Robert Klonsky Papers
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Abstract
Robert Klonsky was born March 12, 1918 and grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, NY, in a garment worker's family of Russian Jewish descent. He sailed for Europe, traveling under the name Max Klonsky, on February 5, 1937 and arrived in Spain in time to fight with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Battle of Jarama in the same month. He later took part in the Battle of Brunete and, suffering ill health, left Spain in October 1937. After serving in World War II, he settled in Los Angeles, where he became active in the Communist Party of California and in many campaigns for peace and human rights. He died in Chicago in 2002. The collection includes typed transcripts of 23 letters and postcards written by Klonsky from Spain during the Spanish Civil War; they are addressed to various members of his family, including his older brother, Mac. Also included are World War II letters; clippings; a flyer for a James Connolly Commemoration at Jarama, 1937 (photocopy); a text of a speech by Klonsky in Leningrad, 1970s; an article about Klonsky by Floyce Alexander; documents relating to Klonsky's work in the Communist Party; testimony related to HUAC hearings; and Klonsky's speech at his subsequent trial under the Smith Act. Incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence, include a letter from Ray Bradbury, 1966, one from William O. Douglas, 1963, and drafts of a long letters from Klonsky to Henry Winston and Bettina Aptheker.
Historical/Biographical Note
Robert Klonsky was born March 12, 1918 and grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, NY, in a garment worker's family of Russian Jewish descent. He sailed for Europe, traveling under the name Max Klonsky, on February 5, 1937 and arrived in Spain in time to fight with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Battle of Jarama in the same month. He later took part in the Battle of Brunete and, suffering ill health, left Spain in October 1937.
Klonsky served in World War II, where he saw action in Saipan and Okinawa, and after the War settled in Los Angeles, where he was active in the Communist Party of California and in many campaigns for peace, civil rights and human rights (especially in Latin America). For some years he ran a bookstore near the UCLA campus; the store was destroyed by arsonists, who painted swastikas on its wall. He worked closely with the Hollywood Ten and others who were subject to government investigation for "subversive" activity. In the 1950s he was tried under the Smith Act, was convicted of "conspiring to advocate Marxist views," and served time in prison. The case was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court. After forty years in California he moved to Santa Fe, NM. An article describing his experiences in Spain and his later political activity, "Alma sin Fronteras" (Soul without Frontiers) by Floyce Alexander, appeared in the Albuquerque (NM) Journal on May 12, 1987. The article includes a dramatic account of the death in Spain of his friend, Boston volunteer John Lenthier. Robert Klonsky died in Chicago on September 7, 2002.
Arrangement
Files are organized in 1 series: I. General files, 1937-1999.
Folders are arranged alphabetically.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes typed transcripts of 23 letters and postcards written by Klonsky from Spain during the Spanish Civil War; they are addressed to various members of his family, including his older brother, Mac. Also included are World War II letters; clippings; a flyer for a James Connolly Commemoration at Jarama, 1937 (photocopy); a text of a speech by Klonsky in Leningrad, 1970s; an article on Klonsky by Floyce Alexander; documents relating to Klonsky's work in the Communist Party, incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence; testimony related to HUAC hearings; and Klonsky's speech at his subsequent trial under the Smith Act.
Subjects
Organizations
People
Access Restrictions
Materials are open to researchers. Please contact the Tamiment Library & Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives for more information and to schedule an appointment, tamiment.wagner@nyu.edu or 212-998-2630.
Use Restrictions
Any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) held by the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA), were transferred to New York University by the ALBA Board of Governors. Permission to publish or reproduce materials in this collection must be secured from the Tamiment Library & Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives. For more information, contact tamiment.wagner@nyu.edu or 212-998-2630.
Provenance
The Klonsky Papers came to the Tamiment Library as part of the original acquisition of ALBA collections, formerly at Brandeis University, in 2001.
About this Guide
Repository
Series I: General Files, 1937-1999.
Scope and Content Note
The collection includes typed transcripts of 23 letters and postcards written by Klonsky from Spain during the Spanish Civil War; they are addressed to various members of his family, including his older brother, Mac. Also included are World War II letters; clippings; a flyer for a James Connolly Commemoration at Jarama, 1937 (photocopy); a text of a speech by Klonsky in Leningrad, 1970s; an article about Klonsky by Floyce Alexander; documents relating to Klonsky's work in the Communist Party, incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence, including a letter from Ray Bradbury, 1966, one from William O. Douglas, 1963, and a draft of long letters from Klonsky to Henry Winston and Bettina Aptheker; testimony related to HUAC hearings; and Klonsky's speech at his subsequent trial under the Smith Act.
