Hugo Oehler Collection11.Mwalb02500

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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Reports, 1936-1938 - Page 7- Hugo Oehler collection11.MWalB02500

Date: 1936-1938 Scope and Contents

This series contains reports written by Hugo Oehler and/or Russell Blackwell, organized chronologically from December 8, 1936 to February 9, 1938. The reports, often formatted as letters addressed to "Comrades," relay the developments of and conflicts between Spanish left-wing groups such as the POUM, the Natinal Confederation of Labor (CNT) and the Iberian Anarchist Federation (FAI). The reports assess the political environment of the Spanish Civil War through the lens of American Communists. Many reports explain the developments in Spain in the context of global conflicts and the international workers' movement. This series includes observations on the Armed Insurrection in Barcelona in May 1937, as well as Oehler's report on the left-wing anarchist group, the Friends of Durutti.

Title/Description Instances Reports, Dec 1936- Mar 1937 Folder 1

"Political Tendencies Within the P.O.U.M," by Rosalio Negrete, Folder 1 Dec 8, 1936 Date: Dec 8, 1936

Oehler, Hugo, "PS", circa Mar 1937 Folder 1 Date: circa Mar 1937

Oehler, Hugo to comrades, Mar 1, 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 1, 1937

Oehler, Hugo and Russell Blackwell to comrades, Mar 1 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 1 1937

Oehler, Hugo to comrades, Mar 5, 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 5, 1937

Oehler, Hugo to Streeter (2 copies), Mar 7, 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 7, 1937

"The Role of the Anglo-French Imperialist in the Spanish Civil Folder 1 War," by Hugo Oehler, circa Mar 1937 Date: circa Mar 1937

Oehler, Hugo to Steeter, Mar 12, 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 12, 1937

Oehler, Hugo to Streeter, Mar 12, 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 12, 1937

Oehler, Hugo to Streeter, Mar 13, 1937 Folder 1

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Date: Mar 13, 1937

"Notes on the Spanish Church," by Hugo Oehler, circa March Folder 1 1937 Date: circa March 1937

Oehler, Hugo to Streeter, Mar 15, 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 15, 1937

Oehler, Hugo to Streeter, Mar 16, 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 16, 1937

Oehler, Hugo to Steeter, Mar 18, 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 18, 1937

Oehler, Hugo to Streeter, Mar 20, 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 20, 1937

Oehler, Hugo to L. Basky, Mar 21, 1937 Folder 1 Date: Mar 21, 1937

Reports, Apr 1937 Folder 2

Oehler, Hugo to comrades via L. Basky, Apr 3, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 3, 1937

Oehler, Hugo and Russell Blackwell to comrades via L. Basky, Folder 2 Apr 4, 1937 Date: Apr 4, 1937

Oehler, Hugo and Russell Blackwell to comrades via L. Basky, Folder 2 Apr 5, 1937 Date: Apr 5, 1937

"On the Trotskyites," by Hugo Oehler and Russell Blackwell, Folder 2 Apr 5, 1937 Date: Apr 5, 1937

"For the Seizure of Power", Apr 5, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 5, 1937

Oehler, Hugo and Russell Blackwell to comrades via L. Basky, Folder 2 Apr 6, 1937 Date: Apr 6, 1937

Unidentified document, 2 pages, circa Apr 1937 Folder 2 Date: circa Apr 1937

"Party Congress", circa Apr 1937 Folder 2

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Date: circa Apr 1937

"For a New Communist International", circa Apr 1937 Folder 2 Date: circa Apr 1937

"Por una nueva internacional comunista", circa Apr 1937 Folder 2 Date: circa Apr 1937

"Memorandum relativo al POUM", circa Apr 1937 Folder 2 Date: circa Apr 1937

Oehler, Hugo and Russell Blackwell to comrades via L. Basky, Folder 2 Apr 7, 1937 Date: Apr 7, 1937

"Memorandum on the Trotskyites in Spain," by Hugo Oehler Folder 2 and Russell Blackwell, Apr 7, 1937 Date: Apr 7, 1937

"Memorandum on the POUM," by Hugo Oehler and Russell Folder 2 Blackwell, Apr 9, 1937 Date: Apr 9, 1937

"Brief Notes", Apr 13, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 13, 1937

"Memorandum on the International Thesis, presented by Gorkin Folder 2 to the May POUM Congress," by Hugo Oehler and Russell Blackwell, Apr 14, 1937 Date: Apr 14, 1937

"Sixth Anniversary Spanish Republic", Apr 16, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 16, 1937

"The solution of the crisis is a defeat for the proletariat," to Folder 2 Basky, Apr 17, 1937 Date: Apr 17, 1937

"Friends of Durruti," with edits by hand, Apr 18, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 18, 1937

"report for internal use, not for publication," by Hugo Oehler Folder 2 and Russell Blackwell, Apr 18, 1937 Date: Apr 18, 1937

"Oppostition within the FAI and CNT," by Hugo Oehler and Folder 2 Russell Blackwell, Apr 18, 1937 Date: Apr 18, 1937

"for internal information," to Basky, Apr 19, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 19, 1937

Unidentified document, by Hugo Oehler, Apr 20, 1937 - Page 10- Hugo Oehler collection11.MWalB02500

Date: Apr 20, 1937 Folder 2

"Civil war and imperialist conflicts in Spain" (2 copies), Apr 23, Folder 2 1937 Date: Apr 23, 1937

"Group 'Friends of Durruti'", circa Apr 1937 Folder 2 Date: circa Apr 1937

"Notes on the Workers Alliances", Apr 25, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 25, 1937

"Memorandum on international relations of POUM", Apr 25, Folder 2 1937 Date: Apr 25, 1937

"Memorandum on the persecution of the CNT by the Republican Folder 2 Governments of Spain", circa Apr 25, 1937 Date: circa Apr 25, 1937

"Perspectives for the second POUM convention", Apr 27, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 27, 1937

"Memorandum on further shift to right in Catalyna", Apr 28, Folder 2 1937 Date: Apr 28, 1937

"Lerida duneral of civil guard member", Apr 28, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 28, 1937

unidentified document, Apr 28, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 28, 1937

"The program of the friends of Durruti", Apr 30, 1937 Folder 2 Date: Apr 30, 1937

Reports, May 1-15, 1937 Folder 3

notes on "The Barcelona Boy Scouts." and "The lines in Folder 3 Barcelona", May 1, 1937 Date: May 1, 1937

"May day in Barcelona - 1937", May 1, 1937 Folder 3 Date: May 1, 1937

untitled report, May 9, 1937 Folder 3 Date: May 9, 1937

notes on the Contact Committee of Paris, by Hugo Oehler, May Folder 3 10, ?

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Date: May 10, ?

Report on the Armed Insurrection of May 3-6 (2 copies), May 8, Folder 3 1937 Date: May 8, 1937

letter and draft of "Esfuerzo", May 14, 1937 Folder 3 Date: May 14, 1937

"Second internal bulletin of left wing on the international Folder 3 question", May 14, 1937 Date: May 14, 1937

"Three positions on the youth of Spain", undated Folder 3 Date: undated

Introduction to report on the uprise, May 15, 1937 Folder 3 Date: May 15, 1937

"The first armed struggle against the peoples front of the Folder 3 bourgeois by the proletariat for the seizure of power", May 15, 1937 Date: May 15, 1937

Reports, May 15-30, 1937 Folder 4

"Caballero government is replaced", May 18, 1937 Folder 4 Date: May 18, 1937

"Collectivization in Catalonia" (2 copies), May 19, 1937 Folder 4 Date: May 19, 1937

"Collectivization in Catalonia not legal" (4 copies), May 27, Folder 4 1937 Date: May 27, 1937

"The slogan of a CNT-UGT government", May 20, 1937 Folder 4 Date: May 20, 1937

"The document of the Communist Union Group on the Spanish Folder 4 civil war," by Hugo Oehler and Russell Blackwell, May 22, 1937 Date: May 22, 1937

Letter to Friends of Durruti (2 copies), May 23, 1937 Folder 4 Date: May 23, 1937

"Valencia governments 'success' in disarming the Catalonia Folder 4 workers", May 23, 1937 Date: May 23, 1937

"A Spanish armistice and the proletarian revolution", May 23, Folder 4 1937

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Date: May 23, 1937

"POUM English publication, 'The Spanish Revolution'", May Folder 4 24, 1937 Date: May 24, 1937

"Norman Thomas visits Barcelona", May 27, 1937 Folder 4 Date: May 27, 1937

"'Normality' has been reestablished", undated Folder 4 Date: undated

"Committees for Revolutionary Action", May 28, 1937 Folder 4 Date: May 28, 1937

"Youth Movement", May 30, 1937 Folder 4 Date: May 30, 1937

"Notes on Reaction following defeat of Uprising", May 30, 1937 Folder 4 Date: May 30, 1937

"Solideridad Obrera" (2 copies), May 29, 1937 Folder 4 Date: May 29, 1937

Reports, Jun 1937- Aug 1937 Folder 5

"On Weisbord", Jun 1, 1937 Folder 5 Date: Jun 1, 1937

an additional note on Weisbord, Jun 3, 1937 Folder 5 Date: Jun 3, 1937

"For a new communist international", circa Jul 1937 Folder 5 Date: circa Jul 1937

"Against the bourgeois state for proletarian power", circa Jul Folder 5 1937 Date: circa Jul 1937

"Dear Comrades", Jul 10, 1937 Folder 5 Date: Jul 10, 1937

Blackwell, Russell to Anna, circa Jul 1937 Folder 5 Date: circa Jul 1937

Blackwell, Russell to Hugo Oehler, Jul 21, 1937 Folder 5 Date: Jul 21, 1937

Blackwell, Russell, "Dear Comrades" (2 copies), Aug 5, 1937 Folder 5 Date: Aug 5, 1937

"Dear Comrades" (2 copies), Aug 5, 1937 Folder 5

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Date: Aug 5, 1937

"Dear Comrades" (3 copies), Aug 8, 1937 Folder 5 Date: Aug 8, 1937

Reports, Sep 1937- Nov 1937 Folder 6

Blackwell, Russell, "Dear Comrades", Sep 14, 1937 Folder 6 Date: Sep 14, 1937

"People's Front continues offensive against workers", Sep 21, Folder 6 1937 Date: Sep 21, 1937

"Brief resume of 18 page, a proposed resolution" (2 copies), Sep Folder 6 1937 Date: Sep 1937

"News from Spain", Oct 4, 1937 Folder 6 Date: Oct 4, 1937

"Dear Comrades", Oct 12, 1937 Folder 6 Date: Oct 12, 1937

"Dear Comrades", Oct 20, 1937 Folder 6 Date: Oct 20, 1937

"Chronological resume of article appearing in No. 2 of 'Nuestra Folder 6 Bandera,' theoretical magazine of C.P. Spain", circa Oct 1937 Date: circa Oct 1937

Blackwell, Russell, "Dear Comrades" (2 copies), Nov 17, 1937 Folder 6 Date: Nov 17, 1937

Bill to Hugo Oehler, circa Nov 1937 Folder 6 Date: circa Nov 1937

Bill, "Dear Comrades", Nov 20, 1937 Folder 6 Date: Nov 20, 1937

Reports, Dec 1937- Feb 1938 Folder 7

Blackwell, Russell, "Dear Comrades" (3 copies), Dec 31, 1937 Folder 7 Date: Dec 31, 1937

Blackwell, Russell, "Dear Comrades" ( 3 copies), Dec 31, 1937 Folder 7 Date: Dec 31, 1937

Martin, E. "Dear Comrades" (3 copies), Jan 5, 1938 Folder 7

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Date: Jan 5, 1938

Martin, R. "Dear Comrades" (2 copies), Jan 28, 1938 Folder 7 Date: Jan 28, 1938

"POUM Situation" by R. Martin (2 copies), Jan 29, 1938 Folder 7 Date: Jan 29, 1938

"Dear Comrades", Feb 9, 1938 Folder 7 Date: Feb 9, 1938

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Periodical Materials, 1935-1937 Date: 1935-1937 Scope and Contents

This series is divided into two sub-series: summaries, translations and excerpts, and periodicals. The first sub- series contains translations of the [i]Boletín Interior[/i], a POUM publication. The articles relay the central beliefs of the POUM and its relationship to other political groups. The sub-series also includes translations, summaries and excerpts from other left-wing publications, such as [i]La Batalla[/i], the POUM's paper, [i]Mundo Obrero[/i], a publication by the Communist Party of Spain, [i]The Leninist Voice[/i] (Bolshevik-Leninist Section of Spain), [i]The Friends of the People[/i] (Friends of Durutti), [i]Communist Youth[/i] (Iberian Communist Youth), and [i]The Workers Struggle[/i] (French Section of the Workers Internationalist Party). Materials range from October 1935 to July 1937. The second sub-series consists primarily of copies of [i]Boletín Interior[/i], the Spanish-language Bulletin of the POUM, and [i]The Spanish Revolution[/i], the English-language Bulletin of the POUM. The sub- series also contains copies of the publications [i]Fight[/i] (publication of the Trotskyists), [i]La Batalla[/i], and [i]Mexican Labor News[/i]. The majority of the publications were published in Barcelona. Materials are arranged chronologically from January 15, 1937 to March 31, 1937.

Summaries, translations and excerpts Title/Description Instances Translations from the Boletín Interior Folder 1

Summaries, Translations and Excerpts Oct 1935- Aug 1936 Folder 2

Summaries, Translations and Excerpts Aug 1936- Jul 1937 Folder 3

Periodicals Title/Description Instances Spanish-language Periodicals Folder 1

English-language periodicals Folder 2

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Miscellaneous Scope and Contents

This series contains various materials ranging from 1936-1938. Materials include materials relating to Oehler's reports, such as notes, outlines, and annotated drafts. The series also includes other miscellaneous items such as newspaper clippings, event fliers, and letters.

Title/Description Instances Notes, Annotated Drafts and Various Materials Folder 1

Notes, Annotated Drafts and Various Materials Folder 2

Notes, Annotated Drafts and Various Materials Folder 3

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Russell Blackwell Materials, 1955-1965 Date: 1955-1965 Scope and Contents

This series contains later materials pertaining to Russell Blackwell. Materials contain an article written by Blackwell, Blackwell's obituary, and three letters from Luis Cusick to Blackwell. Materials range from 1955 to 1965.

Title/Description Instances Russell Blackwell clippings, 1955-1969 Folder 1

Cusik, Lois to Russell Blackwell (3 letters) Folder 2

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