Guide to the Harvey O'Connor Papers LP000245 This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on August 11, 2021. English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Walter P. Reuther Library 5401 Cass Avenue Detroit, MI 48202 URL: https://reuther.wayne.edu Guide to the Harvey O'Connor Papers LP000245 Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 History ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 Scope and Content ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Arrangement ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 7 Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Controlled Access Headings .......................................................................................................................... 8 Collection Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 8 - Page 2 - Guide to the Harvey O'Connor Papers LP000245 Summary Information Repository: Walter P. Reuther Library Creator: O'Connor, Harvey, 1897-1987 Title: Harvey O'Connor Papers ID: LP000245 Date [inclusive]: 1919-1983 Physical Description: 76 Linear Feet (99 MB, 18 SB, 6 OS) Language of the Material entirely in English. Material: Abstract: Mr. O'Connor is the author of numerous books, articles, and pamphlets of social and economic interest. He worked in the publishing business from the mid 1920s -1930s and late 1950s, including stints at Federated Press, the Peoples Press, Ken, and the Nation. Active in several civil liberties organizations, Mr. O'Connor became a controversial figure during the McCarthy investigations. His papers contain materials related to his writings; his interest in 1930s Pittsburgh and Chicago labor and politics, the steel, coal, and oil industries; and his involvement in civil liberties activities, including his House Un- American Activities Committee trial. Citation Style "Harvey O'Connor Papers, Box [#], Folder [#], Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University" ^ Return to Table of Contents History Harvey O'Connor was born on March 29, 1897 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended high school in Tacoma, Washington. From 1918-1924, Mr. O'Connor did editorial work in Seattle. From 1924-1927 he was assistant editor of "Locomotive Engineers Journal" in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. O'Connor was a bureau manager for "Federated Press" from 1927-1930. And from 1935-1937 he was managing editor of "People's Press." He was also editor of "Ken" from 1937-1938 in Chicago. - Page 3- Guide to the Harvey O'Connor Papers LP000245 Mr. O'Connor has been active in teh following organizations: Pittsburgh Civil Liberties Committee, board member, 1932-1936; Chicago Civil Liberties Committee, vice-chairman, 1937-1944; Emergency Civil Liberties Committee, chairman, 1954-1963; Natinoal Committee to Abolish the House Un- American Activities Committee, chairman, 1963; and City Club of Chicago, member of board of governors, 1938-1944. Mr. O'Connor has written the following books plus a number of articles: "Mellon's Millions," 1933; "Steel-Dictator," 1935; "The Guggenheims," 1937; "The Astors," 1944; "History of OIl Workers International Union," 1950; "The MEpire of Oil," 1955; "World Crisis in Oil," 1961; "Revolution in Seattle," 1963. He has also written pamphlets for Union for Democratic Control, Lond England. And from 1957=1960 he was on teh editorial advisory board of "Nation." In 1954 Mr. O'Connor was cited for contempt in the McCarthy investigation. He was convicted but the decision was reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals. In 1958 he refused to respond to subpoena of the House Un-American Activities Committee and was cited for contempt and indicted but has not been brought to trial. He died in 1987. ^ Return to Table of Contents Scope and Content Part 1: Important Subjects: Steel strikes, 1930s Coal miners, 1930s Pittsburgh politics, 1930s American League for Peace and Democray, and American Peace Mobilization, Chicago, 1940s Hull House, Chicago Progressive Party, 1948 World Oil Industry Important correspondencts: Keigh Sward, Ernest Mazey, Harry Golden, Edward Mortimer Livingston, Maurice Guggenheim, J.P. Morgan, Thomas W. Lamont, Dorothy Marshall, Lester Pearson, James Roosevelt, O.A. Knight, Sam Rayburn, Anne and Carl Braden, Clark Foreman, and Frank Wilkinson Series Description: Series 1: "The Astors" Clippings, research notes, drafts, manuscript and correspondence. Series 2: "The Guggenheims" Notes and drafts, annual reports, clippings, correspondence and reviews. Series 3: "Meat Packers" 4x6 inch research note cards for an unwritten book on the meat packin gindustry. Series 4: "Steel-Dictator" Research note cards. Series 5: "Mellon's Millions" Clippings, notes, and reports. Series 6: "Pursuit of Freedom" Drafts arranged in chapter order followed by appendix, correspondence and clippings. - Page 4- Guide to the Harvey O'Connor Papers LP000245 Series 7: "Steel and Labor in the 1930s" Notes, clippings, Federated Press releases and reports. Series 8: "Pittsburgh in the 1930s" Clippings, notes, Federated Press releases, pamphlets, reports, correspondence and campaign material concerned iwht labor and political activity. Series 9: The 1930s Articles, Federated Press releases, clippings, correspondence and mailing lists related to Mr. O'Connor's activitie outside Pittsburgh adn Chicago in the 1930s. Series 10: Chicago in the 1930s and 1940s Articles, correspondence, notes, clippings, and publications related to City Club of Chicago, Hull House, Group Health Coop., personal and plitical activities. Series 11: "Horace B. Davis, Labor and Steel" Research notes, clippings and interviews prepared by Horace B. Davis Series 12: Civil Liberties Subseries A: Emergency Civil Liberties Committee, July 1953-September 1966 Correspondence, pamphlets, reports, statements, reprints, articles, and membership lists. Subseries B: Newark Case, September 1958-December 1963 Dorrespondence and hearings before HUAC related to Mr. O'Connors 1958 indictment. Subseries C: National Committee to Abolish the House Un-American Activities Committee, June 1960-November 1966 Correspondence, reports clippings, news releases, and statements concerning the activities of NCAHUAC. Subseries D: McCarthy Case: Correspondence, notes, statements, clippings, news releases, articles, pamphlets concerning Mr. O'Connor and the McCarthy investigations. Subseries E: Civil Liberties Gorups: Correspondence, clippings, reprints, minutes, reports and news releases of various civil liberties groups. Among the groups included are: American Civil Liberties Union, American Com. for Progection of Foreign Born, Chicago Civil Liberties, Com., Citizens Com. for Constitutional Lbierty, Citizens Com. to Preserve American Freedoms, Com. of First Amendment Defendants, Liberal Citizens of Massachusetts, Religiou Freedom Com. and Souther conference Educational Fund. Also included is gernal anti-HUAC, anti-Vietnam War and Student peace activities. Subseries F: Publications: Pamphlets, H.R. Bills, Congressional Records, government hearings, and periodicals concerned with civil liberties. Series 13: Progressive Party in Fall River, Mass., 1948: Correspondence, lists, platform, publications, clippings and campaign material fro the O'Connor's activity in the 1948 election. Also included is Progressive Party material from the two years following 1948. Series 14: Foreign Oil Files: Notes, clippings and articles concerning the oil industry in various countries. Series 15: United States Oil Files Notes, clippings, articles and publications regarding the oil industry in the United States. Series 16: 1954 adn pre-1954 Oil Files Clippings and articles concerning the oil industry in the United States in the early 1950s. Most of thise material in this file was transferred to the United States oil Files by Mr. O'Connor. Series 17: Iran and Venezuela 1951-1954 Notes, clippings, and articles concerning the oil industry in Iran and Venezuela int eh early 1950s. Series 18: Oil Books Subseries A: "The Empire of OIl and World Crists in Oil" Correspondence, notes, reveiws and manuscripts from the preparation of the two books. Also included is a french translation of - Page 5- Guide to the Harvey O'Connor Papers LP000245 "The Empire of Oil." Subseries B: History of Oil Workers International Union Notes, clippings, articles and correspondence regarding the OWIU. Series 19: 1950s-1960s Miscellaneous Correspondence, articles, reviews, speeches, foreign travel notes and clippings, financial statements and pamphlets concerning various activities. Series 20: Photographs Part 2: The documents in this collection include correspondence, clippings, reports, scrapbooks, and manuscript drafts related to Harvey O'Connor's writings, his HUAC trial, and his civil libertarian activities. Important subjects in the collection: American