The Rank and File Movement in Social Work, 1931-1950
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Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses 2-1999 Voices of our past: the rank and file movement in social work, 1931-1950 Richard William Hunter Portland State University Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the Labor History Commons, Social Work Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Hunter, Richard William, "Voices of our past: the rank and file movement in social work, 1931-1950" (1999). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 1602. 10.15760/etd.1601 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DISSERTATION APPROVAL The abstract and dissel1ation ofRichard William Hunter for the Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work and Social Research were presented February 10, 1999, and accepted by the dissertation committee and the doctoral program. COMMITTEE APPROVALS: Norman Wyers, Chair Seymour er Representatl e ofthe Office ofGraduate Studies DOCTORALPROGRAMAPPRO ___ Shireman, Director D. in Social Work and Social Research Program ABSTRACT An abstract ofthe dissertation ofRichard William Hunter for the Doctor ofPhilosophy in Social Work and Social Research presented February 10, 1999. Title: Voices ofOur Past: The Rank and File Movement in Social Work, 1931-1950 During the period ofthe late 1920s through the late 1940s, a most remarkable event in the history ofAmerican social work emerged: the development of a vital radical trade union organizing effort known as the ''rank and file movement." Born within the growing economic crisis ofthe 1920s and maturing in the national economic collapse and social upheaval heralded by the Great Depression, the rank and file movement would attract the support and membership ofthousands ofprofessional social workers and uncredentialed relief workers in efforts to organize social service workers along the lines ofindustrial unionism. Within its relatively short life span, the rank and file movement would grow in sufficient number and influence to challenge both the prevailing definitions ofsocial work as a profession - its form and identity and the essence ofits function - its practice. It is the thesis ofthis study that an understanding ofthe rank and file movement is central to a modem understanding ofour profession. The origin, development and demise ofthe rank and file movement reflects more than the historical curiosity ofa momentary tendency in the evolution of a profession; rather, it reveals the enduring legacy ofindividuals, organizations and collective intellectual 1 discourse in common struggle for the possibilities ofa more just and democratic social order. And, perhaps unlike any other profession, the domain ofsocial work is historically one uniquely born ofthis struggle, encompassing the self-imposed imperatives and paradoxes ofmorality, socially purposive service and scientific rationality. Consequently, this study seeks to inform the terms ofthis enduring legacy within the dynamic world ofsocial work. It does so by: 1) locating the history ofthe rank and file movement within the context ofan evolving profession; 2) analyzing this specific history ofa profession within the context ofbroader social and political forces that defined both the limits and potentials ofthat evolution; and 3) assessing the implications ofthis history for social work in terms ofits past, present and future. 2 VOICES OF OUR PAST: THE RANK AND FILE MOVEMENT IN SOCIAL WORK, 1931-1950 by RICHARD WILLIAM HUNTER A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL RESEARCH Portland State University 1999 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS For Bronislaus "Comrade Kilroy" Zukas Many individuals have contributed over the years to the final production of this manuscript. First, my thanks go out to the numerous librarians and archivists who graciously provided me access to needed materials at the University of Minnesota, the University ofWashington, the University ofCalifornia - Berkeley, Smith College, the American Institute for Marxist Studies, and the Communist Party, U.S.A. In particular, lowe debts ofgratitude to Dr. David Klassen at the University of Minnesota's Social Welfare History Archives, and Herbert Aptheker ofthe American Institute for Marxist Studies. David, for his hospitality and helpful suggestions regarding the location ofdocuments critical to this study; and Dr. Aptheker for his willingness to share both his counsel in the early years ofthis work and his good name in recommending me to rank and file activists. My thanks also go out to the members ofmy dissertation committee. Drs. Nancy Koroloff, Johanna Brenner, Charles Shireman and Sy Adler all provided consistent support to me in the trying period ofanalysis and writing. Special thanks are offered to Dr. Norman Wyers, chair ofmy committee. As mentor, colleague and, most importantly, a dear friend for a quarter of a century, Norm has never wavered in his support of, enthusiasm with, and belief in the importance ofthis work. No person has been closer to me in this work than Astrid Schlaps. She, more than anyone, understands its meaning to and significance in my own life and 1 professional development. Her love, support and tremendous patience have had no bounds, and I am eternally indebted to her for these gifts. Finally, my deepest thanks and appreciation go to those rank and filers who graciously shared their experiences with me. Over the years, I have had the distinct honor ofbeing afforded the opportunity to share in the history ofthis movement with those who were both its leaders and its rank and file. Whether by correspondence, on the phone, or over dinner in homes and restaurants, all have been encouraging of my work and forthcoming with their information and advice. Theirs are stories of tremendous courage and inspiration; ofpersonal pain and political repression. I hope that our profession will someday come to recognize the debt owed them and grant them the honored place they hold in our history. 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements 1 Notes on Abbreviations and Citations iv Forward: The Past as Present, the Present as Past 1 Chapter 1: Introduction 19 Chapter 2: Before the Storm 53 Chapter 3: Into the Maelstrom 87 Chapter 4: The Rank and File Vs. the Profession 131 Chapter 5: Towards a United Front 179 Chapter 6: Repression, Resistance and Destruction: 210 The Final years Chapter 7: Conclusions 256 Reference List 267 Appendix 300 111 Note on Abbreviations and Citations Citations for all materials referenced in chapter notes are found in the Reference List. Full citations are provided initially for each reference in chapter notes, and abbreviated thereafter. In addition to abbreviations found in the text, the following abbreviations are used in the chapter notes. Archives and Manuscript Collections AIMS American Institute for Marxist Studies New York City, NY CPH Communist Party USA Headquarters New York City, NY NPML Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library for Social Research Oakland, CA SWHA Social Welfare History Archives University ofMinnesota, Minneapolis, MN Organizations and Programs AASW American Association ofSocial Workers AFGE American Federation ofGovernment Employees AFL American Federation ofLabor AFSCME American Federation ofState, County and Municipal Employees AFSW Association ofFederation Social Workers (see AFW) AFW Association ofFederation Workers CCC Civilian Conservation Corps CIO Congress ofIndustrial Organization CP Communist Party (also referred to as Communist Party of America and Communist Party USA) CRC Civil Rights Congress tv CWA Civil Works Administration DPOWA Distributive, Processing and Office Workers ofAmerica FERA Federal Emergency Relief Administration HRB Home Relief Bureau (New York City) HUAC House Un-American Activities Committee IPA Interprofessional Association for Social Insurance JCTUSW Joint Council ofTrade Unions in Social Work NASW National Association ofSocial Workers NCC National Coordinating Committee ofRank and File Groups in Social Work NCSW National Conference of Social Work NIRA National Industrial Recovery Act NMU National Maritime Union SCMWA State, County and Municipal Workers ofAmerica SEIU Service Employees International Union SRA State Relief Administration (California) SSEU Social Service Employees Union SWAC Social Work Action Committee TUUL Trade Union Unity League (previously Trade Union Education League) UFWA United Federal Workers ofAmerica UOPWA United Office and Professional Workers ofAmerica UPWA United Public Workers ofAmerica v WP A Works Progress Administration Journals JPHS Journal ofProgressive Human Services JSSW Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare LH Labor History RHR Radical History Review SWT Social Work Today VI FOREWORD: THE PAST AS PRESENT, THE PRESENT AS PAST April 14, 1966 Mr. B. 1. Zukas East Northport Junior High School East Northport, New York Dear Mr. Zukas: I have been reading with interest a book entitled, Three Kids in a Cart by Allen Drury which was secured from the East Northport Public Library. On papers 5, 6 and 7, I note the interrogation ofa witness named Bronislaus Joseph Zukas. Are you the witness to whom reference is made? If so, and since the book is undoubtedly being widely read in the community, there may be questions raised