2017-04-11 Guide to the Ivan Gilbert Collection on Far-Left Political Movements, 1894, 1930-1977 SPEC.RARE.0054 Finding aid prepared by Zoe MacLeod; Devon Boerman Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2017 April; 2018 June

Created from transfer of Ackerman Inventory, needs to be verified for accuracy, did not compare against PP at the time of transfer: b62038485

 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2018-08-10T09:36-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Ivan Gilbert Collection on Far-Left Political Movements SPEC.RARE.0054 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.4 Cubic feet 1894, 1930-1977 Starting in the mid-1800s, political and social groups with far-left ideologies, such as the Soviet Union Communist Party and American socialists, began courting workers and labor unions to help expand their political movements. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Communist Party of the United States of America was successful in growing their support for their movement. However, the party declined within the 1950s, which caused different organizations, such as the Progressive Labor Party, to lead the far-left movements of the 1950s-1970s. The Ivan Gilbert Collection on Far-Left Political Movements, dated 1894 and 1930-1977, contains pamphlets and magazines created by groups and people who supported far-left ideologies in the 19th and 20th centuries, with a primary focus on movements based in the United States. (1) 5'' letter document box English Gilbert, Ivan Arrangement of Materials

This collection is arranged in 3 series: Series 1: Communism Series 2: Socialism Series 3: Progressive Labor Party

 Acquisitions Information

Donated by Ivan Gilbert, Date unknown

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Ivan Gilbert Collection on Far-Left Political Movements, SPEC.RARE.0054, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Zoe Macleod, 2017 April; Devon Boerman, 2018 June. Finding aid written by: Zoe Macleod, 2017 April; Updated by: Devon Boerman, 2018 June.

 Historical Note

In the 1890s, Czech Austrian philosopher and Marxist Karl Kautsky argued in his 1892 book, The Class Struggle, that Socialism needed to connect with labor unions to form political parties to strengthen the socialist movement. Other far-left movements of the time argued against religion and its cultural restrictions, and about issues such as feminism, migration, and police searches. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Communist Party of the United States of America expanded in size due in part to the Great Depression and World War II, as they offered solutions to workers that were more left-leaning than the New Deal. As well, pamphlets and works from the Soviet Union Communist Party and international extension of this party, such as the International Labor Defense and the World Federation of Trade Unions, were translated into English to spread the ideology and to voice antifascist statements.

During the 1950s, the Communist Party of the United States of America declined in size and influence with numerous far-left organizations attempting to fill the vacuum. One of these groups was the Progressive Labor Party. The Progressive Labor Party was formed in 1961 through an ideological split with the United States Communist Party. The Progressive Labor Party viewed themselves as Marxist-Leninists, and attempted to connect union workers with student groups alongside pushing an anti-racism agenda. Other far-left groups embraced secularism, student protests, and satirical criticism of American society.

Ivan Gilbert (1922-2013) was a Columbus-based physician and businessman. He appears to have written the book entitled "The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: A Plain Talking Manifesto on God, Man, Truth, Power, and Politics," and the essay "The Coming Revolution" found within this collection, which both have a socialist focus.

 Scope and Contents

The Ivan Gilbert Collection on Far-Left Political Movements, dated 1894, 1930-1977, contains pamphlets, essays, booklets, books, a sticker, and magazines created by groups and people who supported far-left ideologies in the 19th and 20th centuries. The majority of the collection concerns far-left movements in the United States, but also includes translated Soviet Union communist works, international organization pamphlets, a Canadian communist pamphlet, and Soviet propaganda aimed at a British audience.

 Communist Party of the United States of America. Progressive Labor Party. Communism--Soviet Union--20th century Communism--United States--20th century Labor Unions--United States--20th century Pamphlets Periodicals Socialism--United States--20th century Communism Series 1 1930-1951 Scope and Contents

The Communism series, dated 1930-1951, contains pamphlets, instructional materials and propaganda relating to translated Soviet Union works, labor focused solutions to the Great Depression, international communist organizations and anti-fascism. Some of the materials portray the Soviet Union as a model that should be adopted by others. Materials are arranged chronologically, and alphabetically by topic or given title within the same date.

 "The International Labor Defense: Its Constitution and Organization Resolution" pamphlet 1 1 1930 "What Every Worker Should Know About NRA (National Recovery Act) pamphlet 1 2 1933 "Housing Under Capitalism" pamphlet 1 3 1935 "J.Louis Engahl: Revolutionary Working Class Leader" pamphlet 1 4 1935 "Unity Will Conquer" pamphlet 1 5 1935 Anti-William Randolph Hearst pamphlet 1 6 1936 "Molotov on the New Soviet Constitution" pamphlet 1 7 1937 "To Defend Assassins is to Help Fascism" by Georgi Dmitroff anti-fascist pamphlet 1 8 1937 "Democracy In Danger" pamphlet 1 9 1938 "Destroy Hitlerism" pamphlet 1 10 1941 "Communist Illegality and the New Minister of Justice" Canadian pamphlet 1 11 1942 "Soviet Youth Marches Forward" British propaganda 1 12 1945 "On the Struggle Against Revisionism" pamphlet 1 13 1946 "The Road to Victory: United Actions of All Workers" World Federation of Trade Unions pamphlet 1 14 1951 Socialism Series 2 1894, 1935-1943, 1963-1977 Scope and Contents

The Socialism series, dated 1894, 1935-1943, and 1963-1977, contains pamphlets, books, magazines, a sticker, and an essay regarding socialist movements and ideologies that are separate from communism, communist parties and the Progressive Labor Party. The movements found within this series were mainly focused within the United States with some materials from Great Britain. Materials are arranged chronologically, and alphabetically by topic or given title within the same date.

 "The Class Struggle" pamphlet 1 15 1894 May "Variety Versus Monogamy: A Lecture Delivered before the Ladies' Liberal League of Philadephia and Stumblings of Some Sex-Theorizers" pamphlet 1 16 circa 1894 "The Law of Public Meeting and the Right of Police Search" New Fabian Research Bureau pamphlet 1 17 1935 February 19 "Population Movements: A Study in Migration," New Fabian Research Bureau pamphlet 1 18 circa 1937 "Food Prices and Rationing" Daily Worker pamphlet 1 19 1943 "Appalachia U.S.A: A Study in Poverty" labor booklet 1 20 1963 "From Reform to Bayonets" pamphlet 1 21 1964 "The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: A Plain Talking Manifesto on God, Man, Truth, Power, and Politics" book 1 22 circa 1964-1968 The Realist magazine no. 74 1 23 1967 May "An Expose!: Cambridge Iron and Steel, Incorporated" report 1 24 1969 May "Ecology: Pollution Means Profit": Students For a Democratic Society magazine 1 25 1970 "Student Power" sticker 1 26 1970 May Secular Subjects magazine, Rationalist Society of Saint Louis Missouri/Freethinkers 1 27 1977 November "The Coming Revolution" essay draft 1 28 undated Progressive Labor Party Series 3 1968-1973 Scope and Contents

The Progressive Labor Party series, dated 1968-1973, contains pamphlets, and magazines that highlight the party's views on education, the working class, politics and racism. Materials are arranged chronologically, and alphabetically by topic or given title within the same date.

 "Free Speech at Harvard: An Answer to Various Deans" pamphlet 1 29 1968 "Build a Base in the Working Class" pamphlet 1 30 1969 "A Plan for Black Liberation" magazine 1 31 1969 "Who Governs McGovern?" pamphlets 1 32 1972 "Racism, Intelligence, and the Working Class" pamphlet 1 33 1973