The Bancroft Library has been honored with a James Madison Award for its thorough documentation and archiving of the UC system's loyalty oath controversy. The project's final result, The California Loyalty Oath Digital Collection is a massive compilation of text, photographs, and audio clips that documents this controversy that roiled the entire UC system during the Communist witch-hunts by Sen. Joseph McCarthy. As the James Madison award recognizes, the website is an impressive accomplishment.
The James Madison Freedom of Information Awards are named for the creative force behind the First Amendment and honor local journalists, organizations, public officials, and private citizens who have fought for public access to government meetings and records and promoted the public’s right to know. Award winners are selected by the Freedom of Information Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Northern California chapter.
The following staff in Bancroft, the Library, and the UC System contributed greatly to this project and digital collection. From Bancroft, University Archivists David Farrell and Kathi Neal conceived of the project and developed the content. Digital Projects Archivist Mary Elings managed the project overall and personally created the website, the metadata, and the finding aid. Jeanne Gahagan helped with the processing and text markup, and Josh Schneider contributed cataloging; several students, including current employee Dana Gerber, also assisted. From the Library's Digital Publishing Group, Alvin Pollock and Michael Conkin contributed programming, and Brooke Dykman created the web design and templates. And the other DPG — UC President Emeritus David Pierpont Gardner — provided the funding for the project. In addition, Charlotte Brown and Deborah Day, University Archivists from UCLA and UCSD respectively, contributed essential content from their campuses.
