Oakland Museum of California

Nestor (Helen) Free Speech Movement Photographs


Helen Nestor Free Speech Movement Photographs

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Nestor, Helen
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Helen Nestor Free Speech Movement Photographs, Oakland Museum of California.


Background

Scope and content:

The Helen Nestor photographic collection at the Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, California contains more than 2,000 prints and 20,000 negatives, is the life's work of an important documentary photographer who specialized in recording the political and social changes of the 1960s and beyond in California. The 39 photographs presented here are a selection from her negatives taken during the Free Speech Movement in the Fall of 1964.

Nestor's prolific career is all the more remarkable in that she is seriously disabled. Like Dorothea Lange (with whom she was acquainted), Nestor was afflicted with polio; unlike her more famous colleague, she could not walk without the assistance of crutches and, eventually, a wheelchair. Despite this she produced compelling work in often threatening situations. Born in 1924, Nestor earned a B.S. degree in public health at U.C. Berkeley before being stricken with polio in 1951. She studied photography in the early 1960s with Ansel Adams, Morley Baer, Minor White, and Dorothea Lange - her spiritual mentor.

Nestor's work appeared in Ramparts magazine as well as in several monographs including Equal Start (1968), On the Go (1968), The Trouble in Berkeley (1965) and Field Trips (1966). In the 1970s she became increasingly interested in changing family constellations, creating a series entitled Non-Traditional American Families, which exhibited in several galleries including the Focus Gallery in San Francisco. In 1988 she rephotographed these families for a book titled Family Portraits in Changing Times (1992).

Nestor has also photographed the disabled, focusing on disabled working women and artists. She has mounted ten solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group showings.


Access and use

Restrictions:

The records are open for research with no restrictions under the conditions of the museum's access policy. Appointments may be made by calling (510) 238-2200

Terms of access:

Researchers are responsible for obtaining copyright permission to use material not produced by museum personnel.


Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Helen Nestor Free Speech Movement Photographs, Oakland Museum of California.


Location of this collection:
1000 Oak Street
Oakland, CA 94607, US

Contact:
510-318-8400

Students on Sproul Steps holding protest signs., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Student and Policeman at protest rally., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Sherriff's bus followed by motorcycle policemen leaving Sproul Hall after arrests., Dec. 2, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Students on Sproul Hall balcony with flag., Dec. 2, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Rally in Sproul Plaza with Sproul Hall in background., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Free Speech rally in Sproul Plaza with Sproul Hall in background., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Free Speech rally in Sproul Plaza., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Students and policeman on Bancroft way observing rally on Sproul Plaza., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Sproul Hall with FSM signs hanging over the balconies. A student holds the American flag on the south balcony., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Sproul Hall balcony., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Student with American flag on Sproul Hall balcony., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Students in Sproul Plaza., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Pickets at Bancroft and Telegraph during the general strike., Dec. 3, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Woman at Free Speech Movement rally., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Dusty Miller and other students with STRIKE and FSM cards., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Women at Free Speech Movement rally., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Students fasting on Sproul Steps during the Free Speech Movement., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Picketers sitting on Sproul Steps., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

International Workers of the World (IWW) sign in front of the Student Union on Sproul Plaza during the general strike., Dec. 5, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Jack Weinberg and Steve Weissman., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Crowd at the Greek Theater for the Special Convocation., Dec. 7, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Newsmen and photographers at the Greek Theater with audience in the background., Dec. 7, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Crowd at Greek Theater., Dec. 7, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Bettina Aptheker, Art Goldberg and others on stage at Greek Theater., Dec. 7, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Bettina Aptheker, Art Goldberg and others on the Greek Theater stage., Dec. 7, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Free Speech supporters in front of Sproul Hall., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Crown in lower Sproul Plaza and on roofs of Golden Bear., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Students at Free Speech Movement rally., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Crowd in upper Sproul Plaza., 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Woman speaking at CORE rally at Bancroft and Telegraph., Dec. 15, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Woman speaking at CORE rally at Bancroft and Telegraph., Dec. 15, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

James Farmer giving the V sign at a CORE rally at Bancroft and Telegraph., Dec. 15, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Joan Baez singing on the Sproul Steps., Dec. 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor

Joan Baez singing on Sproul Hall steps., Dec. 2, 1964
Creators:
Helen Nestor

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Helen Nestor