Grace Wick Papers, 1888-1962

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Wick, Grace, 1888-1958
Title
Grace Wick Papers
Dates
1888-1962 (inclusive)
1928-1951 (bulk)
Quantity
6 cubic feet, (7 boxes)
Collection Number
Mss 49
Summary
Papers of an Oregon political activist who began as a New Deal Democrat in the 1930s and ended as a right-wing Republican in the 1950s. Includes correspondence, such as letters to and from right-wing activist Gerald L.K. Smith; writings; subject files; and ephemera.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Grace M. Wick of Portland, Oregon, was a right-wing activist known for her outspokenness and flamboyant behavior. A prolific letter writer, she maintained an extensive correspondence with political figures in Oregon and nationally. Wick ran twice unsuccessfully for Congress in the Third District. In May 1935, she paraded down Broadway in a slogan-covered barrel to protest her lack of employment.

Born in Iowa in 1888, Grace Wick lived in Chicago, New York, and Boston and was a stage actress before moving to Central Point, Oregon, with her husband George Merritt in 1922. Grace Wick began her political activities in Oregon the same year by campaigning for Democrat Walter Pierce for Governor. After her divorce in 1924 and an attempt to start a film career in Hollywood, she returned to Oregon in 1926. Wick campaigned against Pierce in his bid for reelection because of his refusal to stay the 1925 execution of Archie Cody, a relative of Buffalo Bill Cody, for the murder of the sheriff of Harney County. Wick later claimed that a satirical pamphlet, "The Mascot," which she wrote and published, was responsible for Pierce's defeat.

Grace Wick moved to Portland in 1927 and was secretary-treasurer of the Oregon State Women's Smith for President Club in 1928. She ran for Congress in 1934 as a "Progressive Democrat," pledging full support of President Roosevelt and the New Deal. In 1936 she ran as an Independent, after having her name placed in nomination through a convention held in a beer hall. By 1937, having become frustrated with the Democratic party establishment in Oregon, Wick began to cultivate connections with Republican political figures. Her views became increasingly right-wing within the next few years. She chaired the local auxiliary of Sons of Union Veterans, an anti-immigrant organization, and became a strident anti-Semite, disseminating propaganda materials and corresponding with others of similar persuasion. Wick opposed U.S. entry in the Second World War and actively corresponded with leaders of the isolationist Mother's Movement and with congressional opponents of intervention. Wick's activities during the war led to her being questioned by an Army board on suspicion of disloyalty.

In the post-war period, Grace Wick opposed the establishment of the United Nations and U.S. involvement in Korea, while supporting a presidential candidacy for Gen. Douglas MacArthur. In 1951 she became Oregon state chairwoman of the newly formed American Woman's Party, led by Blanche Winters of Detroit, and conducted an unsuccessful petition effort to qualify the party for the Oregon ballot.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence series includes letters to and/or from Walter Pierce, Charles Martin, Guy Cordon, Rufus Holman, Charles McNary, Rush Dew Holt, Hamilton Fish, James Farley, Blanche Winters, Gerald L. K. Smith, Lyrl Clark Van Hyning, Agnes Waters, and William Kulgren. The personal correspondence subseries, in addition to correspondence, contains writings by Grace Wick and ephemera, mostly from her stage career. The publications series includes the newspapers of Central Oregon publisher Sid Pierce, newsletters of Elizabeth Dilling Stokes, 46 issues of the isolationist publication, Woman’s Voice, and political and metaphysical publications of William Dudley Pelley and William Kulgren. The subject series contains correspondence and publications as well as ephemera. Organizations represented include several from the isolationist Mother’s Movement, as well as the later American Woman’s Party. Individuals include Gerald L. K. Smith, Rev. A. W. Terminiello, and Agnes Waters. Topics covered include internationalism, racial segregation, communist subversion, and the fluoridation of water.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Grace Wick Papers, Mss 49, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series A: Correspondence, 1912-1958

Series B: Publications, 1928-1952

Series C: Subject files, 1891-1958

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Estate of Grace Wick via Myrtle Goldsby, 1959-1960, Accession 8180.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series A::  Correspondence, 1912-1958Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Political Correspondence
1922-1955
Box/Folder
1/1
A
1/2
B
1/3
C
1/4
D
1/5
E
1/6
F
1/7
G
1/8
H
1/9
I-J
1/10
K
1/11
L
1/12
M
1/13
N
1/14
O-P
1/15
Q-R
1/16
S
1/17
T
1/18
U
1/19
V-W
1/20
X-Z
Personal Correspondence
America First Party
Box/Folder
1/21
Correspondence, clippings, ephemera 1944-1958
American Women's Party
Box/Folder
1/22
Correspondence 1951
1/23
Correspondence 1951-1957
1/24
Correspondence 1951-1953
1/25
Correspondence 1951-1952
1/26
Correspondence with Blanche Winters, president 1951-1952
Box/Folder
1/27
Buck, Merle, president of the American Warriors
1936
1/28
Grace Wick campaign materials
1934-1936
1/29
Carson, Joseph K., Jr.--General correspondence
1932-1950
1/30
Cordon, Guy--General correspondence
1945-1954
1/31
Dewey, Thomas
Letter from Grace Wick, acknowledgement from Everett Dirksen, and responses to letter from others, including Gerald L. K. Smith
1944
1/32
Farley, James--General correspondence
1933-1935
1/33
Fish, Hamilton--General correspondence
1938-1944
1/34
Hamel, Richard
General Correspondence with Hamel and with others who alleged that Hamel was an informant
1944-1952
1/35
Holman, Rufus--General correspondence
1941-1944
1/36
Holt, Rush--General correspondence
1936-1940
1/37
Kullgren, William--General correspondence
1943-1946
1/38
Martin, Charles H.
1933-1935
1/39
McNary, Charles--Outgoing correspondence
1936-1941
1/40
McNary, Charles--Incoming correspondence
1935-1941
1/41
Moyes, William--Outgoing correspondence and clippings
1943-1953
1/42
National Gentile League--General correspondence
1944-1945
1/43
Nodel, Julius--General correspondence
1952
1/44
Old Age Assistance--General correspondence and clippings
1956-1959
1/45
Oregonian--Letters to the editor, many unpublished
1938-1957
1/46
Oregon Journal--Letters to the editor
1941-1949
1/47
Pelley, William Dudley
General Correspondence with Adelaide Pelley Pearson, clippings, and copies of Pelley tract, "Dupes of Judah," republished by Grace Wick
1945-1949
1/48
Pelley, William--Newsletters from organizations
1945-1950
1/49
Pierce, Syd--General correspondence
1945-1957
1/50
Pierce, Walter
Incoming Correspondence, clippings, copy The Mascot, written and published by Grace Wick
1922-1926
1/51
Richardson, W. E.
Correspondence with attorney concerning summons to appear before Army board
1943
1/52
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
General Correspondence includes letters from Eleanor Roosevelt
1932-1941
1/53
Smith, Alfred
General Correspondence concerning establishment of Oregon State Women for Smith for President Club, roster of members, clippings, and ephemera
1928
1/54
Smith, H. L.--General correspondence
1943-1954
1/55
Sons of Union Veterans--General correspondence and clippings
1937
1/56
Supreme Court
Outgoing Correspondence concerning Roosevelt effort to expand the Supreme Court
1937
1/57
Van Hyning, Lyrl Clark--General correspondence
1953
1/58
Waters, Agnes
General Correspondence, clippings, handwritten transcript of congressional testimony.
1944-1947
1/59
Wharton, C. E.--General correspondence
1936-1938
1/60
Xavier, Peter L.--General Correspondence
1952-1956
General personal correspondence
Box/Folder
2/61
A-C
1914-1958
2/62
D-F
1914-1958
2/63
G-I
1914-1958
2/64
J-L
1914-1958
2/65
M-O
1914-1958
2/66
P-R
1914-1958
2/67
S-T
1914-1958
2/68
U-W
1914-1958
2/69
X-Z
1914-1958
Box/Folder
2/70
Ephemera
1945-1953
2/71
Official Documents
Birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, employment records, Social Security documents, Old Age Assistance records, stock certificates, clipping of obituary
1888-1958
2/72
Dramatic career
General Correspondence, playbills, actor's directories, clippings of reviews
1913-1925
2/73
Family members--General correspondence
1911-1953
2/74
Meyer, Pearl Wick (sister of Grace Wick)--General correspondence
1936-1958
2/75
Wick, A.L. "Gus" (brother of Grace Wick)--General correspondence
1919-1956
2/76
Fuller, Helen--General correspondence
Includes letter from Oswald West to Helen Fuller
1925-1938
2/77
Goldsby, Myrtle (executor of Wick estate)--General correspondence
1946-1958
2/78
Melanson, Fred
Official documents, poetry, and ephemera from Grace Wick's companion
1926-1950
2/79
Clippings and articles concerning Grace Wick
1913-1958
2/80
Ephemera
Includes address books, notes, and business correspondence
1912-1952
2/81
Writings of others
Prose and poetry collected by Grace Wick
undated
2/82
Writing--Poetry, screenplay, and essays by Grace Wick
undated
2/83
Riddle Woman
General Correspondence, clippings, and scrapbook concerning Grace Wick's part in promotional campaign for a motion picture
1920
2/84
Stage Women's War Relief
General Correspondence regarding participation in organization
1917-1918
2/85
General correspondence
Unidentified Correspondent. Letters between Grace Wick and friend in Southern Oregon concerned that Grace Wick had said that she had been invited to join the Ku Klux Klan
1922

Series B::  Publications, 1928-1952Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/1
Northwest Defense News
1:2,4,5 and 2:1. Walla Walla, Washington
1951-1952
3/2
Boise Valley Herald
XXXVIII:27. (1947) Voice of Action, IV:2. (1936) Seattle, Washington.
1926; 1947
3/3
Sid Pierce Publications
Including Crook County American (1940-1950), The Free Press (1944), and The Rascal Scalper(1952) This folder also contains handbills and a note from publisher Sid Pierce to Grace Wick
1940-1952
3/4
Other Oregon publications
Including The Dalles The Dalles Chronicle(1953), reprints of editorials critical of Wayne Morse and union leader Harry Bridges and the New American Order(1941)
1941-1953
3/5
Crow's Pacific Coast Lumber Digest--Reprints of editorials from trade publication.
1943-1949
3/6
The Sun, 17:24. (1947) and The East Side Post, 19:4. (1950)
1947; 1950
3/7
Harvey's Monthly Pension Newsletter
Twenty-two issues between III:7 and VIII:9
1953-1958
3/8
The Reminder, 8:3 and 14:8.
This folder also includes undated reprints from the same publication
19451951
3/9
Stallard's Democrat Crusade--Newsletters and flyers.
1950
3/10
Other Portland News Publications
Including American Friends Service Committee Newsletter (1951-1952); Western Breeders Journal, 60:21. (1928) and The U.N. Advocate, 1:10. (1955)
1928-1955
3/11
American Capsule News
Washington D.C. Fifty-eight editions of publication billed as "The All American News Digest for All American People."
1956-1958
3/12
American Nationalist
Inglewood, California. Five editions between 1:1 and 1:10
1952-1953
3/13
America Preferred
Indianapolis, Indiana. Eight editions between 1:2 and 3:9
1943-1945
3/14
Arab News
Washington D.C.. Twelve editions of newsletter published by the embassies of several Arab countries
1946-1948
3/15
Common Sense
Forty-four editions of anti-communist newspaper published in New Jersey
1947-1957
3/16
Dayton Independent
Dayton, Ohio. Forty-seven editions between XXXI:40 and XXXII:42
1951-1953
3/17
William Kulgren Publications
Including America Speaks, Atascadero, California (1943-1950), The Beacon Light, (1939-1942), and Beacon Light Herald (1945-1950)
1942-1950
4/18
Patriotic Research Bureau Publications
Nine issues of newsletter published by Elizabeth Dilling of Chicago
1944-1946
4/19
The Dispatch
III:3,4,9,10,11. Anti-Semitic publication of the Pioneer News Service. This folder also contains ephemera from the same publication
1945-1946
4/20
The Political Reporter
3:4,5,6,7. Memphis, Tennessee. The January 1945 issue of this monthly publication contains a letter by Grace Wick
1953-1954
4/21
Woman's Voice
Chicago. Forty-six editions between 3:9 and 18:11. This folder also includes ephemera associated with this publication
1945-1959
4/22
Other National Publications
The Aryan Voice, America in Danger-Christ or Chaos, Peace Action, The Individualist, The Citizen, Constitution Press, Grass Roots, Round Table News Flashes, and Right
ca. 1940-1960
4/23
Other National Publications
Including: The Defender, Constitutional Americans, Headlines, The National Record, The Realist, The Patriot, T A W (The American Way), Upton Close Newsletter, Free Men Speak, Sabotage, Hitler and Stalin, and Railway Journal
ca. 1940-1960
4/24
The Methodist Challenger
Thirteen editions between XXVI:12 and XXVIII:3
1958-1959
4/25
Present Truth
Mountain View, Ten editions between 23:49 and 24:19. Seventh Day Adventist publication
1948-1959
4/26
Soulcraft Publications
Publications of William Dudley Pelley, mostly following his release from prison
1942-1954
4/27
Watchtower Publications
1940-1959
4/28
Miscellaneous Religious Publications
Includes Adventist publications and literature from The Christophers, a Catholic lay organization
undated
4/29
Jewish Religious Publications
1944-1949
4/30
Miscellaneous Religious Publications
1944-1958
4/31
Astrological and Occult Publications
undated

Series C::  Subject Files, 1891-1958Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
5/32
American Woman's Party
Correspondence and ephemera. Includes issue of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Journal with editorial praising American Woman’s Party
1951-1952
5/33
Women's Organizations, Miscellaneous
Includes publications of several of the isolationist Mother's organizations from the Second World War Organizations include United Mothers of America and We, The Mothers. Also includes material from the Oregon State Women for Smith for President Club
1891-1956
5/34
Miscellaneous Political Organizations
Includes ephemera from right-wing organizations Defenders of George Washington and The American Warriors, an ex-serviceman's organization
1936-1946
5/35
Anti-War and Anti-Conscription Organizations
Includes pamphlets and ephemera of the America First Committee, radio transcripts of speeches by Charles Lindbergh, and ephemera of the Oregon Committee Opposing Peacetime Conscription
1941-1947
5/36
National Blue Star Mothers of America
Ephemera from militant isolationist organization with anti-Semitic emphasis
1945-1952
5/37
Miscellaneous National Political Organizations
Publications and ephemera from several right-wing organizations including the Constitutional Alliance and the Nationalist Convention Committee
1940-1956
5/38
Government Publications
Includes reprints from The Congressional Record of speeches by Sen. Joseph McCarthy, Rep. Hamilton Fish, Sen. Burton Wheeler Sen. William Langer, and Sen. Rufus Holman
1935-1957
5/39
Miscellaneous Publications on Economics
1935-1951
6/40
Marilyn R. Allen
Publications and ephemera from Salt Lake City activist opposed to immigration and racial integration
1947-1952
6/41
Gerald L. K. Smith
Publications and ephemera. Includes issues of The Cross and the Flag(6:10, 7:10, 8:8, and 16:12) and other material of the Christian Nationalist Crusade
1945-1958
6/42
Einer Aberg
Publications and ephemera including booklist and flyers for the Pro-America Information Bureau
1948
6/43
Rev. A. W. Terminiello
Publications of right-wing Alabama priest, an ally of Gerald L. K. Smith and would-be successor to Father Coughlin
1943
6/44
Agnes Waters
News releases of Washington, D. C., activist
1944-1954
6/45
F. D. R. Administration
Publications critical of the Roosevelt administration
Includes a flyer of the Oregon Chapter of the America First Committee
1937-1945
6/46
Truman Administration
Miscellaneous clippings critical of the Truman administration
1945-1952
6/47
Eisenhower Administration
Convention News, Non-Partisan League for Decency in Political Candidates. Headline reads: "Ike Renominated in Spite of His Red Record."
1956
6/48
Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Clippings and ephemera promoting MacArthur as candidate for President. Also includes reprint of MacArthur's 1951 speech to Congress
1952
6/49
T. Coleman Andrews
Ephemera from presidential campaign of former Internal Revenue Service commissioner
1956
6/50
John T. Flynn
Publications of right-wing journalist, including The Truth About Pearl Harbor and The Road Ahead: America's Creeping Revolution
1944-1949
7/51
Pro-Segregationist
Correspondence, publications, and ephemera
1952-1954
7/52
Anti-Internationalist
Newsletters, publications, and ephemera
1944-1954
7/53
Anti-Semitic
Correspondence, publications, and ephemera
1938-1945
7/54
Anti-Communist
Correspondence, publications, and ephemera include material from Gerald B. Winrod and Col. E. N. Sanctuary Includes list of Hollywood "Reds" published by Cinema Educational Guild
1934-1957
7/55
General
Correspondence, newsletters, clippings, publications, and ephemera. Newsletter concerning mass sedition trial. Credentials card for the America First Party convention
1926-1956
7/56
General
Publications and ephemera. Political publications and non-political ephemera
1922-1956
7/57
Oregon Politics
Correspondence petition, publications, and ephemera. Petition from 1936 to form Socialist Labor Party. Material from various campaigns includes pamphlet satirizing Gov. Julius Meier Includes fact sheet by Oswald West containing allegations against Monroe Sweetland
1930-1956
7/58
Portland and Multnomah County
Correspondence, resolutions, and ephemera. Portland City Council resolutions, proposed charter amendments, and campaign materials
1933-1956
7/59
General
Correspondence, clippings, and ephemera. Includes material from various activities Power of Attorney for the American Woman's Party, letter from DeMille Studio,campaign material from Grace Wick's own candidacies, and signs from the barrel that she wore in protest
1925-1951
7/60
Compulsory Medicine
Newsletters and ephemera. Material opposing compulsory vaccinations and socialized medicine
1943-1954
7/61
Anti-Fluoridation
Correspondence, publications, and ephemera
1951-1956
7/62
National Health Federation--Bulletin of the National Health Federation
1955-1958
7/63
Health, Nutrition, Anti-Vivisection
Publications, correspondence, and ephemera
1942-1957

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Anti-communist movements--Oregon
  • Antisemitism--Oregon
  • Nativism--Oregon
  • Neutrality--United States
  • New Deal, 1933-1939
  • Right-wing extremists--Oregon--Correspondence

Personal Names

  • Smith, Gerald L. K. (Gerald Lyman Kenneth), 1898- --Correspondence
  • Cordon, Guy, 1890-1969--Correspondence
  • Farley, James Aloysius, 1888- --Correspondence
  • Fish, Hamilton, 1888- --Correspondence
  • Holman, Rufus Cecil, 1877-1959--Correspondence
  • Holt, Rush Dew, 1905-1955--Correspondence
  • Kulgren, William--Correspondence
  • McNary, Charles Linza, 1874-1944--Correspondence
  • Pelley, William Dudley, 1890-
  • Pierce, Sid.
  • Pierce, Walter Marcus, 1861-1954--Correspondence
  • Terminiello, A. W. (Arthur W.)
  • Van Hyning, Lyrl Clark--Correspondence
  • Waters, Agnes--Correspondence
  • Wick, Grace, 1888-1958--Correspondence
  • Winters, Blanche--Correspondence

Geographical Names

  • Oregon--Economic conditions
  • Oregon--Politics and government--1859-1950
  • Oregon--Politics and government--1951-
  • Oregon--Social conditions.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Letters
  • Publications