International Socialists Records 23 linear feet 1943-1985 (bulk 1970-1980) Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI Finding aid written by Anne Johns on June 4, 2010. Edited by Alexandra Orchard on June 27, 2014. Accession Number: LR001225 Creator: Kim Moody, James Finkel Acquisition: The International Socialists Records were initially deposited March 7, 1985. Subsequent deposits were made on October 26, 1987, and January 28, 1988. Language: Material entirely in English. Access: Collection is open for research. Use: Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library Rules for Use of Archival Materials. Restrictions: Materials within Series I are restricted. Researchers must receive written permission from the donor in order to access these materials. Researchers may encounter records of a sensitive nature – personnel files, case records and those involving investigations, legal and other private matters. Privacy laws and restrictions imposed by the Library prohibit the use of names and other personal information which might identify an individual, except with written permission from the Director and/or the donor. Notes: Citation style: “International Socialists Records, Box [#], Folder [#], Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University” Related Material: Photographs and cassette tapes were transferred to the Reuther’s Audiovisual Department. Issues of Workers’ Power from 1971, 1972, and 1978 were transferred to the Reuther’s Library Collection PLEASE NOTE: Material in this collection has been arranged by series ONLY. Folders are not arranged within each. Subjects may be dispersed throughout several boxes within any given series. Abstract The International Socialists existed from 1968 -1986 in the U.S. with national headquarters in Detroit, and branches in 14 other cities. It was preceded by the Independent Socialist Club, established in Berkley in 1964, which then formed an International Socialist Committee. The International Socialist Club appealed to radical student and Maoist groups. Kim Moody, contributor of several pivotal writings to the socialist cause, helped to establish a branch of the Independent Socialist Club in New York. The Independent Socialist Club became the International Socialists at the 1969 convention, where a formal political platform was established to address the working class movement. Internal disagreements developed around degrees of radicalization and basic philosophy throughout the 1970's. These disagreements led to the formation of other organizations such as the Revolutionary Tendency and Workers Power. In 1986, International Socialists merged with Workers Power and Socialist Unity to become known as Solidarity. The records in this collection illustrate the evolution of the political principles and internal workings of the International Socialists, mainly through the 1970’s. It shows their struggle for the rights of the working class, to reap the recognition and rewards it felt it deserved for providing the sweat of industrial production, the basis of the nation's wealth. Important Subjects: American Federation of Teachers (AFT) American Youth and Democracy (AYD) Anti-Nazi League (ANL) Black Liberation Black Working Commission (BWC) Capitalism Class struggle Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) Executive Committee (EC) Independent Socialist League (ISL) Industrial Committee (IC) International Brotherhood of Teamsters International Socialists (IS) International Socialists (U.S.) Labor unions-United States Labor Education and Research Project (LERP) Marxist Party Members at Large (MAL) National Secretary (NC) October League (OL) Portuguese Revolutionary Party (PRP) Progressive Labor Party (PLP) Radical Student Union (RSU) Socialism Socialism and social movements Socialist Workers Party (SWP) 2 Socialist Youth League (U.S.) Socialist Youth League (SYL) Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) Teamsters United Rank and File (TURF) United Auto Workers (UAW) United Auto Workers, United National Caucus (UNC) United Steelworkers (USW) United Steelworkers, Rank and File Team (RAFT) Women’s Liberation Young Socialist League (U.S.) (YSL) Important Correspondents: Eckster, Enid Semel, Gay (Gabrielle) Moody, Kim Wolfe, Glenn Geier, Joel Series I: Office Files, 1952-1985 Contains convention documents and agendas, resulting commentaries on convention outcomes, various meetings, and notes, especially from the Executive Committee and National Committee. There are materials on the Women’s Commission, Black Commission, and IS branch reports, as well as speeches, educational materials, position papers, and discussion documents. Materials are from mainly 1972-1985, yet there are documents as early as 1950’s from the Socialist Youth League and publications as early as 1936. Please note the 1970 convention documents for International Socialists philosophical position statements. Very few last names are used; often dates and meeting locations are left out of documents for security purposes. Series II: Publications, 1936-1985 Contains newsletters, pamphlets, newspapers, articles, critiques, bulletins, and other materials for intended distribution. Researchers may find handwritten notes interspersed within various publications. Folders are titled according to publication name, subject, or format. Arrangement The collection is arranged into 2 series - Series I (Boxes 1-9) and Series II (Boxes 9-23). Folders in each series are simply listed by their location within each box. They are not arranged, so any given subject or publication may be dispersed throughout several boxes within each series. Series I Box 1 Contains sensitive materials - please refer to Use restrictions on page one. 1-8. Position Papers, 1960’s 9. Organization and Education, 1976 3 10. Women’s Commission, 1974 September 11. Red Tide, Meetings, 1975 12. Speeches, Circa 1975-1977 13. Trenton 7, 1977 14. Teamsters; Perspectives, Ephemera, 1976 15. Teamsters, History, Minutes, 1978 16. Telephone Fraction, 1976 17. Sadlowski Campaign, Steel, Undated 18-19. Meetings, Various, 1950’s 20. Meetings, SYL, 1952-1954 21. Mailing Lists, 1979 22. Mailings, 1978 January 23. EC Agenda, 1975-1976 24. EC Minutes, 1977 March 25. EC Minutes, 1977 April 26. EC Minutes, 1977 May 27. CAPA, Minutes, 1976 28. Trenton Wildcat Strike, 1977 29-32. EC Minutes, 1978 33-35. Black Commission, 1975-1978 36. Central Committee, 1978 37. Central Committee, 1978 July 38-40. IS Convention Documents, 1977 Box 2 Contains sensitive materials - please refer to Use restrictions on page one. 1-2. Correspondence, 1974-1976 3. Correspondence, 1977-1979 4. DARE Conference, 1978 5. Detroit Commission, 1978 6. Key List Mailing, 1978 7. MAL, 1978 8. Miners, 1978 9. NOW, Notes, Circa 1978 10. Postal Campaign, 1978 11. Press Lists, National and Local, 1975 12. USWA; Overview, Agenda, 1977 13. TDU Convention Documents, 1978 14. TDU Response, 1979 15. TUC Meetings, 1978 16. Women’s Commission, 1978 17. Union Busting, Clippings, 1977 18. Auto Fraction Report, 1978 19. Dues, 1979 20. EC International Reports, Correspondence, 1979 21. LERP, 1979 4 22. Sun Distribution International, 1977 23. Political Steering Committees, 1979 24. Reproductive Rights (R2) Fraction, 1979 25. Writings, China, Undated 26-27. Bulletin Articles, 1977 May 28. Black Caucus Documents, 1976 29. Labor Party Meeting, 1978 August 30. ERA, 1970 31. NC Meetings, 1975-1976 32. NC Meetings, 1975 33. NC Meetings, 1976 January 34. NC Meetings, 1976 May 35. NC Meetings, 1976 36. EC Minutes, 1976 37. Central Committee, 1977 October 38. ISL Convention Documents, 1957 39. IS Constitution Documents, 1975 40. IS Convention Documents, 1970 June 41. IS Convention, “Tasks and Perspectives”, 1970 July 42. IS Convention Documents, 1972 43. IS Third National Convention, 1972 July 44. IS Convention Documents, 1973 45. IS Convention Documents, 1974 46. IS Convention Documents, 1974-1975 47-49. IS Convention Documents, 1975 Box 3 Contains sensitive materials - please refer to Use restrictions on page one. 1-9. IS Convention Documents, 1976 10. IS Convention Record, 1976 11-14. IS Convention Documents, 1977 15-16. IS Convention Documents, 1978 17-19. EC Convention Documents, 1978 20. Workers’ Power, Campaign Report, 1977 21. Workers’ Power Style Book, Undated 22. Red Tide, 1975-1978 23. Organizational, Office, Circa 1978 24. Political Solutions Caucus, Undated 25. Correspondence, Gay Semel, 1973 26-27. IS Convention Documents, 1973 28. NAC Minutes, 1973 March 21 29. IS Convention Documents, “Tasks and Perspectives”, 1973 30. NAC Minutes, 1974 31-33. IS Convention Documents, 1974 34-35. IS Convention Documents, 1976 36. Industrial Perspectives and Reports 5 37. “In Defense of the PRP”, Portugal Report, 1976 Box 4 Contains sensitive materials - please refer to Use restrictions on page one. 1-2. IS Convention Documents, 1975 3-6. IS Convention Documents, 1975 7. IS Convention Documents, Amendments and Reports, 1975 8. IS Convention Documents, 1982 9. IS Convention Documents, 1985 10. EC Proposal on National Committee, 1976-1977 11. IS Convention; Discussion Documents, International Perspectives, 1976 12. IS Convention; Discussion Documents, Class Struggle, 1976 13. SWP-GB, Canadian IS, 1976 14. IS Convention; Discussion Documents, Political, Economic Leadership, 1976 15. IS Convention Registration, 1975 16. IS Convention, EC Statement, 1976 17. South Africa Meeting, 1977 April 18. CC Meeting, 1977 19. EC Agenda, 1977 August 20. CC Minutes, 1977 August 21. EC Agenda, 1977 October 22. EC Minutes, 1977 23. EC Agenda, 1977 December 24.