Douglas, Helen Gahagan, 1900-1980
Person
Biographical:
Helen Gahagan Douglas (1900-1980) began her professional career on the Broadway stage and was deemed a "star" at age twenty-two. By the 1930s, she left the Northeast and moved to California with her husband, Hollywood actor Melvyn Douglas. Although she made only one movie herself--the science fiction film, She--she soon found herself immersed in politics. She worked with the Farm Security Administration and later was elected Democratic National Committeewoman from California. In 1944, she was elected as the representative of California's Fourteenth District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was successfully reelected to this position in 1946 and 1948. A tireless New Deal Democrat, Douglas was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and served as an alternate delegate to the General Assembly of the United Nations. In 1950, she opposed Richard M. Nixon in the general election for the U.S. Senate. The campaign was especially brutal with the Republicans quite "liberal" in their charges that Douglas was a communist. Nixon easily won the election. Though Douglas never entered the political fray again, she remained a tireless public speaker and activist.
Found in 511 Collections and/or Records:
Letter of Congratulations to Helen G. Douglas for Speech on Negro Soldiers in World War II
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_22_9_0098
Letter of Congratulations to Honorable Helen Gahagan Douglas
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_23_1_0045
Letter of Congratulations to Honorable Helen Gahagan Douglas, 1946-01-01 - 1947-12-31
Item — Box: 23, Folder: 1
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_23_1_0045
Overview
79th (1945-1947)
Letter of Explanation to Mrs. Douglas from Han Helen Gahagan, 1950-01-01 - 1950-12-31
Item — Box: 170, Folder: 7
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_5_170_7_0006
Overview
81st (1949-1951)
Letter of Gratitude for Defense of Soldiers
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_23_1_0010
Letter of Support for Helen Douglas' Speech on the Role of Negro in the War Effort
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_23_1_0019
Letter of Support for Helen Douglas' Speech on the Role of Negro in the War Effort, 1946-01-01 - 1947-12-31
Item — Box: 23, Folder: 1
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_23_1_0019
Overview
79th (1945-1947)
Letter of Support for Helen Gahagan Douglas, 1947-01-01 - 1947-12-31
Item — Box: 74, Folder: 15
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_3.2_74_15_0050
Overview
80th (1947-1949)
Letter Requesting Information on War Efforts of African Americans
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_22_9_0099
Letter thanks Helen for materials, confirms visit, suggests presentation change.
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_24_0004