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Floyd B. Nelson papers

 Collection
Identifier: MC-079

Scope and Contents

The collection is divided into six series: Nelson’s subject files (Series I); correspondence files (Series II); newspaper clippings (Series III); poetry by Nelson (Series IV); audio and video recordings (Series V); and the records of the Kennedy Assassination Truth Committee and the Inquiry and Accountability Foundation (known as the Foundation for Truth and Accountability from 1986-1988) (Series VI). His own folder titles were retained in most cases, with some alterations for filing errors and easier access to their contents. The bulk of the records date from the 1980s and 1990s. The investigative files from his work with Lillian Castellano, compiled between 1968 and 1985 were previously donated to the archives to form the nucleus of the Robert F. Kennedy Assassination Archives collection (the Nelson-Castellano collection). The investigative files of the Inquiry and Accountability Foundation were donated to the University of Southern California Archives in 1992 as part of Greg Stone’s papers, following his death in 1991. There is an inventory of the latter in box 20.

Dates

  • 1968-2001
  • Majority of material found within 1980 - 2000

Language of Materials

Materials are entirely in English

Conditions Governing Access

None

Biographical / Historical

In 1968 Floyd B. Nelson was a founding member of the Kennedy Assassination Truth Committee (later the Foundation for Truth and Accountability, which changed its name in 1988 to Inquiry and Accountability Foundation, Inc.). It was in that year he met Lillian Castellano, also a charter member of the committee. He worked closely with her for 10 years, until her death in 1978, investigating the murder of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Together they raised questions about the LAPD’s handling of the investigation, and about the number of bullets purportedly fired, which raised the question of an additional gunman. Their article in the LA Free Press, “Ten Shots from an Eight-Shot Revolver,” published May 23, 1969, was the first to publicly raise the issue of additional bullets. In 1971 Lillian Castellano testified before the Grand Jury in an attempt to have the case re-investigated. Floyd Nelson later assisted in the request to the Grand Jury to review charges of willful and corrupt misconduct on the part of the Los Angeles Police Department, filed by Marilyn Barrett and Paul Schrade April 2, 1992.

Extent

12 Linear Feet (20 manuscript boxes, one oversize box, and 8 audiovisual boxes)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Prof. Philip Melanson, who received them from the estate of Floyd B. Nelson, accession # 02-03 and 02-05.

Title
Floyd B. Nelson papers
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Claire T. Carney Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Repository

Contact:
285 Old Westport Rd.
N. Dartmouth MA 02747 USA