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Radical Pamphlets Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-352-BC

Scope and Content

This collection is the compilation of a series of acquisitions purchased by Zimmerman Library between 1973 and 1977. Most pamphlets came from collections gathered by the Kraus organization in New York. The pamphlets in the collection are mainly in English.

The Radical Pamphlet Collection contains many pamphlets published in what was the Soviet Union, as well as publications of the Workers Publishing Company in the United States. The pamphlets include writings by and about the major leaders of the Communist Party, U.S.A. as well as Karl Marx, Stalin, Lenin, Trotsky, and Molotov. Many well known writers of the twentieth century, such as H.G. Wells, G.B. Shaw, Jack London, and Upton Sinclair are also represented and provide an excellent overview of Leftist thought in the first half of the twentieth century.

The collection is divided into sixteen series:

Series I: Labor and Labor Unions: History and Issues - Publications by individual labor unions, the League for Industrial Democracy, and history of labor-management strife. There is also much information on wages and the cost of living in the U.S. from 1920-1971, and the views of the U.S. Communist Party on New Deal actions, such as the NRA. (5 boxes)

Series II: World Wars - Covers events from 1914-1945, not only the two World Wars, but also the anti-war sentiment of the 1920's and 1930's, the Popular Front, fascism and anti-fascism. The pamphlets include publications by Bela Kun and Dolores Ibarruri (La Pasionaria). There is some related material on women in the U.S. and in the Soviet Union in Box 9. (4 boxes)

Series III: Children, Youth, Education - Covers publications by and about the Young Communist International and the Young Communist League. This series also includes publications on the post-war youth movements in the U.S. (3/4 box)

Series IV: Education, Religion, Anti-Communism, Health Care - This series compares these topics in the U.S. and in the Soviet Union. It also includes information on the Roman Catholic Church and its views on Communism. (1 1/4 box)

Series V: Agriculture, Culture, Marxism, Political Left and Right - A very important part of this series is a collection of pamphlets on the Depression era in the U.S.A., as well as publications on Angela Davis, the New Left, and the Black Panthers. (1 box)

Series VI: Communist Leaders and Thinkers - Writings by and about the major Communist leaders and theorists--Marx, Engels, Rosa Luxembourg, Karl Leibknecht, Stalin, Lenin, Castro, Browder, W.Z. Foster, and Trotsky. (3 ? boxes)

Series VII: Blacks And Civil Rights - The Communist Party in the U.S. worked for the rights of Black people and was active in the defense of the Scottsboro Boys. There is much information about conditions of the Black people in the South before 1960. This series also includes publications from 1920 to 1964 by the American Civil Liberties Union. (1 ? boxes)

Series VIII: Persecution of Labor Unions, Communists, HUAC, McCarthyism - Contains information on the Mooney-Billings case of 1916, the Rosenberg trial, and information on anarchism, Emma Goldman, Alexander Kropotkin. (1 box)

Series IX: Socialism - The history and philosophy of socialism in the United States, Great Britain, and other countries, and information on the Socialist Party in the U.S. (2 ? boxes)

Series X: Communist Party, USA. - Pamphlets published by the Party and its leaders throughout the Depression Years, World War II, and the post-war trials of Eugene Dennis and others. The anti-New Deal bias of the Party, the anti-war positions and then the change and call for a second front after 1941 are noteworthy. (2 boxes)

Series XI: The Soviet Union - Contains the history of the 1917 Revolution and the early years of the Soviet Union. Subjects of particular interest include political and economic conditions before 1936 and accounts by Americans who went to live and work in the Soviet Union. There is also material on the Moscow trials and on conditions during World War II. Most of the material on the Soviet Union during the war is in Series II. (2 ? boxes)

Series XII: Communist Party, Soviet Union - English language material on the meetings and congresses of the Communist International. Speeches, resolutions and decisions are included in Box 26. (1 ? box)

Series XIII: The Cold War - Contains information on the U.S. and Soviet Union foreign relations, the effects of the Cold War on intellectual freedom in the U.S., nuclear disarmament, and economic conditions. Most of the information, except for opposition to the Marshall Plan is from Western eyes. (? box)

Series XIV: The International Scene - Covers political and economic conditions and the rise and influence of communism world wide. There is a great deal of information on the 1927 revolution in China and on China from 1930 to 1976. The 1919 revolution in Cuba, the Vietnam War, and life in eastern Europe before 1989 are also covered. (6 boxes)

Series XV: Periodicals. An assortment of scattered issues of periodicals published by Emma Goldman, the Young Communist International, and the Young Pioneers. Boxes 36 and 37 contain a wide variety of publications on war crimes, U.S. military history and publications by Henry Wallace and Wendell Willkie. (4 boxes)

Series XVI: Miscellaneous Oversize Publications - (1 box)

Dates

  • 1899-1973

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permissioon is required for publication or distribution.

Extent

38 boxes ( 37.35 cu. ft.)

Abstract

The collection contains pamphlets published by the Communist Party, U.S.A., Communist Party, Soviet Union, various Socialist parties, and radical presses in the U.S. and abroad. Some pamphlet covers and descriptions can be viewed in New Mexico Digital Collections.

Related Archival Material

Spanish Civil War Collection. Center for Southwest and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. Mexican Communist Party Ephemera Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico World War I and World War II Pamphlets and Publications Collection Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico

Separated Material

Scattered issues of certain periodicals have been catalogued for the general collection.
Title
Finding Aid of the Radical Pamphlets Collection, 1899-1973
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by M. LaCroix
Date
©2000
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 352 BC::Radical Pamphlets Collection)//EN" "nmu1mss352bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451