Guide to the Hollis Mosher papers
, 1917-2000
Brown University Library, Special Collections
Box A, John Hay Library
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
E-mail: hay@brown.edu
Published in 2010
Collection Overview
| Title: |
Hollis Mosher papers |
| Date range: |
1917-2000 |
| Creator: |
Mosher, Hollis |
| Extent: |
1.25 linear feet
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| Abstract: |
The Mosher papers consist of correspondence, writings, research materials, and personal items related to the life and work of Hollis Malcolm Mosher. The majority of the materials in this collection are from the period of his life following his service in World War II. These materials reflect his undercover work in extremist organizations on behalf of various federal and state government agencies in the United States and his political and social activism. |
| Language of materials: |
English |
| Repository: |
Brown University Library, Special Collections
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| Collection number: |
Ms. 2009.004 |
Scope & content
The Mosher papers consist of correspondence, writings, research materials, and personal items related to the life and work of Hollis Malcolm Mosher. The majority of the materials in this collection are from the period of his life following his service in World War II. These materials reflect his undercover work in extremist organizations on behalf of various federal and state government agencies in the United States and his political and social activism.
The correspondence series contains dozens of letters to editors on various topics, letters to elected officials, also some letters to editors written in response to Mosher’s letters.
Mosher’s writings fall into three main types: autobiographical writings, reports and notes on political issues, and fiction. Among the autobiographical writings are two finished pieces (A Report of a Political Out Rider and I Replaced Herbert Philbrick as a C.I. in the Communist Party USA), as well as folders containing notes, research materials, and drafts for various chapters of an autobiographical life story. The materials relating to his life story also include correspondence and subpoenas from the United States Department of Justice Subversive Activities Control Board and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Commission on Communism and Subversive Activities. Two folders are of particular interest: the Kennedy Investigation folder contains Kennedy assassination postcards, bibliographical materials, and Mosher’s research notes about the event, while the Cover Blown folder contains news articles about Hollis Mosher and his undercover work. Mosher’s writings about political issues cover topics such as sexual politics, racism, and the Ku Klux Klan. Finally, there are two folders containing chapters and notes from what appears to be the beginnings of a political romance novel called The King is Dead, Long Live the King, which is set in the northeast (especially Boston and Philadelphia) in the 1950s and 60s.
After his service in the war, Mosher’s work focused on research and activism. The subject files that Mosher put together reflect his devotion to issues involving disabilities, recycling, and toxic waste. Also among this section are notes and reports from Mosher’s undercover work, newsletters and publications from activist groups and secret societies, news clippings, magazine articles, and a photograph of war-torn Manila during World War II.
The items of a more personal nature that are in the Mosher collection are his baby book, a logo embosser, photo albums, Mosher family recipes, and a folder of documents and memorabilia from his service in the US Coast Guard-Merchant Marine (official documents, cards, awards, certificates, news clippings, one with photograph of Mosher).
Access Points
Subject Topics
Subject Topics
Arrangement
The materials are arranged in four series.
- Series 1. Correspondence
- Series 2. Writings
- Series 3. Subject Files
- Series 4. Personal
Biographical note
After serving in World War II, Hollis Malcolm Mosher spent most of his career doing undercover work in extremist organizations on behalf of various federal and state government agencies in the United States.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: |
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested. |
| Use of the materials: |
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them. |
| Preferred citation: |
Hollis Mosher papers, Ms. 2009.004, Brown University Library. |
| Contact information: |
Brown University Library, Special Collections
Box A, John Hay Library
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
E-mail: hay@brown.edu
|
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION |
| Acquisition: |
Gift from Michael Brown, November 29, 2006: A2007-012 |
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| ABOUT THE FINDING AID |
| Author: |
Finding aid prepared by Gaelen Adam. |
| Encoding: |
Finding aid encoded by Gaelen Adam
2010 June 29 |
| Descriptive rules: |
Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
Inventory
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
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correspondence to and from Hollis Mosher
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| Box 1, Folder 2 |
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correspondence to Dinger Ford from Hollis Mosher; complaints about service
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| Box 1, Folder 3 |
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correspondence to John Ciccone (South Boston Information Center) from Hollis Mosher regarding his comments about Mel King in the Daily World (also included)
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| Box 1, Folder 4 |
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correspondence to Rep. Joseph Sullivan from Hollis Mosher concerning the death penalty
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| Box 1, Folder 5 |
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letters to editors from Hollis Mosher (not complete, some are in other Mosher folders)
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| Box 1, Folder 7 |
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2) "John Birch Society, Friends of Senator McCarthy"
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| Box 1, Folder 8 |
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3) "Birth Place of Big City Riots Black Muslim" ("Trip to Deep South Speedy Black Muslums (sic.)") [each side of original envelope had a different title written on it, both of which are listed here]
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| Box 1, Folder 9 |
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4) "Battle with New Left"
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| Box 1, Folder 10 |
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5) "Kennedy Investigation"
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| Box 1, Folder 11 |
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6) (9?) "Cover Blown"
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| Box 1, Folder 12 |
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7) "Conclusions"
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| Box 1, Folder 13 |
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10) "Sexual Politics" ("N.S. Sex Ed[ucation]") [each side of original envelope had a different title written on it, both of which are listed here]
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| Box 1, Folder 14 |
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"A Report of a Political Out Rider"
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| Box 1, Folder 15 |
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"Christian Identity"
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| Box 1, Folder 16 |
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"I Replaced Herbert Philbrick as a C.I. in the Communist Party USA" (includes 2 articles about Gordon D. Hall)
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| Box 1, Folder 17 |
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"Life Story 1965" (includes article about Gordon D. Hall and Franl C. Muise (Hollis Mosher?) from the Birmingham Independent; a report about the Catholic Labor Guild (by Mosher?); report on a trip to new orlenas by Mosher; news clippings and photographs)
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| Box 1, Folder 18 |
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"Life Story 1980" (includes news clippings; letters to editors; subpoenas and correspondence from the U.S. Department of Justice and Subversive Activities Control Board; writings by Hollis Mosher; KKK documents; other materials)
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| Box 1, Folder 19 |
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"Phyllis Schlafly and the Eagle Forum" (by Hollis Mosher?) (also includes copy of Eagle Forum brochure)
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| Box 1, Folder 20 |
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"Racism and the KKK" (by Hollis Mosher?) (includes photocopy of Adamic Knights of the Ku-Klux Klan membership card and statement by Bill Sickles about the Adamic Knights oath)
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| Box 1, Folder 21 |
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"The King is Dead, Long Live the King" (chapter 1 and outline of chapters)
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| Box 1, Folder 22 |
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"The King is Dead, Long Live the King" (chapters 3 and 4 and some notes)
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| Box 1, Folder 23 |
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Notebook (includes personal information)
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| Box 1, Folder 24 |
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Adamic Knights of the Ku-Klux Klan
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| Box 1, Folder 25 |
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AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE)
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| Box 1, Folder 26 |
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American Legion, The, Braintree Post No. 86 (Massachusetts)
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| Box 1, Folder 27 |
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American Majority Party (AMP) (Majority News and Views) (MN and V)
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| Box 1, Folder 28 |
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American Media Specials, Inc. ("The Day that Changed America")
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| Box 1, Folder 29 |
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American Survival
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| Box 1, Folder 30 |
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Christian Coalition ("Christian Coalition Congressional Scorecard")
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| Box 1, Folder 31 |
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Christian Identity (writings by Hollis Mosher; news clippings; report of Identity Study Group; correspondence; also an item from A90-21: The Division of Church and Sociaty of the National Councilof the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. ("The 'Christian Identity' Movement: A Theologial Justification for Racist and Anti-Semitic Violence" by Leonard Zeskind))
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| Box 1, Folder 32 |
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Christian Israel Fellowship of Virginia (The C.I.F. Letter)
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| Box 1, Folder 33 |
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Christian-Patriots Defense League, The (C-PDL); Citizens Emergency Defense System (CEDS); Paul Revere Club (conference report?)
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| Box 1, Folder 34 |
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Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
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| Box 1, Folder 35 |
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Colorado Youth and Truth Workshop (Lecture Guide. "Communism: A new critique and counterproposal (based on unification ideology)") (cover only)
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| Box 1, Folder 36 |
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Coral Ridge Ministries (1996 State of the Nation Survey)
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| Box 1, Folder 37 |
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Denver, Colorado (report on visit by Hollis Mosher)
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| Box 1, Folder 38 |
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Disabilities Issues (Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Architectural Access Board (AAB); Braintree Commission on Disabilities (BCOD); Braintree Housing Authority)
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| Box 1, Folder 39 |
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First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ (Newsletter; article about Hollis M. Mosher)
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| Box 1, Folder 40 |
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Frederick Realty and Trust (rental agreement)
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| Box 1, Folder 41 |
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Hall, Gordon D. (report from a luncheon with Alger Hiss)
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| Box 1, Folder 42 |
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Hedlund Committee, The (Bob Hedlund, MA State Senator) (and questionnaire filled out by Mosher)
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| Box 1, Folder 43 |
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Holocaust Revisionism (Ross Vicksell; Fred Leuchter, Jr.; David Duke; various news clippings; Anti-Defamation League background report on Fred Leuchter, Jr.)
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| Box 1, Folder 44 |
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Hubbard Dianetics Foundation (Dianetics Personality Test)
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| Box 1, Folder 45 |
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Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Boston
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| Box 1, Folder 46 |
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Human Life International (HLI Reports); John Salvi III (includes short report and letter by Hollis M. Mosher)
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| Box 1, Folder 47 |
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Invisible Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (membership form, other information, news clippings, issues of Klan Kourage)
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| Box 1, Folder 48 |
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Johnson, The Reverend Dr. Jeffrey P. (celebrating 25 years of Mission; remarks by Hollis Mosher)
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| Box 1, Folder 49 |
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Kennedy Conspiracy (notes, information, and draft of "The Politics of Conspiracy, Position paper of the Assassination Information Bureau" by Carl Oglesby)
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| Box 1, Folder 50 |
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Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (Klan identification list and contact information; distributed by Joseph Dilys)
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| Box 1, Folder 51 |
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Lott, Trent (news clippings)
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| Box 1, Folder 52 |
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Massachusetts Silver Haired Legislature; Sally M. Hoyt, Speaker of the House
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| Box 1, Folder 53 |
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Miscellaneous (contains two items from A90-12, which are marked)
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| Box 1, Folder 54 |
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National Socialist Vanguard (NSV Report)
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| Box 1, Folder 55 |
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New England Concerned Christians
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| Box 1, Folder 56 |
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Newspaper clippings and magazine articles
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| Box 1, Folder 57 |
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O'Neill, Albert "Dapper"; Trent Lott; Council of Conservative Citizens, Inc. (news clippings)
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| Box 1, Folder 58 |
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Operation Freedom
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| Box 1, Folder 59 |
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Photograph: "The Bird's Eye View of War Torn Manila" (by Hollis Mosher?)
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| Box 1, Folder 60 |
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Polish Freedom Fighters (includes letter to Hollis Mosher from Josef Mlot-Mroz, articles about Hollis Mosher, and letters to editors by Hollis Mosher)
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| Box 1, Folder 61 |
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Radio-Active Media, Inc. (The Limbaugh Letter)
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| Box 1, Folder 62 |
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Recycling and Toxic Waste
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| Box 1, Folder 63 |
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Saturday Evening Post ("Battler Against Bigotry" by Roul Tunley; 12/8/1962 Vol. 235 Issue 44 p28-35; article about Gordon D. Hall, with mention of Hollis Mosher)
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| Box 1, Folder 64 |
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Shannon P. O'Brien Committee, The (O'Brien Update)
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| Box 1, Folder 65 |
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Soldier of Fortune (conference report: 9th Annual Convention)
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| Box 1, Folder 66 |
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Southern Poverty Law Center, The, Klanwatch Project (letter to Hollis M. Mosher)
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| Box 1, Folder 67 |
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Spotlight, The: September 10, 1990
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| Box 1, Folder 68 |
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SSES Area Legislators (contact information)
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| Box 1, Folder 69 |
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Tatro, Edgar F. (letter to Hollis M. Mosher; list of publications and projects; "Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Dumbest of Them All?" by Tatro, which is a commentary on "The Official Warren Commission Report on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy", p 645)
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| Box 1, Folder 70 |
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Town of Braintree (information about candidates and letter from Hollis M. Mosher)
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| Box 1, Folder 71 |
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Town of Braintree, Committee to Evaluate the Position of Executive Secretary (a.k.a. "Daylor Committee")
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| Box 1, Folder 72 |
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U.S. Census Bureau
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| Box 1, Folder 73 |
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Universal Force Dynamics ("Surviving Global Slavery: Living Under the New World Order" by Robert K. Spear)
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| Box 1, Folder 74 |
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What's Left of the Left (A90-21)
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| Box 1, Folder 75 |
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White Supremacy
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| Box 1, Folder 76 |
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Wilcox, Laird; John George; Polish Freedom Fighters (open letter by Wilcox, correspondence with Hollis M. Mosher, and other information)
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| Box 1, Folder 77 |
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Baby Book, Hollis M. Mosher
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| Box 2, Folder 1 |
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Logo Embosser ("Library of Hollis Mosher, JFK")
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| Box 2, Folder 2 |
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Mosher Family Recipes
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| Box 2, Folder 3 |
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Photo album (1 of 3)
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| Box 2, Folder 4 |
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Photo album (2 of 3)
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| Box 2, Folder 5 |
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Photo album (3 of 3)
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| Box 2, Folder 6 |
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Photograph (Shauna Lydon)
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| Box 2, Folder 7 |
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Registry Department of the City of Boston. Abstract of Record (of birth of Hollis M. Mosher)
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| Box 2, Folder 8 |
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U.S. Government. United States Coast Guard - Merchant Marine (official documents, cards, awards, certificates, news clippings, one with photograph of Mosher)
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