Harry A. Siitonen papers, 1926-1990 and undated, bulk 1953-1977

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Summary

Creator:
Siitonen, Harry A.
Abstract:
The Harry A. Siitonen papers document Siitonen's work with the Socialist movement on the national and local scale in the 1950s through the 1970s. Siitonen, an alum of Michigan State University and son of Finnish immigrants, was heavily involved in the Socialist Party USA through the mid 1970s. He was chair of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Locals of the Socialist Party-USA during the 1950s-1970s, and active in the national Social Party-USA committee after its reconstitution in the 1970s. The papers are arranged into the following series: Correspondence, Subject Files, Party Conventions, Regional and National Organizations, Socialist Party Action Committee, California Socialist Parties, and Printed Materials. The papers include incoming and outgoing correspondence, internal memos, meeting minutes, resolutions, position papers, constitutions, and other records of party activities at local, state, and national levels.
Extent:
8.0 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11182

Background

Scope and content:

The Harry A. Siitonen papers document Siitonen's work with the Socialist movement on the national and local scale in the 1950s through the 1970s. Siitonen, alum of Michigan State University and son of Finnish immigrants, was heavily involved in the Socialist Party USA from the 1950s until 1976, at which time he broke from the party citing disillusionment. He thereafter refocused his efforts on the Industrial Workers of the World. The collection consists of party documents from his time with the Socialist Party USA including: internal memos, meeting minutes, resolutions, position papers, convention handouts, notes, as well as incoming and outgoing correspondence and subject files.

Biographical / historical:

Born March 18, 1926, in Worcester, Massachusetts, Harry A. Siitonen is alum of Michigan State University, retired newspaper printer, writer for Finnish-American periodicals, and actor. Sittonen's parents immigrated to the United States from Finland in 1915, both of whom were stalwart members of the Finnish Federation. He joined the Communist Party while at Michigan State, and later joined the Socialist Party USA. He was chair of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Locals of the Socialist Party-USA during the 1950s-1970s, and active in the national Social Party-USA committee after its reconstitution in the 1970s. He resigned from the Socialist Party USA in 1976, citing disillusionment and refocusing his efforts on the Industrial Workers of the World. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Acquisition information:
The Harry Siitonen Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library in 1996.
Processing information:

Processed by Kat Stefko and Katrina Martin, 2014-2016.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 1996-015.

Arrangement:

Arranged into series: Correspondence, Subject Files, Party Conventions, Regional and National Organizations, Socialist Party Action Committee, California Socialist Parties, Printed Materials.

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.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

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], Harry A. Siitonen Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.