of Sproul Hall.
Cops on Campus STRIKE! Cops on Campus STRIKE!
Format: FlyerCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Announces student strike in response to nine students being arrested by the Alameda County Poice. Flyer also articulates the demands of the planned strike.
Behind the Battle of Berkeley: The Mind of Clark Kerr Behind the Battle of Berkeley: The Mind of Clark Kerr
Author: Hal DraperPublisher: Independent Socialist ClubDate: 10/4/1964Volume Number: 4-OctFormat: PamphletCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Pamphlet on Clark Kerr, his view of the university factory and the new slavery.
VOTE TODAY VOTE TODAY
Format: FlyerCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Flyer encouraging students voting in ASUC/student gov. elections
Letter to Deans, Directors, Department Chairmen and Administrative Officers Letter to Deans, Directors, Department Chairmen and Administrative Officers
Author: Robert E. ConnickPublisher: Office of the Chancellor UC BerkeleyDate: 12/7/1966Volume Number: 7-DecFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
New policy that states any faculty/staff participating in strikes or related efforts can and will be terminated from their jobs.
AFT letter of support AFT letter of support
Publisher: American Federation of TeachersFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Letter by AFT expressing support/solidarity with FSM
From Dean Arleigh Williams From Dean Arleigh Williams
Date: 1/30/1967Volume Number: 30-JanFormat: ReportCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Update on disciplinary actions against FSM-involved students
Gerda Fulder, Sidney Rogers: Sproul Hall Sit-in Gerda Fulder, Sidney Rogers: Sproul Hall Sit-in
Date: 12/1/1964Call Number: CE 673Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Interview with Gerda Fulder, a Berkeley resident and mother of two daughters attending UC Berkeley. She attended several FSM rallies in late 1964 and describes being impressed by the discipline and moral seriousness of the students. She was present at Sproul Hall on the evening of December 2 and describes her experiences. She and her daughters ultimately made the decision, with some uncertainty, not to stay and risk arrest. Interview with Sidney Roger at his home in Berkeley. He covered the events for the ILWU’s Dispatcher newspaper as well as being a UC Berkeley alumnus, former instructor, and parent of students. He describes experiences at the December 2-3 sit-in in detail, including the different police forces present and their actions, the diversity of sit-in participants and perspectives, the “remarkable behavior” and activities organized by students in Sproul Hall, and the ad hoc faculty meeting.
Dr. Roger Stanier, Brian Mulloney, December 3 Rally Dr. Roger Stanier, Brian Mulloney, December 3 Rally
Date: 12/3/1964Call Number: CE 674Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Interviews with biology professor Roger Stanier and graduate student organizer Brian Mulloney. Stanier reads from and discusses a faculty telegram to Governor Brown condemning the presence of the California Highway Patrol on campus and demanding the prompt release of arrested students and amnesty for students threatened with suspension or dismissal. Brian Mulloney, a member of the Graduate Coordinating Council and FSM Steering Committee, discusses the history of restrictions on student political activity particularly in relation to civil rights group Campus CORE. He discusses the graduate student walkout and philosophy and mathematics professors striking, as well as a planned solidarity action by Sacramento State students. Following the interviews (around 30:00) is several minutes of recording from a campus rally protesting the previous night’s arrests. Students sing “Can’t Turn Me Round” and “We Shall Overcome”