Eva Jefferson Paterson (1949- ) Papers

The biographical materials section contains a biographical sketch of Eva Jefferson Paterson, which includes interviews, correspondence, agendas, and student papers written about her. The collection is split mainly into two categories: materials on her education and activism at Northwestern University and materials related to her career. A substantial amount of the material pertains to the 1970 debate with Vice President Spiro Agnew and campus Vietnam War protest including, newspaper clippings, magazines, interviews, and press releases. Additionally, this section contains her senior thesis about the 1970 Vietnam War protest at Northwestern. The portion pertaining to Paterson’s career includes her California legal licenses, her involvement in several organizations promoting civil rights, and award ceremony programs.

The awards section is primarily organized by type and size and into the following categories, certificates, plaques, trophies, glass awards, oversized items, and artifacts. Among the certificates are those autographed by California Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger. Her awards include trophies and plaques from the National Bar Association, the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights. There are a few plaques and certificates that note June 28 as Eva Jefferson Paterson Day in San Francisco. Additionally, the collection includes an Award of Merit from the Northwestern University Alumni Association. Among the artifacts is a clock from the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Woman of the Year. Lastly, there is a framed political cartoon on the San Francisco Fire Department.