The Ward M. Canaday Center

for Special Collections

The University of Toledo

Finding Aid

Naomi Twining Papers

MSS-216

Size: Approximately 1 linear foot

Provenance: Received from Naomi Twining

Access: Open

Related Collections: Scott Nearing Collection, MSS-062

Processing Note: 

Copyright: The literary rights to this collection are assumed to rest with the person(s) responsible for the production of the particular items within the collection, or with their heirs or assigns.  Researchers bear full legal responsibility for the acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code.  The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.

Completed by: Tamara Jones, September 2006 

  

Biographical Sketch

The Toledo chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is believed to have been established around the year 1952.  The previous year, Julian Bulley, a physics professor at the University of Toledo, was dismissed from his position with no reason given, other than that there had been a political accusation made against him by a certain university staff member.  Although this was the reason given, it was not a substantive one, and therefore it is not certain exactly why Bulley was dismissed.  Nevertheless, this event is believed to have been the reason behind the formation of a formal, local organization.  The chapter has undergone numerous name changes over the years; today, it is known as the ACLU of Ohio Northwest Chapter.

Naomi Twining’s own involvement in the local ACLU began in 1961, when she attended a meeting for the first time as a guest of attorney John Rust.  She became a member in 1962, was elected to the board in 1963, and elected Treasurer in 1964 (she was also appointed chair of the Toledo Chapter of the Abolish House Un-American Activities Committee that same year).  Other positions she has held include vice chair of the Toledo chapter (1968-1973), vice chair of the Ohio Affiliate Board (1983-1985), member of the Affiliate Legislative Committee (1987-1988), and member of the NW Ohio Chapter Oral History Committee.       
In 1997, Twining published a book on the history of the Northwest Ohio ACLU, entitled They Fought for Civil Liberties:  Genesis of the ACLU of Northwest Ohio.  This book is available in the Canaday Center.

 

Scope and Content Note

The Naomi Twining papers largely consist of articles and publications used as research for her book on the history of the Northwest Ohio chapter of the ACLU, although other papers are included.  The collection is divided into five categories.  Administrative consists of reports and minutes from Board of Directors and annual meetings and interim reports.  Correspondence from the ACLU, the University of Toledo, and other organizations are also included.  Events cover the ACLU annual dinner in addition to events featuring guest speakers covering a range of civil liberties issues.  Media is the largest section and consists mostly of newspaper articles covering various civil liberties issues.  Most of the articles are from the Toledo Blade and the Toledo Times; however, articles from other papers are represented as well.  Publications (newsletters, etc.) produced by civil liberties organizations are also included.  The Writings section contains drafts of  Twining’s book and numerous articles, as well as notes taken from interviews.  Speeches, obituaries, information on the Fund for Open Information and Accountability (FOIA), and miscellaneous papers are filed under Other. 

 

Folder List

Box

Folder

Item

 

 

Administrative

1

1

Annual Reports, Annual Meetings, and Interim Reports

1

2

Board Meeting Minutes

1

3

Correspondence (1 of 2)

1

4

Correspondence (2 of 2)

1

5

Member Lists

 

 

 

 

 

Events

1

6

ACLU Annual Dinner

1

7

Other Events

 

 

 

 

 

Media

1

8

Newspaper Articles-Abortion

1

9

Newspaper Articles-Bill of Rights

1

10

Newspaper Articles-Communism/McCarthyism/HUAC

1

11

Newspaper Articles-Fair Housing

1

12

Newspaper Articles-Flag-burning

1

13

Newspaper Articles-Keating Case

1

14

Newspaper Articles-Labor Issues

1

15

Newspaper Articles-Lawyers and Civil Liberties

1

16

Newspaper Articles-Obscenity Cases

1

17

Newspaper Articles-Police Abuses/Prisoners’ Rights

1

18

Newspaper Articles-Separation of Church and State

1

19

Newspaper Articles-Sunday “Blue Laws”

1

20

Newspaper Articles-University of Toledo (TU)

1

21

Newspaper Articles-Misc. (1940s)

1

22

Newspaper Articles-Misc. (1950s)

1

23

Newspaper Articles-Misc. (1960s)

1

24

Newspaper Articles-Misc. (1970s)

1

25

Newspaper Articles-Misc. (1980s)

1

26

Newspaper Articles-Misc. (1990s)

1

27

Newspaper Articles-Misc. (Multiple Decades/Year Unknown)

1

28

Other Publications

1

29

Photographs (photocopies)

 

 

 

 

 

Writings

1

30

Book and Article Drafts/Chapter Histories (1 of 2)

1

31

Book and Article Drafts/Chapter Histories (2 of 2)

1

32

Interview and Research Notes

 

 

 

 

 

Other

1

33

FOIA Info

1

34

Miscellaneous (1 of 2)

1

35

Miscellaneous (2 of 2)

1

36

Obituaries

1

37

Speeches

 

 

Last Updated: 6/27/22