Speaking freely: An oral history of the Freedom to Read Foundation.

摘要

This thesis presents an oral history of the Freedom to Read Foundation from its establishment in 1969 to the present. The bulk of the study consists of oral interviews with individuals who have played significant roles in the Foundation's history and devoted themselves to upholding ethical principles of the American Library Association that the Foundation has defended for nearly 40 years. These leading figures in librarianship, Judith Krug, C. James Schmidt, Zoia Horn, Theresa Chmara, and Candace Morgan, explain specific aspects and activities of the Foundation such as its legal actions in support of libraries' First Amendment right to provide access to information as well as the Foundation's structure, leadership, partners, and purpose. Further, the narrators discuss the various tenets of intellectual freedom that have guided the Foundation's work. To augment the oral history, the study also presents a historical overview which details the Foundation's origins, composition, activities, and legacy.