Llano del Rio Colony Records

The collection contains correspondence, documents, minutes, newspaper clippings, photographs, poetry, and printed materials pertaining to the Llano del Rio Colony and its successor, Newllano.

Most of the items donated by Mellie Calvert (Box 1) pertain to the history of the Llano del Rio Colony and the experiences of its colonists. Some of this material looks at the influence Job Harriman and the Young People's Socialist League of California had upon the founding of Llano, while other items represent the lives and daily struggles of individual Llano members.

The vast majority of the Knox Mellon addenda items (Boxes 2-4, plus two oversized items) pertain to Newllano and its various problems. Although the collection spans from 1896 to 1967, the greatest concentration of items were written in the 1930s, a turbulent time in Newllano's development. During the mid-1930s a power struggle arose in Newllano between its elected Board (headed by George T. Pickett, 1876-1959) and a band of individuals who attempted to revoke Pickett's leadership and declare a new Board. Letters and documents reflecting each side of the divide exist within the collection, although more of the materials reflect the pro-Pickett stance. Sidney Young authors many of Pickett's defenses and is a strong voice throughout the collection. Other Knox Mellon items reflect the pre-history of Llano, including copies of late nineteenth century letters penned by Job Harriman and Morris Hillquit (1869-1933).

Subjects represented throughout the collection as a whole include the Llano and Newllano colonies, socialism in the United States, socialist societies, Job Harriman, Morris Hillquit (1869-1933), George T. Pickett (1876-1959) and Sidney Young.