Myer C. Symonds Collection

Introduction

This collection includes biographical and professional papers of Myer C. Symonds who worked with Harriet Bouslog as the attorneys of the International Longshore Worker's Union (ILWU). These papers provide an understanding of the political-economic times in which he served as a labor lawyer in Hawaii, particularly during the red-baiting that occurred in the late 1940s-1950s. 

Custodial History

Myer Symonds gave these materials to Professor Mari Matsuda and Lila Gardner to be shared to the University of Hawaiʻi Law Library on December 12, 2011 for public research purposes. Matsuda corresponded with Symonds during her research on Hawaiʻi labor history and Harriet Bouslog for the book Called from Within: Early Women Lawyers of Hawaii. 

Access Restrictions

Select documents have been digitized and linked to the index (Folder 1, Folder 2, Folder 3 & Folder 4) for public accessibility through the Internet.  Items that have not been linked are not available online due to copyright restrictions.  However, patrons  can contact the Archives Manager to request access documents in-person or through email correspondence. 

Physical Description

The papers include handwritten notes, newspaper clippings, legislative documents, court documents and correspondences (1933-2009) which came from Myer Symond's own scrapbook and various collections. The collection is one box totaling 1 linear feet.  Some important keywords from this collection are: 

1950 Constitutional Convention

Anti-Semitism

Anti-War

Armistice Day Speech

Art Rutledge

C.J. Samuel B. Kemp

C.J. William S. Richardson

Charles Garry

China

Clair Engle

Criminal Lawyer

Ernest J. Torregano

Gustave Meyer v. G.B. Collins

Harold Glasser

Harriet Bouslog

Hawaii 7 Jury

Hawaii Bar Association

Hebden Porteus

Hiram L. Fong

Honorable Delbert E. Metzger

ILWU

Internal Security Subcommittee

Jack Hall

Japanese Relocation

Jew

John E. Reinecke

Labor

Labor Advocacy

Local 5

Mari Matsuda

Marxism

Military Service

Mrs. Leah Symonds

Mrs. Morton Lewis

Myer C. Symonds

National Lawyer's Guild

Office of Price Administration

Okeith v. Johnson

Red-Baiting

Robert McElrath

Ronald B. Jamieson

Samuel P. King

Smith Act

Socialism

Sydney

Unions

United States of America v. Arthur Willard Parelius

Vincent Hallinan

Wilfred M. Oka

Access Restrictions

The materials are accessible in person at the University of Hawaiʻi School of Law Library.  Please see the Access page for more information.

Reference Code

These items are cataloged as the Attorney Myer C. Symonds Collection.  Go to the index page of this collection to browse the records. Note the Box number and folder number to request access to them.