Memphis Socialist Party
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Memphis Socialist Party Processed by Laura Cunningham 2012 Memphis and Shelby County Room Memphis Public Library and Information Center 3030 Poplar Ave Memphis, TN 38111 Memphis Socialist Party Scope and Content The Memphis Socialist Party Collection consists of one box, spanning ½ linear foot, of materials taken from a scrapbook of the Socialist Party in Memphis. The scrapbook contained the minutes of Party meetings from May 4, 1932 to December 30, 1934. Newspaper articles about the Socialist Party are interfiled with the meeting minutes. The scrapbook has been in the possession of the Memphis and Shelby County Room for quite some time, although the donor information and date of donation are unknown. Memphians formed the local chapter of the Socialist Party of America in 1903. In the early 1930s, regular meetings were held at the Arbeiter Ring Institute, located at 688 Jefferson Avenue. Highlights from the collection include the Socialist Party of America, the National Socialist Convention, Norman Thomas, technocracy, political conditions in Germany, the 50th anniversary of the death of Karl Marx, May Day Celebration, and tenant farmers. 2 Single photocopies or scans of unpublished writings in these papers may be made for purposes of scholarly research. While the Memphis Public Library & Information Center may house an item, it does not necessarily hold the copyright on the item, nor may it be able to determine if the item is still protected under current copyright law. Users are solely responsible for determining the existence of such instances and for obtaining any other permissions and paying associated fees that may be necessary for the intended use. Any image from the library’s collection published in any form must cite as the source: Memphis and Shelby County Room, Memphis Public Library & Information Center. For all requests, please contact the History Department at 901.415.2742 or [email protected] 3 Container List One Box 1932-1934 16 Folders 4 Memphis Socialist Party Minutes May 4, 1932- December 30, 1934 Folder 1 May 1932 – July 1932 (1-13) May 4, 1932 Informal meeting to discuss reorganization May 11, 1932 Temporary meeting determined until a permanent day, time, and location can be set up; Comrade Frank Perlman elected delegate to represent Tennessee at the National Socialist Convention May 18, 1932 Comrade George Pardue elected Chairman; Communication from the National Office; Frank Perlman and G. J. Braun appointed to contact managers at WREC and WMC to see if they would broadcast sessions of the National Socialist Convention May 21, 1932 Telegram Copy of telegram sent to National Socialist Convention; Telegram Receipt Article - “The Socialists Pick Thomas” May 25, 1932 Comrade J. McQuirter elected Chairman; WREC broadcast the Socialist talks on Saturday, May 21, WMC had other programming scheduled May 20, 1932 - Letter to Radio Station WREC June 8, 1932 Comrade Gawling elected Chairman; Ballots on their way June 15, 1932 Comrade George Pardue elected Chairman; Prohibition June 22, 1932 Comrade J. McQuirter elected Chairman; Socialism the Way Out; Communist heckler present 5 June 29, 1932 Comrade J. McQuirter elected Chairman; Articles and letters read July 6, 1932 Comrade G. J. Braun acted as Chairman; Comrade Louis V. Philippi spoke on Socialism – A Sure Cure for Unemployment July 13, 1932 Listed to Norman Thomas (Socialist Candidate for President) speak over the radio July 20, 1932 American For All; Vote on referendum regarding the liquor plank Socialist Party Ballot July 27, 1932 L. V. Philippi elected Chairman; State Convention Results; Press Service from National Office Folder 2 August 1932 – September 1932 (14-26) August 3, 1932, 1932 Hunger Won’t Wait; National Socialist Platform; Evils of the Capitalist System; Old age pensions August 7, 1932 Prospects for Socialism in the United States August 8, 1932 The Socialist Party faces the Campaign Issues August 10, 1932 Comrade J. Sheinberg elected Chairman; Leo Hirsch requesting to speak in Memphis; Political Conditions in Germany August 17, 1932 L. V. Philippi elected Chairman; Trade Unions and Political Action 6 August 24, 1932 17 year old Dena Scheinberg spoke on Unemployment Insurance; Open discussion August 28, 1932 Letter from state secretary; John H. Compton to be candidate for Governor August 31, 1932 J. Scheinberg elected Chairman; Comrades Braun and Perlman appointed to contact WMC to have them broadcast the radio speech of Norman Thomas on September 14th; Frank Lavatch spoke September 7, 1932 L. V. Philippi elected Chairman; Marxian Socialism; Small business September 14, 1932 R. H. Gowling elected Chairman; Listened to radio address of Norman Thomas; Possible banquet for Thomas September 21, 1932 L. V. Philippi elected Chairman; Contribution for state campaign; October 8th for Norman Thomas to speak in Memphis Folder 3 October 1932 (27-47) October 5, 1932 G. J. Baun Presiding; Luncheon to be held in honor of Norman Thomas at Hotel DeVoy September 28, 1932 George Pardue elected Chairman; Campaign Committee Updates October 15, 1932 The Literary Digest October 12, 1932 J. Scheinberg elected Chairman; Campaign Committee Updates; Norman Thomas October 16, 1932 Final Arrangements for Norman Thomas 7 October 18, 1932 Financial Report of Norman Thomas Mass Meeting at Ellis Auditorium October 19, 1932 J. Scheinberg elected Chairman; An offer for cooperation on election day October 20, 1932 Joe Simons elected Chairman; Listened to radio address of Norman Thomas; Biography of Eugene V. Debs; Tribute to departed comrades October 26, 1932 Comrade Braun elected Chairman; Dr. W. R. Amberson spoke on the political and economic conditions in Germany Folder 4 November 1932 and Election (48-60) November 2, 1932 R. P. Oppermann elected Chairman; John H. Compton, a farmer from Riverton, Fentriss County, Tennessee, the Socialist candidate for governor, stopping in Memphis; Memphis Community Fund; Socialist Study Groups November 6, 1932 Listened to John H. Compton, candidate for governor October 31, 1932 Socialist Party of Tennessee Letter Socialist Instruction Ballot Folder 5 November 1932 – December 1932 (61-84) December 2, 1932 L & S Press Service Article - “The Socialist Avalanche That Failed” Article - “How 40,000,000 Really Voted” November 9, 1932 Financial Report; Committee appointed to help YIPSELS get organized; Entertainment Committee; Unemployment 8 November 16, 1932 G. J. Braun elected Chairman; Significance of the German election of November 6; American Election of November 8 Article - “Technocracy – Boon, Blight, or Bunk?” Folder 6 Technocracy Illustrated Technocracy Illustrated Folder 7 Technocracy Articles (85-91) Technocracy Articles Folder 8 The Technocrats’ Magazine The Technocrats’ Magazine Folder 9 November 1932 – December 1932 (92-98) November 23, 1932 J. Scheinberg elected Chairman; Individual members to volunteer subscribing to various socialist papers to be sent to the reading room November 30, 1932 G. J. Braun elected Chairman; International War Debts December 7, 1932 Norman Thomas; H. Wiersema discussed Technological Unemployment Folder 10 December 1932 (99-105) Newspaper Articles – Unemployed Citizens League “Where the Goose Hangs High” 9 December 14, 1932 Membership Growth; Motion to discontinue weekly meetings until further notice and to meet the first and third Wednesday of each month Folder 11 (106-125) December 9, 1932 Labor and Socialist Press Service December 17, 1932 Labor and Socialist Press Service Article - “The New Shot-in-the-Arm Farm Plan” Article - “A Warning to Capitalists” December 31, 1932 Labor and Socialist Press Service Folder 12 January 1933 – February 1933 (126-139) January 4, 1933 General Party Work January 6, 1933 Labor and Socialist Press Service January 18, 1933 Robert P. Opperman lead the discussion on Technocracy February 1, 1933 Discussion on state meeting in Nashville February 12, 1933 Protest against the removal of West Tennessee State Teacher’s College from Memphis; Joe Simons performed guitar; Education in the United States; Report of Resolutions Committee February 24, 1933 Hillel Rogoff spoke on Hitlerism, What it is and its danger to the Peace of Europe February 26, 1933 State Conference of Tennessee Socialists; Four Year Plan 10 Folder 13 March 1933 – April 1933 (140-149) March 12, 1933 50th Anniversary of the death of Karl Marx; March 12, 1933 Western Union Telegram Memphis Local Socialist Party Announce a Meeting to Commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Death of Karl Marx March 1932 – March 19, 1933 Recap Report Cash Receipts and Expenditures March 26, 1933 Finances; Committee appointed to find out who was behind the movement to indict members of the Memphis Police Department for the murder of a negro named Carlin April 9, 1933 J. Scheinberg elected Chairman; Memphis Local chapter awarded a copy of Walls and Bars for leading in Tennessee April 16, 1933 Report of committee to hold joint conference with Workmen Circle, Junior Circle, National Verband, Ladies Progressive Society, and Young Peoples Socialist League for a joint May Day Celebration April 23, 1933 J.C. Thompson, President of the Farmers Union of Arkansas and State Organizer for the Socialist Party in Arkansas request to visit; May Day Celebration April 24, 1933 Report of Committee of joint conference to make arrangements for May Day Celebration April 30, 1933 Tentative Program of Joint International May Day Celebration Folder 14 May 1933 – December 1933 (150-159) May 2, 1933 J. C. Thompson, Farmers Labor Union of Arkansas; Y.P.S.L. and MUCL delegates to the Continental Congress 11 May 10, 1933 Comrade J. C. Thompson May 24, 1933 Change of meeting dates for the summer; study group in socialism will be formed June 4, 1933 Meeting was not held June 18, 1933 Meeting was not held July 9, 1933 Meeting was not held July 23, 1933 National Industrial Discovery Act August 13, 1933 Comrade Ensley Tiffin elected chairman; Communication read from James O’Neal (editor of New Leader,) J. L. Gracy (Recording Secretary of Local 3439 United Mine Workers of America,) and the National Office August 27, 1933 Review of Textbook A.B.C.