Radical and Labor Pamphlets collection, 1896-1977, bulk 1911-1954

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Collection is open for research. Some of the pamphlets are rapidly deteriorating due to the acidic composition of their paper. To protect the most severe cases from further deterioration yet still...
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Summary

Abstract:
The Radical and Labor Pamphlets Collection (1896-1977) includes pamphlets and other ephemeral publications relating to communism, socialism and other left-wing movements as well as to labor organizations, trade unions, feminism and the women's movement, and Black power. There are some additional pamphlets related to anti-communist movements and some examples of Soviet propaganda.
Extent:
16.5 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11741

Background

Scope and content:

The Radical and Labor Pamphlets Collection spans the years from 1896 to 1977, with the bulk of the dates falling between 1911 and 1954, and is made up of publications relating to communism, socialism and other left-wing movements as well as to labor parties and trade unions. Subjects represented are: the Communist Party in the U.S. and Great Britain; socialism in the U.S. and other countries; radical youth organizations; political trials and persecutions of radical activists; labor organizations; anti-fascist and pacifist movements; anarchist organizations; anti-Communist propaganda; Soviet propaganda; and Soviet-Western relations. Other significant topics include economic justice, electoral campaigns, human rights issues, the role of women and youth in activist movements, unemployment, housing, fascism in Spain and other contemporary war issues.

There are many important individual authors represented in this collection, including Israel Amter, Arthur Clegg, Georgi Dimitrov, Emma Goldman, Gilbert Green, Grace Hutchins, Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin, Corliss Lamont, Clare Booth Luce, Philip Murray, Harry Pollitt, Karl Radek, Iosif Stalin, Lev Trotskii, and many others. Many pamphlets were produced anonymously under the aegis of institutions: these include the Communist Party, USA, Socialist Labor Party, Young Communist League, International Labor Defense, Civil Rights Congress, Communist International, Congress of Industrial Organizations, Farmer's Labor Unions, American Federation of Labor, Friends of the Soviet Union, and many more.

The majority of the pamphlets are arranged by subject categories, with the largest groups relating to the activities and membership of the Communist and Socialist parties. There is a small group of pamphlets chiefly made up of radical and labor song collections from 1912 to 1950. The majority of the pamphlets were produced in the United States and Great Britain, but there are also smaller groups of materials from Russia, India, Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, Italy, Brazil, the Philippines, and Mexico.

Many of these publications are ephemeral, that is, focused on urgent contemporary issues and generally intended for immediate consumption or short-term use. For this and for other reasons, they were often printed on poor quality paper which now shows signs of severe deterioration. The results are that few of these publications remain in circulation, and researchers may find many of them difficult to locate in library collections.

This collection also includes pamphlets published in the seventies and sixties, which address topics such as marxism, gender studies, feminism, Black power, racism, Vietnam, China, anti-capitalism, political economy, and labor studies. Most of these pamphlets, which were acquired at a later time than the bulk of the collection, are arranged by publisher, then alphabetically by title. Individuals and groups in these materials include Angela Davis, the Black Panthers, Simone de Beauvoir, John Watson, Chris Milton, the AFL-CIO, the Steelworkers Union, and others.

Acquisition information:
The Radical and Labor Pamphlets Collection was transferred from Duke University's William R. Perkins Library to the Rubenstein Library in 1961 and 2022. Portions acquired as part of the Lisa Unger Baskin Collection (2015).
Processing information:

Processed by Paula Jeannet, Debbera Carson, Brad Siegele, Allison Gluvna, Liz Scott, and Nicole Teal in 1997. Additions processed by Ofelia Lopez and Tracy Jackson, January 2024.

Accession(s) represented in this collection: 93-200 and 2022-0190.

Many pamphlet titles and other description in this collection guide were taken from a printed inventory produced in 1997.

Arrangement:

The majority of the pamphlets are arranged by subject categories, with the largest groups relating to the activities and membership of the Communist and Socialist parties. Later additions have been arranged by publisher.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Some of the pamphlets are rapidly deteriorating due to the acidic composition of their paper. To protect the most severe cases from further deterioration yet still make them available to researchers, many of them were photocopied on acid-free paper. These use copies are filed in the main collection and the originals are closed to use.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Radical and Labor Pamphlets Collection, 1896-1967, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1nq0d