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Student Activism in the 1930s
California —College of the Pacific Birth notice—Born in Stockton, California to Mrs. Eva Trumbly Bethards and Grover Bethards of 2525 E. Weber Street at 4 o'clock on April 8, 1913, Grover Jr. weight 81/2 pounds. This young chap soon developed husky lungs that got neighbors to wondering if the future vocation would be hog calling for this young addition to the Population of Stockton. His father was a carpenter, his father and mother being from Iowa (grand parents of Grover, Jr.) and a well driller by trade. All four great grand parents being from Ohio and farmer families. One great grand father being a private in the North Side of Civil War. On Grover Jr's mother's side, his mother worked in house work before marriage. The grand parents of Grover were formerly from Wisconsin, all children being born in California. The grandfather first a grain farmer, then worked for Calif. State Park System. His (Grover's great grandparents all came from Illinois. 0ne great grandfather was a captain in the Civil War for the North. In 1915 another son was added to the family, who was named Morris. In 1916 the Bethards family moved to Vallejo, Grover's father to work as ship builder. In 1917 the World War—the draft into the Navy and then into partial enlistment went Grover's dad. The whole family moved to Mare Island—the naval and marine base. In 1918 another son was added to the family—Ivan. Then the influenza the—whole family was taken to military hospitals. Ivan died at the age of 11 months. In 1919 in the late fall the family moved to Ctnae[?] Springs to regain the father's health staying a few months. In 1920 another son was born—the naval enlistment was over—so the family moved to Ctnae Springs to stay for 2 years and to farm and starve. In 1922 Eva, a girl, made the family of four children—50 miles from a doctor. 1924 the Bethards family moved back to Stockton—Here Grover played with the neighborhood kids—Italians, Negroes, and the usual Western town population. In 1925 found the Bethards back on the farm sharecroppers—half to landlord—half to tenant. Some 68 acres of grain, chicken and cows. In 1926 the house burned down without insurance—neighbors helped with gifts of food and clothing—The contract burned too so the landlord told the family to move on. For a year 1927 the family lived at Trench Camp—a small truck farm—neighbors mostly of the Orient. In High at Stockton Grover majored in History and English. He ran for student body president and was badly beaten. In Junior year he was sports editor of the Hi[?] weekly. In senior year associate and sports editor of Annual. As for Hi sports he was on second and first string for football varsity—track team, swimming team—swimming the Golden Gate to receive a silver cup and a medal. In 1930 Morris, two years Grover's Junior was accidentally shot. From 1933 to 1934 Grover worked as agriculture, cannery and farm labor, carpenter, sheep herder and brick yard worker. December 1933 Grover joined the Socialist Party. In two weeks time he was made publicity chairman and put on the Executive Committee as a delegate to the Central S.P. Convention. He was made Chairman of publicity again and members of the annual picnic committee. With Marg Kipp and Harold Jacoby, Grover formed the Stockton Yipsols. Being President to Feb. 1935—two years of service at one post. With several other S.P. comrades the C.W.A. Unemployed Union was formed. In the summer of 1934 Grover went to the S.P. summer school. In the early fall Grover was elected as Secy of the Stockton S. P. With two other comrades the Escolow S.P. was formed—Grover being the oldest Party member was sent to Sacramento because of his good work at Escolow. But failed very miserably—one members in three days time. Acting as Campaign manager for San Joaquin Co., Grover traveled with Milen Dempster[?]—candidate of S.P. for Governor in North of Calif. Going to College the L.I.D. members set up a committee and local elected Grover to Pres. A student strike against War was a success with all except one chairman out of six were L.I.D. and Yipsels. Grover has served in 3 A.F. of L. strikes Longshoremen, Culinary Workers and Cereal Workers. Home | Historical Essay | Documents | Credits |
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