American Defense Society records
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
This collection documents the views, aims, and internal workings of the American Defense Society, an early twentieth-century nationalist organization, based in New York City. The material dates from 1915 to 1942, and concerns many of the political, ideological, religious, and social debates and events of the time period. Nearly half of the American Defense Society Records consists of correspondence, including incoming and copies of outgoing letters, as well as internal communications among board members, officers, and members. In addition, the collection contains much printed material, some of which were published by the society. Also included is material that documents the society's internal organization, and newspaper clippings collected by ADS.
Chronology
Addresses in New York:
Arrangement
This collection is organized in four series:
Series I. Correspondence, 1916-1942
Series II. Organizational Material, 1917-1941
Series III. Printed Material, 1915-1942
Series IV. Newspaper Clippings, 1917-1938, undated
Within each series, material is arranged, for the most part, in chronological order.
Scope and Contents
This collection documents the views, aims, and internal workings of the American Defense Society, an early twentieth-century nationalist organization, based in New York City. The material dates from 1915 to 1942, and concerns many of the political, ideological, religious, and social debates and events of the time period. Popular topics of discussion include the first world war, preparedness, sedition and disloyalty, labor, immigration restriction, the Soviet Union and Bolshevism, socialism, civil liberties, the New Deal, FDR, and Judaism.
Nearly half of the American Defense Society Records consists of correspondenceâ??incoming and copies of outgoing letters, as well as internal communications among board members, officers, and members. In addition, the collection contains much printed material, especially pamphlets, periodicals, circulars, and newsletters, some of which were published by the society. Also included is material that documents the society's internal organization, such as meeting minutes, resolutions, committee lists, and financial records. Newspaper clippings collected by ADS concern topics of interest to the society and detail some of its activities.
Please take care when using this collection. Much of the material, such as outgoing copies of correspondence, is on brittle newsprint paper.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
People
Topics
Places
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as the American Defense Society Records, MS 14, The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donation, Charles Stewart Davison, 1942.
About this Guide
Edition of this Guide
Repository
Series I. Correspondence, 1916-1942
Scope and Contents note
This series is arranged chronologically and includes incoming, copies of outgoing, and internal ADS correspondence (among board members, officers, and members). Also included are letters to and from Charles Stewart Davison that do not deal directly with ADS.
In general, attachments were kept with their respective correspondence. However, original ADS organizational material attached to letters, such as meeting minutes, resolutions, and financial reports, was removed to Series II, and a preservation photocopy was filed in its place. Newspaper clippings were also copied, and removed to Series IV.
Letters from 1916 to 1917 deal with World War I, ADS meetings and internal society matters, and politics. There are also numerous responses to ADS's "ten proposals" from business leagues, leaders, retail associations and chambers of commerce around the country.
Topics in correspondence from 1918 include the case of Thomas Mooney (the labor activist accused of bombing a patriotic march), the I.W.W., 'subversive' meetings, conditions in the U.S. Army (sickness, pay), William Randolph Hearst (his disloyalty), the ADS campaign/boycott against German goods and the teaching of German in schools, German atrocities, the impending post-war settlement with Germany ("unconditional surrender"), the situation in Russia, sedition and disloyalty, and immigration restriction. Internal correspondence discusses ADS proposals and operational matters including events, aims, salaries, campaigns, finances, and the women's committee. Also included are correspondence from the DC bureau of ADS, correspondence with artist Edwin Howland Blashfield regarding his stamp design for the society, and letters from members of congress. One set of correspondence with the Auburn Bureau, filed together in a report, deals with an ADS editorial and a threat of libel suit.
Topics from 1919 include the post-war future of ADS, the death of Theodore Roosevelt, the Citizens Committee of Welcome for U.S. soldiers, immigration restriction, labor, socialism, Bolshevism, and William Randolph Hearst.
1920 correspondence discusses the future of ADS and its financial troubles, Bolshevism, subversive behavior, immigration, labor strikes, the situation in Ireland, internal ADS matters such as meetings, finances, and campaigns i.e. Roosevelt portraits, lawsuits, the distribution of "Protocols and World Revolution," and personal matters of staff members. Numerous letters from members concern the 1920 presidential election and the society's support of candidate Warren G. Harding.
Topics in correspondence from 1921-1928 include the Mooney case, socialism in American colleges and student radicals, post-war Germany, Sinn Fein, Bolshevism, the AFL and unions, 'red and pink organizations,' the 1922 Herrin massacre, the "Protocols," Hearst, world politics, immigration and labor, the 'youth movement,' the Soviet Union and communism, race and crime, aviation, the ACLU, Judaism, Catholicism, and the presidential candidacy of Al Smith. Immigration restriction is a prominent topic of discussion from 1923-1928. Letters also deal with internal ADS matters including the street speaking campaign, the society's debt and financial difficulties, and libel suits against ADS.
Correspondence from 1929 to 1934 concerns ADS debt and finances, distribution of anti-communist pamphlets, the Socialist party, and Davison's legal matters.
Topics from 1935 to 1942 include the revival and reorganization of ADS, the society's debt and first meetings, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, immigration, FDR's putative Jewish lineage, congressional bills, Judaism and Jews, the 1936 and 1940 elections, the 1937 Supreme Court controversy, communism, foreign affairs, Soviet matters, the US government, religion, financial theories and banking, the House Un-American Activities Committee, US involvement in the WW II, strikes, grand juries, and national defense. Much of the material for these years is Charles Stewart Davison's letters to editors and senators about world politics or correspondence of Davison that does not deal directly with ADS.
Correspondence, 1916 June-1917 Oct.
Correspondence, 1917 Nov.
Correspondence, 1917 Dec.
Correspondence, 1918 Jan.-Feb.
Correspondence, 1918 Mar.-Apr.
Correspondence, 1918 May
Correspondence, 1918 June
Correspondence, 1918 July 1-11
Correspondence, 1918 July 12-26
Correspondence, 1918 July 27-31
Correspondence, 1918 Aug. 1-13
Correspondence, 1918 Aug. 14-24
Correspondence, 1918 Aug. 26-31
Correspondence, 1918 Sept. 1-9
Correspondence, 1918 Sept. 10-16
Correspondence, 1918 Sept. 17-21
Correspondence, 1918 Sept. 22-31 [sic]
Correspondence, 1918 Oct. 1-9
Correspondence, 1918 Oct. 10-15
Correspondence, 1918 Oct. 16-19
Correspondence, 1918 Oct. 20-23
Correspondence, 1918 Oct. 24-31
Correspondence (with Auburn Bureau), 1918 Aug.-Oct.
Correspondence, 1918 Nov. 1-8
Correspondence, 1918 Nov. 9-15
Correspondence, 1918 Nov. 16-30
Correspondence, 1918 Dec.
Correspondence, 1919 Jan. 1-9
Correspondence, 1919 Jan. 10-16
Correspondence, 1919 Jan. 17-23
Correspondence, 1919 Jan. 24-31; Feb.-Mar
Correspondence, 1919 Apr.-June
Correspondence, 1919 July-Aug. 2
Correspondence, 1919 Aug. 4-Sept.
Correspondence, 1919 Oct.-Nov.
Correspondence, 1919 Dec.
Correspondence, 1920 Jan.-Feb.
Correspondence, 1920 Mar.
Correspondence, 1920 Apr.
Correspondence, 1920 May
Correspondence, 1920 June
Correspondence, 1920 July
Correspondence, 1920 Aug.
Correspondence, 1920 Sept. 1-14
Correspondence, 1920 Sept. 15-30
Correspondence, 1920 Oct.
Correspondence, 1920 Nov.
Correspondence, 1920 Dec.
Correspondence, 1921 Jan.
Correspondence, 1921 Feb.
Correspondence, 1921 Mar.
Correspondence, 1921 Apr.
Correspondence, 1921 May-June
Correspondence, 1921 July-Sept.
Correspondence, 1921 Oct.-Dec.
Correspondence, 1922 Jan.-May
Correspondence, 1922 June-July
Correspondence, 1922 Aug.-Dec.
Correspondence, 1923 Jan.-Feb.
Correspondence, 1923 Mar.-June
Correspondence, 1923 Aug.-Dec.
Correspondence, 1924 Jan.-June
Correspondence, 1924 July-Dec.
Correspondence, [1919-1924]
Correspondence, 1925
Correspondence, 1926
Correspondence, 1927
Correspondence, 1928
Correspondence, 1929
Correspondence, 1930
Correspondence, 1931
Correspondence, 1932
Correspondence, 1933-1934
Correspondence, 1935 Jan.-Sept.
Correspondence, 1935 Oct.-Dec.
Correspondence, 1936
Correspondence, 1937 Jan.-June
Correspondence, 1937 July-Dec.
Correspondence, 1938 Jan.-Mar.
Correspondence, 1938 Apr.
Correspondence, 1938 May-July
Correspondence, 1938 Aug.-Dec.
Correspondence, 1939
Correspondence, 1940
Correspondence, 1941
Correspondence, 1942
Loose envelopes
Series II. Organizational Material, 1917-1941
Scope and Contents note
This series contains material that documents the daily operations of ADS including board and committee meeting minutes, schedules, programs, and notices; resolutions, proposals, editorials, press releases (often multiple drafts of); committee member and candidate lists; reports from outside sources on various topics; "operators reports" (purportedly inside information on subversive activities, personages and meetings); legal material; financial material (statements, receipts, reports); notes; memos; phone messages; calling and business cards, addresses, and photographs.
Organizational material is arranged chronologically. Financial material, phone message slips, calling and business cards, and address slips are filed separately. Attachments were kept with material, usually memorandums; newspaper clippings were photocopied and moved to Series IV.
Included in this series are three photographs of a woman, presumably an ADS Women's Committee member, soliciting signatures on a petition against the German press ([1918]). An additional photograph depicts what appears to be a mural of FDR and other individuals from the 1930s.
Organizational Material, 1917
Organizational Material, 1918 Jan.-June
Organizational Material, 1918 July-Oct.
Organizational Material, 1918 Nov.-Dec.
Organizational Material, [1918]
Organizational Material, [1918]
Organizational Material, 1919
Organizational Material, [1919]
Organizational Material: Financial Records, 1917-1919
Organizational Material: Notes, [1917-1919]
Organizational Material: Calling and Business Cards/Address Slips, 1917-1919
Organizational Material: Phone Message Slips, 1917-1919
Organizational Material: Photographs, [1918]
Organizational Material, 1920 Jan.-Aug.
Organizational Material, 1920 Sept.-Dec.
Organizational Material, 1921 Jan.-Apr.
Organizational Material, 1921 May-Dec.
Organizational Material, 1922
Organizational Material, 1923 Jan.-Apr.
Organizational Material, 1923 May-Dec.
Organizational Material, 1924
Organizational Material, [1920-1924]
Organizational Material, 1925-1927
Organizational Material, [1920-1927]
Organizational Material: Financial Records, 1920-1925
Organizational Material: Calling and Business Cards, 1920-1925
Organizational Material: Phone Message Slips, 1920-1928
Organizational Material, 1931-1935
Organizational Material, 1936-1937
Organizational Material, 1938-1941
Organizational Material, [1930-1939]
Organizational Material: Financial Records, 1930-1939
Organizational Material: Phone Message Slips/Calling and Business Cards, 1930-1939
Organizational Material: Photograph, [1930s]
Organizational Material: Fragments/Blank Pages, Undated
Series III. Printed Material, 1915-1942
Scope and Contents note
This series contains printed material, including printed items not clearly attached to correspondence.
Subseries 1. Printed Material: ADS, 1916-1942
Scope and Contents note
Contains printed material of ADS such as annual reports/programs, circulars, pamphlets, mailings, handbooks, booklets, press releases, newsletters, programs, ephemera, ads for publications, and one poster. Topics include WW I (German war crimes, Turkey, peace terms, disease in the army), alien socialism, Russia, Bolshevism, immigration, sedition, communism, the ACLU, labor, 'Americanism.' ADS annual reports include detailed lists of material distributed each year.
Included in this series are copies of the ADS Handbook and "The American Defense Society: History, Purpose and Accomplishments" (both 1918).
Ephemera includes tickets, invites, notices, and programs for ADS meetings and dinners; also advertisements for ADS publications.
Printed Material: ADS, Annual Reports/Programs, 1919, 1922-1929, 1937-1939, 1941-1942
Printed Material: ADS, 1916-1917
Printed Material: ADS; Circulars, Pamphlets, Mailings, 1918
Printed Material: ADS; Handbooks, History, Vigilance Corps., 1918
Printed Material: ADS; Booklets, various topics, 1918, [1918]
Printed Material: ADS; Booklets, various topics, 1918, [1918]
Printed Material: ADS, Publication Samples, 1918
Printed Material: ADS, Press Releases, 1918
Printed Material: ADS, 1919
Printed Material: ADS, American Defense newsletter, 1919
Printed Material: ADS, Programs for American Defense Week, "American Day" meeting, 1917, 1919
Printed Material: ADS, 1920-1921
Printed Material: ADS, 1922-1924
Printed Material: ADS, Press Releases, 1924
Printed Material: ADS, 1925-1928
Printed Material: ADS, 1937-1942
Printed Material: ADS, Ephemera, 1917-1919, 1924, 1937-1939
Printed Material: ADS, Promotional Poster, [1920]
Printed Material: ADS, Undated
Subseries 2. Printed Material: Outside Sources
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains newsletters, printed speeches, pamphlets, reprints, poetry, publications, lectures, leaflets, ephemera and posters from a variety of individuals and organizations. Also included are copies of various periodicals. While the majority of this material shares a similar viewpoint with ADS, the society also acquired publications of groups it opposed, i.e. the Communist Party, and anarchists.
Printed material from 1915-18 deals with World War I, the post-war settlement with Germany, Bolshevism, Russia, and the Thomas Mooney case. Material from 1919 to 1923 concerns Bolshevism, Russia, Germany, crime, communism, labor unions, the I.W.W., Ireland, congressional bills, Henry Ford and Judaism, the Herrin massacre, and immigration. Included are copies of Soviet Russia, "The Woman Patriot," The Rebel Worker, The Gentile Tribune, and the Liberator.
From 1924 to 1929, topics include crime and criminology, congressional bills, eugenics, fascism, communism in Mexico, socialism, Soviet Union, Bolshevism, religion, and politics (LaFollette, Al Smith). Periodicals include numerous copies of the Congressional Record, The American Standard, and newsletters from the Better America Federation of California.
Material from 1930 to 1942 concerns Soviet Union/Soviet recognition, communism, Judaism, the New Deal, FDR, banking, investments, the economy, Mexico, socialism, elections, the Supreme Court, traffic accidents, immigration, Japan, world events and the war in Europe, and democracy. Periodicals include The Patriot, The Awakener, Moscow News, Free Press, The Fellowship Forum, National Republic, and the "Kiplinger Washington Letter." There are numerous newsletters from Robert Edmondson regarding Judaism, Jews in the US, Bolshevism, and a libel case against him (1934-1937), with titles such as "Capitalist-Jews Backing Communists?".
Also included in this subseries are several posters, most regarding labor, and sedition. Ephemera includes programs, invitations, and tickets for various organizations' events; also advertisements for publications.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1915-1917 Sept.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1917 Oct.-Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1918 Jan.-June
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1918 July-Sept.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1918 Oct. 1-14
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1918 Oct. 15-Nov.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1918 Dec., [1918]
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1919 Jan.-Sept.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1919 Oct.-Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, Posters, 1919
Printed Material: Outside Sources, National Security League Handbook, 1919
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1920 Jan.-Mar.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1920 May-Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1921
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1922 Jan.-Apr.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1922 May-Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, [1922]
Printed Material: Outside Sources, [1920-1922]
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1923
Printed Material: Outside Sources, Posters, 1920-1923
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1924
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1925
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1926 Jan.-June
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1926 July-Oct.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1926 Nov.-Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1927-1929
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1930-1932 Apr.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1932 May-1933
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1934 Jan.-Aug.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1934 May
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1934 Sept.-Oct.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1934 Nov.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1934 Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, An Ultramodern Oligarchic Manifesto, 1934
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1935 Jan.-Mar.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1935 Apr.-May 14
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1935 May 15-June
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1935 July-Sept.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1935 Oct.-Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1935
Printed Material: Outside Sources, [1935]
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1936 Jan.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1936 Feb.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1936 Mar.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1936 Apr.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1936 May-July
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1936 Aug.-Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1936
Printed Material: Outside Sources, [1936]
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1937 Jan.-Apr.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1937 May-Oct.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1937 Nov.-Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, [1937]
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1938 Jan.-Apr.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1938 May-July
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1938 Aug.-Oct.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1938 Nov.-Dec.; 1938
Printed Material: Outside Sources, [1938]
Printed Material: Outside Sources, [1936-1938]
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1939 Jan.-Feb.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1939 Mar.-June
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1939 July-Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1939
Printed Material: Outside Sources, [1930-1939]
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1940 Jan.-June
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1940 July-Dec.
Printed Material: Outside Sources, 1941-1942
Printed Material: Outside Sources, [1938-1942]
Printed Material: Outside Sources, Posters, 1939-1940
Printed Material: Outside Sources, Ephemera, 1918-1928
Printed Material: Outside Sources, Ephemera, 1935-1939, undated
Series IV. Newspaper Clippings, 1917-1938, undated
Scope and Contents note
This series contains mostly newspaper clippings collected by ADS. Clippings concern topics of interest to the society, as well as ADS activities. Also included in this series are a few complete editions of daily newspapers.
Clippings are arranged by year. Those that were previously attached to correspondence or memorandums are filed separately. Please note that many of these clippings are brittle.