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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

4/26/65 Rally Part 2: Formation of the Free Student Union
4/26/65 Rally Part 2: Formation of the Free Student Union
Date: 4/26/1965Call Number: CE 727Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Campus rally held in support of the formation of the Free Student Union, a successor to the Free Speech Movement. Many brief speeches and announcements by a number of student organizers and some discussion of the purpose and nature of a student union and student strikes. Some discussion of Mario Savio's resignation from the FSM.
4/28/1965 Press Conference: Formation of the Free Student Union
4/28/1965 Press Conference: Formation of the Free Student Union
Date: 4/28/1965Call Number: CE 728Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Post-rally press conference announcing the formation of the Free Student Union. Major organizers discuss the union’s intent to unite the student body around issues of the “form and nature of education,” specifically discussing advocating for a holistic education as opposed to job training, as well as advocating for due process in FSM-related disciplinary matters.
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.
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
AFT News AFT News
Author: Marshall AxelrodPublisher: California Federation of TeachersDate: 12/2/1966Volume Number: 2-DecFormat: Press ReleaseCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
AFT President's statement on the student strike and fallout.
MORE STRIKE MORE STRIKE
Format: FlyerCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
List of strike-related events and activities
Statement of Chancellor Roger W. Heyns Statement of Chancellor Roger W. Heyns
Author: Roger W. HeynsPublisher: University of California-BerkeleyDate: 12/2/1966Volume Number: 2-DecFormat: StatementCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Chancellor Heyns' statement on the student strike where he expresses his disapproval of strike and their tactics.
Strike Committee, U. C. Berkeley Strike Committee, U. C. Berkeley
Publisher: Strike Committee, U. C. BerkeleyDate: 12/6/1966Volume Number: 6-DecFormat: StatementCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Strike Committee update on strike and the passage of a resolution and amendments.
Statement of Executive Vice Chancellor Earl F. Cheit Statement of Executive Vice Chancellor Earl F. Cheit
Author: Earl F. CheitPublisher: University of California-BerkeleyDate: 11/30/1966Volume Number: 30-NovFormat: StatementCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Vice Chancellor Cheit's statement on protest of Naval recruitment table; expresses disapproval of protesters.