Research Catalog

Title

Norman Thomas papers, 1904-1967, bulk (1933-1967)

Author

Thomas, Norman, 1884-1968

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Allen, Devere, 1891-1955
• Baldwin, Roger N. (Roger Nash), 1884-1981
• Browder, Earl, 1891-1973
• Burt, Roy
• Clement, Travers
• Cousins, Norman
• Detzer, Dorothy, 1893-1981
• Farrell, James T. (James Thomas), 1904-1979
• Feigenbaum, William
• Fromm, Erich, 1900-1980
• Gausmann, William C.
• Gerber, Julius
• Graham, James D.
• Harlow, Ralph Volney, 1884-1956
• Holmes, John Haynes, 1879-1964
• Hoopes, Darlington, 1896-
• Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978
• Lewis, Alfred Baker, 1897-1980
• McCallister, Frank
• McDowell, Arthur G.
• McReynolds, David
• Muste, A. J. (Abraham John), 1885-1967
• Porter, Paul
• Randolph, A. Philip (Asa Philip), 1889-1979
• Riesman, David, 1909-
• Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
• Rustin, Bayard, 1912-1987
• Senior, Clarence Ollson, 1903-1974
• Sinclair, Upton, 1878-1968
• Smith, Tucker P.
• Trager, Frank
• Zeidler, Frank P.
• American Civil Liberties Union
• Committee on Free Elections in the Dominican Republic
• Institute of International Labor Research
• League for Industrial Democracy
• National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (U.S.)
• Post War World Council
• Socialist Party (U.S.)
• Southern Tenant Farmers' Union
• Turn Toward Peace (Organization)
• Union for Democratic Socialism

Subject

• Thomas, Norman, 1884-1968
• Civil rights movements
• Disarmament
• Discrimination
• Labor movement
• Peace movements
• Presidents > United States > Election
• Socialism > United States
• Dominican Republic > Politics and government > 1930-1961
• Spain > History > Civil War, 1936-1939
• United States > Politics and government > 20th century
• United States > Social conditions > 20th century

Genre/Form

• Photoprints.
• Diaries.
• Scrapbooks.
• Audio tapes.

Access (note)

• Restricted access;

Additional Formats (note)

• Collection available on microfilm;

Biography (note)

• Norman Matoon Thomas (1884-1968), the American Socialist leader, started his career as a Presbyterian minister in New York City. He became active in the peace movement during World War I and founded the National Civil Liberties Bureau (renamed American Civil Liberties Union in 1920) with Roger Baldwin. Thomas became an active member of the Socialist Party of America, was co-director of the League for Industrial Democracy, and edited the socialist magazine, The World Tomorrow. He ran unsuccessfully for the presidency of the U.S. six times on the Socialist ticket and was active in the civil rights, universal disarmament and anti-war movements throughout his life.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Finding aid available in repository.

Call Number

MssCol 2975

OCLC

NYPW92-A240

Author

Thomas, Norman, 1884-1968.

Title

Norman Thomas papers, 1904-1967, bulk (1933-1967)

Description

Originals: 97 linear feet (193 boxes, 2 packages and 7 v.).

Copies: 85 microfilm reels.

Ten series: General Correspondence; Organizational Files; Speches; Writings; Subject Files; Testimonials; Financial Papers; Family Papers; Biography and Publicity Material; Photographs.

Additional Formats

Collection available on microfilm; New York Public Library; *ZL-445.

Summary

Collection consists of correspondence, diaries, speeches, writings, newspaper columns, press releases, and other papers relating to Thomas' career in national politics, his leadership of the Socialist Party and of the labor movement, and his association with various organizations. General correspondence, 1905-1967, accounts for the bulk of the collection and provides, particularly after 1932, an almost daily record of his activities and concerns. These papers document his relationship with leading politicians, government officials, trade union leaders, and major intellectual and political figures of his time. Organizational files, 1904-1967, consist of documents relating to the numerous organizations with which Thomas was involved. Speeches, 1911-1967, include drafts and final copies of his speeches, statements, interviews, publicity materials and many of his speaking schedules. Writings, 1917-1967, contain published and unpublished essays, books, newspaper columns, journals, diaries and unpublished autobiography. Subject files, 1905-1967, consist of reports, essays, clippings, and other printed matter concerning foreign and domestic affairs, civil liberties and discrimination, and war and peace. Also includes records and memorabilia, 1936-1964, from testimonial celebrations held in his honor; financial papers, 1933-1967, family papers, 1915-1969; biographical and publicity materials, 1903-1964; and photographs, ca. 1900-1966.

Restricted Access

Restricted access; Manuscripts and Archives Division; Permit must be requested at the division indicated.

Biography

Norman Matoon Thomas (1884-1968), the American Socialist leader, started his career as a Presbyterian minister in New York City. He became active in the peace movement during World War I and founded the National Civil Liberties Bureau (renamed American Civil Liberties Union in 1920) with Roger Baldwin. Thomas became an active member of the Socialist Party of America, was co-director of the League for Industrial Democracy, and edited the socialist magazine, The World Tomorrow. He ran unsuccessfully for the presidency of the U.S. six times on the Socialist ticket and was active in the civil rights, universal disarmament and anti-war movements throughout his life.

Indexes

Finding aid available in repository.

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Occupation

Politicians.

Political activists.

Presidential candidates.

Socialists.

Added Author

Allen, Devere, 1891-1955.

Baldwin, Roger N. (Roger Nash), 1884-1981.

Browder, Earl, 1891-1973.

Burt, Roy.

Clement, Travers.

Cousins, Norman.

Detzer, Dorothy, 1893-1981.

Farrell, James T. (James Thomas), 1904-1979.

Feigenbaum, William.

Fromm, Erich, 1900-1980.

Gausmann, William C.

Gerber, Julius.

Graham, James D.

Harlow, Ralph Volney, 1884-1956.

Holmes, John Haynes, 1879-1964.

Hoopes, Darlington, 1896-

Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978.

Lewis, Alfred Baker, 1897-1980.

McCallister, Frank.

McDowell, Arthur G.

McReynolds, David.

Muste, A. J. (Abraham John), 1885-1967.

Porter, Paul.

Randolph, A. Philip (Asa Philip), 1889-1979.

Riesman, David, 1909-

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.

Rustin, Bayard, 1912-1987.

Senior, Clarence Ollson, 1903-1974.

Sinclair, Upton, 1878-1968.

Smith, Tucker P.

Trager, Frank.

Zeidler, Frank P.

American Civil Liberties Union.

Committee on Free Elections in the Dominican Republic.

Institute of International Labor Research.

League for Industrial Democracy.

National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (U.S.)

Post War World Council.

Socialist Party (U.S.)

Southern Tenant Farmers' Union.

Turn Toward Peace (Organization)

Union for Democratic Socialism.

LCCN

ms 79001880

Research Call Number

MssCol 2975