The Cline papers arrived at the Historical Society in 2010 in complete disorder, with little material even organized into folders. As a consequence, the collection had to be completely rearranged and weeded. The remaining material consists of printouts of e-mails, correspondence, flyers, minutes and other organizational records, handwritten notes, and photographs. Printed e-mail makes up the bulk of the collection and while this form of communication sometimes lacks identifying context, the e-mails are always dated.
The Cline Papers are arranged as GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, SUBJECT FILES, VISUAL MATERIALS, and AUDIO RECORDINGS.
The GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, which is arranged chronologically, consists of traditional correspondence and e-mail printouts that could not easily be filed by subject.
The SUBJECT FILES, arranged alphabetically, consist of subject-based e-mail, traditional documentation such as minutes and agenda that were circulated in electronic form, organizational records, and press and publicity materials. The bulk of the subject files relate to Veterans for Peace (VFP), Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), and Jersey City Vietnam Veterans Memorial, all organizations with which Cline was involved in a leadership capacity. Although basic organizational records are mostly lacking, most organizational e-mails were printed and saved. This is particularly true for the period 2001-2006, when Cline was the national president of VFP, and, as a result, one of the national leaders in the opposition to the Iraq War. The files for this era contain many exchanges between VFP leaders and staff concerning planning and policy. However, Cline's files of official executive committee minutes and reports are incomplete. In addition, there is information on finances, conventions, Agent Orange projects, membership, a conflict between Philadelphia chapters #31 and #144, and the expulsion of Gordon Soderberg, a participant in the Katrina relief effort. Cline's VFP records and correspondence are very incomplete for the period before he became president.
During the late 1990s Cline launched a campaign to erect a memorial to Jersey City's Vietnam War dead. Records for this committee and the local Memorial Day events the committee sponsored include handwritten minutes, correspondence, flyers, and photographs.
Despite his position as a national VVAW coordinator, Cline's records about that organization are limited. But since the national Vietnam Veterans Against the War Records, which are housed at the Wisconsin Historical Society, have little information that dates after 1975, Cline's post-1975 e-mails distributed through VVAW-Net, VVAW-Core, and VVAW-Contacts listserv mailing lists are important. Cline's VVAW material also complements the records of the Clarence Fitch Chapter of VVAW (part of the national records held by the Wisconsin Historical Society).
Cline also collected records about United for Peace and Justice, a national coalition of organizations opposed to the war in Iraq and mailings from a host of other organizations, primarily from New Jersey, concerned with peace and veterans issues. Several cartons of publications pertaining to these organizations have been separated to the Historical Society Library.
In addition to organizational records, the collection contains material focused on Cline, his activities, and his effectiveness as a peace activist. This material includes interviews, handwritten speech outlines and transcripts, writings, letters to the editor, brief biographies and biographical clippings, and a typescript of the letters he wrote to his family during the Vietnam War.
The VISUAL MATERIALS include photographs, video tapes and DVDs. The photographs document ceremonies at the Jersey City Vietnam Veterans Memorial and activities of Veterans for Peace and Vietnam Veterans Against the War. The photographs also document with the videorecordings Cline's participation in the activities of the Jersey City Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and Veterans for Peace. The videorecordings have been listed with the SUBJECT FILES as well as by call number under VISUAL MATERIALS.
The AUDIO RECORDINGS consist of Where Is the Rage, Jerry Scanlon's album of anti-war songs sponsored by VFP, and a discussion by Allen Nelson about his experiences as a Marine in Vietnam. The audio records have been listed with the SUBJECT FILES as well as by call number under AUDIO RECORDINGS.
