Hugo Oehler Collection11.Mwalb02500
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Hugo Oehler collection11.MWalB02500 This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 26, 2021. eng Brandeis University 415 South St. Waltham, MA URL: https://findingaids.brandeis.edu/ Hugo Oehler collection11.MWalB02500 Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical or Historical Information ......................................................................................................... 3 Scope and Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 4 Controlled Access Headings .......................................................................................................................... 5 Collection Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Correspondence ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Reports ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Periodical Materials ................................................................................................................................... 15 Summaries, translations and excerpts .................................................................................................... 15 Periodicals ............................................................................................................................................... 15 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Russell Blackwell Materials ...................................................................................................................... 16 - Page 2 - Hugo Oehler collection11.MWalB02500 Summary Information Repository: Brandeis University Creator: Oehler, Hugo Title: Hugo Oehler collection ID: 11.MWalB02500 Date [inclusive]: 1936-1965, undated Physical Description: 0.75 Linear Feet 2 manuscript boxes Language of the Spanish Material: Preferred Citation Huge Oehler collection, 1936-1965, Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections Department, Brandeis University ^ Return to Table of Contents Biographical or Historical Information Hugo Oehler, born in 1903, was an American Communist leader. In the 1920s, Oehler worked as a successful trade union organizer of textile workers in the South and of mine workers in Colorado. After becoming a declared Trotskyist in 1930, Oehler was elected to the National Committee of the United States Trotskyists in 1931. He was later expelled from the organization for criticizing the "French Turn," or the entering of Trotskyists into the Socialist Party. Oehler soon became a co-founder of the Revolutionary Workers League, or RWL. In 1937, Oehler went to Spain to observe, evaluate, and direct the efforts of radical left-wing parties in the Spanish Civil War. During his time in Spain, he was instrumental in establishing communication between the RWL and Spanish revolutionaries. His pamphlet, Barricades in Barcelona describes the armed clashes in May 1937 between the Barcelona police and the revolutionaries and workers. The pamphlet urges the Spanish left to develop a unified and informed Marxist party in order to advance the proletarian revolution. After the May struggles, Oehler was arrested and expelled from the country. After WWII, the RWL declined and disappeared by the 1950s. Throughout the rest of his life, Oehler faded from politics and died in 1983 at the age of 80. - Page 3- Hugo Oehler collection11.MWalB02500 ^ Return to Table of Contents Scope and Contents This collection consists of letters of correspondence, both to and from Hugo Oehler; reports on the Spanish Civil War with the majority written by either Hugo Oehler or Russell Blackwell; a translation of the Boletin Interior; and numerous periodical materials including newspaper clippings. The materials in this collection were created between 1935 and 1965, with the majority being created during the Spanish Civil War, from 1936-1938. ^ Return to Table of Contents Administrative Information Publication Statement Brandeis University 415 South St. Waltham, MA URL: https://findingaids.brandeis.edu/ Conditions Governing Access Access to the collection is in accordance with the policies of the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University. Please contact the department for more information. Conditions Governing Use Requests to reproduce or publish materials from the collection should be directed to the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University. All requests for copying of material must be submitted to the Special Collections Librarian or the Director of Archives & Special Collections for approval. Please consult the Special Collections Librarian for further information. Source of Acquisition Acquired from Hugo Oehler, 1972. - Page 4- Hugo Oehler collection11.MWalB02500 ^ Return to Table of Contents Controlled Access Headings • Communism -- Spain • Labor unions -- Political Activity -- United States • Communism -- United States -- History -- 20th century • Spain -- History -- Civil War, 1936-1939 Collection Inventory Correspondence, 1936-1937 Date: 1936-1937 Scope and Contents This series contains letters organized chronologically from February 3, 1936 to November 30, 1937. Many of the letters are written from Rosalio Negrete (various sources show that this was the Communist Party name of Russell Blackwell) in Spain to Hugo Oehler in the United States. The letters relay the development of the Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) and other revolutionary groups in Barcelona. Other letters, written by Oehler, are addressed to the members of the Revolutionary Workers League (RWL) and assess the development of the international workers' movement. The letters in this series focus mainly on professional matters but also include personal information such as travel details and daily life. Title/Description Instances Correspondence, Feb 1936-Dec 1936 Folder 1 Oehler, Hugo to Revolutionary Workers League of the U.S., Feb Folder 1 3, 1936 Date: Feb 3, 1936 Anonymous to Rosalio Negrete, Aug 26, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Aug 26, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Sep 29, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Sep 29, 1936 Field, B.J. to May and Juan, Nov 10, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Nov 10, 1936 Krehm, W. to Mary (2 copies), Nov 21, 1936 Folder 1 - Page 5- Hugo Oehler collection11.MWalB02500 Date: Nov 21, 1936 "Information obtained from Comrade Vitte of the C.A.M.P.", Folder 1 Nov 22, 1936 Date: Nov 22, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Nov 23, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Nov 23, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Nov 24, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Nov 24, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio, "Dear Comrades", Nov 26, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Nov 26, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Nov 26, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Nov 26, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio, "Dear Comrades", Nov 28, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Nov 28, 1936 Fuerstner, Alfred S., "Dear Comrades" (translation) (3 copies), Folder 1 [Dec 1936] Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Dec 6, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Dec 6, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Dec 8, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Dec 8, 1936 Oehler, Hugo to Rosalio Negrete, Dec 12, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Dec 12, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Dec 19, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Dec 19, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio, "Dear Comrades", Dec 14, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Dec 14, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio, "Stalinist provocations prepare new counter- Folder 1 revolutionary in Spain", Dec 14, 1936 Date: Dec 14, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Dec 21, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Dec 21, 1936 Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Dec 23, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Dec 23, 1936 Oehler, Hugo to Rosalio Negrete, Dec 28, 1936 Folder 1 Date: Dec 28, 1936 Rosalio, Negrete to Hugo Oehler, Dec 29, 1936 - Page 6- Hugo Oehler collection11.MWalB02500 Folder 1 Correspondence, Jan 1937- Nov 1937 Folder 2 Oehler, Hugo to Rosalio Negrete, Jan 1, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Jan 1, 1937 Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Jan 5, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Jan 5, 1937 Anonymous to Rosalio Negrete, Jan 8, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Jan 8, 1937 Negrete, Rosalio to Hugo Oehler, Jan 16, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Jan 16, 1937 Negrete, Rosalio, "Dear Comrades", Jan 24, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Jan 24, 1937 Negrete, Rosalio, "Dear Comrades", Jan 30, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Jan 30, 1937 Streeter, Bill to Russell, Feb 13, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Feb 13, 1937 Escuder to Castillo (translation), Feb 15, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Feb 15, 1937 Oehler, Hugo to Bill Streeter, Mar 1, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Mar 1, 1937 Negrete, Rosalio to Edna, Mar 27, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Mar 27, 1937 "Escuder", May 15, 1937 Folder 2 Date: May 15, 1937 Oehler, Hugo to William (Demos Press), Jun 11, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Jun 11, 1937 Anonymous to Edna, Jun 22, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Jun 22, 1937 Bill, "Dear Comrades", Nov 30, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Nov 30, 1937 4 postcards, circa 1937 Folder 2 ^ Return to Table of Contents Reports, 1936-1938 - Page 7- Hugo Oehler collection11.MWalB02500