Manuscript Register

 

THE PAPERS OF MAX RAFFERTY

 

Collection Dates: 1933 -- 1982

(Bulk Dates: 1960s to 1970s)

12.5 linear ft.

 

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

 

Posted to Internet: July, 2002

Addenda: 1973, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

 

 

Acquisition Note: These papers were given to the University of Iowa Libraries by Max Rafferty from 1971 to 1982.

 

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

 

Photographs: Boxes 1, 2, 3, 7, 22

 

Film/Video: Boxes 1, 2, 14

 

Audio Material:Boxes 1, 5

 

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

 

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

 

Use of Collections:  The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

 

 

Biographical Note

Maxwell Lewis Rafferty was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 9, 1917. He spent most of his childhood in Sioux City, Iowa, before his family moved to California in 1931. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1933. Rafferty earned his B.A. (1938), M.A. (1949), and Ph.D. (1955) from the University of California Los Angeles. Rafferty was a career educator. His first job was as a teacher in the Trona Unified School District in California; he then went on to jobs as vice-principal, principal, and school superintendent in various California schools. In 1963 he was elected to the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of California. He held this office for two terms, from 1963 to 1971, at which time he became the Dean of Education at Troy State University. His educational philosophy was one of back to basics, and he bragged that he "killed progressive education in California."

Rafferty was the author of a number of books on educational philosophy, including What They Are Doing to Your Children and Classroom Countdown. His newspaper column, Dr. Max Rafferty Column, was syndicated nationally. Max Rafferty was the Republican candidate for Senate in 1968, but was defeated by incumbent state controller Alan Cranston. Rafferty died in a drowning accident in 1982 at the age of sixty-five.

Scope and Contents

 

The collection is composed primarily of Rafferty's speeches, copies of the Dr. Max Rafferty Column, and other articles that he authored. Nearly all of the speeches, columns, and articles relate to education or patriotism. Most folders of columns also contain correspondence. There is also some material relating to his campaign for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of California, including letters, clippings, expenditures, brochures, and campaign speeches. Finally, there are copies of filmstrips, videotapes, and audio tape recordings of Rafferty.

 

Box List

 

Box 1

Printed Materials

"An American pleads not guilty." Reprint of speech. (2 copies)

"The elements of patriotism." Pamphlet. 15 pp.

"A letter from Viet Nam." Article in DAR Magazine, volume 100, no 7, (September, 1966) pp. 608 -- 612, 656

" Noninvolvement: Curse of the sixties." Pamphlet. [1968] 7 pp.

"Our schools today. Pamphlet." [1965] 22 pp. (2 copies)

"The passing of the patriot." Reprint of speech. (3 copies)

"Progressive education: the lively corpse." 1966. Reprint of speech. 7 pp.

"Thank you, Max". Program from a dinner honoring Max Rafferty, 22 March 1966. Autographed by Art Linkletter

"Who is Max Rafferty?" California Librarian, 24:3 (1963).

Mimeographed Materials

"High school problems." Speech [1967] 4 pp.

" Lest we forget. . . " Speech [1963] 6 pp.

"The public school in our American heritage." [1962] 6 pp.

Biography of Dr. Max Rafferty. 1 p.

Biographical sketch -- Dr. Max Rafferty. 1 p.

Photo reproductions

"Education's 12 labors." Newspaper columns appearing in Sacramento Union, November 28 -- December 9, 1965

State of California Department of Education, Philosophy. 16 June 1965. 1p.

"American education: target of anarchy." 12 pp.

"California pornography: an American tragedy."1968. 12 pp.

"Campus violence: a fascist conspiracy." 13 pp.

" Education and the Constitution." 1966. 6 pp.

" Education in depth -- a California revolution." [1970]. 2 pp.

" Education in depth: its past and future." 1970. 9 pp.

" Education's sore spots." 1968. 8 pp.

" The fight for individualism." 1971. 6 pp.

" Football: the indestructible sport." 7 pp.

" Good citizenship." 1 p.

" The magic of education." 1967. 11 pp.

" Misconceptions of modern education." 15 pp.

" The riddles of education." 8 pp.

" Things California education needed as of 1962." 18 September 1969. 3 pp. (2 copies)

" What patriotism means to me." 2 pp.

Tapes

Constitution Day Speech, September 10, 1967

"Senate Bill Number 1," February 3, 1969

Fulton Lewis, Jr., for Max Rafferty, May 10, 1965

"The Myth of the Average Child," 1962

Press Conference -- Sacramento, September 10 [196?]

Speech at Berkeley City Commons Club, December 20, 1963

" Noninvolvement" [no date]

"The Passing of the Patriot," August 19, 1961

News Conference, June 12, 1968

Films (16 mm)

"The Fourth R: Reading, Riting, 'Rithmetic and Rafferty" ca. 15 minutes (Three copies)

Additional Material

"Election for School Boss," Time, 15 June 1962, p. 49

"Will Max and the Hierarchy 'Life Adjust'?" Phi Delta Kappan, December 1962, p. 105

"Max Rafferty of California," Saturday Review, 19 January 1963, p. 59 -- 60

"Scholastic Teacher Interviews: Dr. Max Rafferty," Scholastic Teacher, 20 September 1963, p. 5 -- 6ff

"What's wrong in the Schools -- An education speaks out," U.S. News & World Report, 30 December 1963, p. 78 -- 79

"The Roots of Reading," Newsweek, 17 August 1964, p. 76 -- 77

"Senate Cliffhanger," Sacramento Union, 5 June 1968, p. 1, 9

Speeches

"Please Let the Band Play Dixie." Newspaper column, August 22 -- 28, 1971

"Misconceptions of Modern Education"

"The Generation Gap -- Crevice or Canyon?"

Photographs

7 items

Video Tape: "Max Rafferty and the Opposition" from the WSFA-TV series "Nine-Thirty Tuesday." 21 September 1971. Tape speed 12 ips. May be played only on Panasonic and Concord machines.

Box 2

Additional materials

Photographs

Clippings

Campaign Expenditures, 1962

Letters

Speeches, etc.

Additional Publications

Two videotapes, Christian Educators Association Conference, Daytona Beach, Florida. To be played only on an Ampex machine

Recker, Richard S. "Max Rafferty's Educational and Political Career in California." M.A. Thesis, University of Nebraska, November 1971. Photocopy, 142 p.

Finley, J.C. Untitled article concerning the financing of Rafferty's Senate campaign. Photocopy, 33 p.

Shows, Dennis L. "Education in Depth: A Critical Examination of the Educational Thinking of Max Rafferty." M.Ed. Thesis, American International College, 1972. Carbon copy, 100 p.

Folder: Photographs and clippings

1973 Addendum

Box 3

Photographs and memorabilia

Campaign materials, 1962 -- 1970

Box 4

Clippings, including obituary

Box 5

Correspondence, 1971 -- 1973 (includes T.L.S. from Ronald Reagan, Ezra Taft Benson, Frank L. Rizzo, Winton M. Blount, and George and Cornelia Wallace)

Tape recordings

Box 6

UCLA English Literature Papers

Dr. Max Rafferty Column, September 1964 -- December 1967 (Xerox copies)

Dr. Max Rafferty Column, April 20,1969 -- November 15, 1970 (Xerox copies)

Questions and answers (to be run with columns), February 8, 1970 -- November 15, 1970 (Xerox copies)

Columns, October 9, 1966 to December 23, 1968

Columns, January 5, 1969, to December 29, 1969

Columns, January 4, 1970, to June 28, 1970, with correspondence attached for April 19 -- 25, Column #2 and June 28 -- July 4, Column #2

Box 7

Columns, July 5, 1970, to December 20, 1970, with correspondence attached for November 1 -- 7, Column #2, November 15 -- 21, Column #2, November 22 -- 28, Column #2, December 6 -- 12, Column #2, December 13 -- 19, Column #1 and #2, and December 20 -- 26, Column #2

Campaign photographs

First article published by Max Rafferty, 1935

Box 8

Columns 1 and 2, December 27, 1970 to February 20, 1971

Columns 1 and 2, February 22, 1971 to April 24, 1971

Columns 1 and 2, April 25, 1971 to August 14, 1971

Columns 1 and 2, August 15, 1971 to October 23, 1971

Columns 1 and 2, October 2, 1971 to December 25, 1971

Box 9

1970 -- 1971 columns, scattered, plus a Rafferty campaign button

1972 columns (6 folders)

Box 10

Columns 1 and 2, February 27, 1972 to December 17, 1972

Columns 1 and 2, December 31, 1972 to February 24, 1973

Columns 1 and 2, February 25, 1973 to April 28, 1973

Columns 1 and 2, April 29, 1973 to June 30, 1973

Columns 1 and 2, July 1, 1973 to September 8, 1973

Box 11

Columns 1 and 2, September 8, 1973 to October 13, 1973

Columns 1 and 2, October 14, 1973 to December 29, 1973

Miscellaneous correspondence

Columns 1 and 2, December 30, 1973 to February 2, 1974

Box 12

Columns 1 and 2, February 3, 1974 to March 2, 1974

Columns 1 and 2, March 3, 1974 to April 6, 1974

Columns 1 and 2, April 7, 1974 to May 4, 1974

Columns 1 and 2, May 5, 1974 to June 1, 1974

Columns 1 and 2, June 2, 1974 to July 6, 1974

Columns 1 and 2, July 7, 1974 to August 3, 1974

Columns 1 and 2, August 4, 1974 to August 31, 1974

Columns 1 and 2, September 1, 1974 to October 5, 1974

Columns 1 and 2, October 6, 1974 to November 30, 1974

Columns 1 and 2, December 1, 1974 to January 11, 1975

1979 Addendum

Box 13

Column I

Column II and Correspondence

1980 Addendum

Box 14

Columns I and II, including correspondence, January -- December 1976 (12 folders)

Film: Two reels: KTLA, Show #1, "What Is a Non-Partisan," and KTLA, Show #2, "Educational Philosophy"

1981 Addendum

Box 15

Column I with correspondence and clippings

Column II with correspondence and clippings

1982 Addendum

Box 16

Campaign clippings, 1968

Column I with correspondence and clippings

Column II with correspondence and clippings

General correspondence on columns, 1977 -- 1978

Box 17

Advisory Panel on Financing Elementary and Secondary Education, 1982

America's Future, Incorporated, 1963 -- 1965

Articles by Rafferty

Biographical and personal materials, 1967 -- 1970

Campaign (Senate)

Campaign (State Superintendent of Public Instruction)

Column I with correspondence and clippings

Box 18

Column I with correspondence and clippings

Column II with correspondence and clippings

Box 19

Column II with correspondence and clippings

Box 20

Column II with correspondence and clippings

Column correspondence, 1970 -- 1980

Correspondence

Box 21

Correspondence (cont.)

Box 22

Correspondence (cont.)

Drug abuse articles, 1970

Field reader -- H.E.W., 1982

Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, 1964

International Business Schools, 1970

Miscellaneous, 1963 -- 1981

Photographs

Politics and American Education, 1974 Course taught at Winona State College

Polytechnic Institute of Technology, 1968

Republican State Central Committee of California, 1968 -- 1971

Sons of the American Revolution, 1964 -- 1970

Speeches

Box 23

Speeches, (cont.)

Speeches and Articles -- printed, 1961 -- 1968

State travel expense claims, 1970

"A Study of Personnel -- Pupil Ratios in Certain California Elementary School Districts," by Max Rafferty, 1956 (2 folders)

Young Americans for Freedom, 1969