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 Sub-Series

Sub-Series IV: Gun Mail,, 1968.

Dates

  • 1968.

Scope and Contents

Gun Mail includes constituent correspondence from the summer of 1968 on the topic of gun control. Much of it written in the immediate aftermath of the murder of Robert F. Kennedy, the correspondence reflects a context of horror over the killings of Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., of rising concern about crime and social and moral degradation, of legislative and Presidential initiatives for stricter gun control, and of the influence of local and national media in spurring debate on gun control. The sub-series includes correspondence both for and against gun control laws. Beyond its principal topic, much of the correspondence provides insight into the New Jersey citizenry's disquiet over the state of US society at this very specific point in time.

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

Undetermined .

Physical Description

(2 cubic feet)

Arrangement

Although most anti-gun control mail was found in boxes apart from the pro-gun control mail, generally there was no original order beyond that basic sort. All material, regardless of form or expressed viewpoint, was unfoldered by HAW's office, piled in boxes shipped to the Federal Records Center. The sub-series is arranged with pro-gun control correspondence followed by anti-gun control correspondence. The sub-series folders, all containing essentially the same matter from the same narrow period of time, are shown in the Container List only in summary form.

Related Series

There are no related series. However, it should be noted that Gun Mail is a form of "robo" letter, which was filed separately because of the large volume received. The Robos sub-series includes other constituent correspondence on the subject of gun control for 1968 that was filed with other robos by specific robo code.

Appraisal and Discard Information

Gun Mail, the term applied by HAW's office, originally amounted to approximately 13 cubic feet. The bulk, approximately 11 cubic feet, expressed a pro-gun control position; the other 2 cubic feet expressed anti-gun control sentiments. Form letters and postcards, petitions, clippings, and tear-off sheets made up a substantial portion of the pro gun control mail, though there was also a large amount of unique correspondence (approximately 6 cubic feet of the latter). A relatively small sample of the various pre-printed forms was retained; the bulk was discarded. The bulk of the unique correspondence was also discarded, with a sample retained that reflected the themes, forms, and tone of the discarded material. Samples of unique correspondence merely expressing support or opposition to gun control were retained, but this type of letter comprised a sizable portion of the correspondence and the bulk was discarded.