Scope and Contents: The Don White Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) Collection mainly consists of organizational records and other items related to Don White’s work as an organizer, board member, and chapter leader for the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES). Also included in the collection are materials collected by White that document other activist groups and movements related to El Salvador and Central America, as well as information about important historical and cultural issues in El Salvador. Materials in the collection are written in both English and Spanish. The collection is divided into four series: Administrative Records (1980-2006), Program and Event Files (1981-2007), Research Files (1980-2007), and Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) (1980-2006).
Series I, Administrative Records, consists of materials that document the operation and administration of CISPES on a national, regional and local level. The series is arranged in two subseries: Los Angeles Subregion (1981-2006), and National, Regional, and Other Chapters (1980-2004). Subseries A, Los Angeles Subregion, contains the administrative records of the Los Angeles Chapter of CISPES, which also served as a subregion of the national organization. Items in the subseries include meeting minutes, correspondence, fundraising materials, financial documents, and essays written by Don White for the Los Angeles Chapter on various topical issues. Subseries B, National, Regional, and Other Chapters, consists of administrative records from the national office of CISPES, regional offices, and various local CISPES chapters. Items in the subseries include annual reports, bylaws and articles of incorporation for CISPES, information on the organization and structure of CISPES, correspondence, fundraising materials, staff training materials, various publications produced by CISPES, meeting minutes, press releases, media packets, informational mailings sent out to chapters, files from legal cases, security information, and items from national and regional CISPES committees. Files in the series are arranged alphabetically by topic.
Series II, Program and Event Files, consists of items documenting local and national campaigns, conferences, protests, and other events and efforts produced or endorsed by CISPES. Files in this series include national and regional conference proceedings, protest planning materials, event fliers, petitions and lobbying materials for Congressional bills related to El Salvador, photographs, and planning information for large-scale organizational efforts such as delegations to El Salvador, speaking tours, documentaries, and national campaigns. Files in the series are arranged alphabetically by topic.
Series III, Research Files, consists of items collected by Don White that relate to the history and politics of Central America as well as other activist and community organizations focused on Central American and Salvadoran issues. Items in the series include event fliers, correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, activist organization newsletters, information on El Salvador and other countries, posters, press releases, ephemera, and audiovisual recordings. Files in the series are arranged alphabetically by topic.
Series IV, Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), consists of items produced by the FMLN, a coalition of five guerilla organizations supported by CISPES that fought as revolutionaries against the Salvadoran goverment and evolved into a legitimate political party in El Salvador. Items in the series include correspondence, bulletins and newsletters, press releases, brochures, interviews with commanders and other members, conference proceedings, information on FMLN radio stations, ephemera and photographs. Files in the series are arranged alphabetically by topic.