This series contains considerable correspondence pertaining to a variety of SDF affairs and the first SDF convention held at Pittsburgh in 1937. The items within each of these five files are arranged in chronological order. The bulk of the national correspondence (X:l, X:2) pertains to such routine SDF matters as scheduling meetings and special events, receiving dues, resolving membership problems, handling literature requests, and organizing fund raising campaigns. Besides these routine items, the correspondence also contains information on the Socialist Party split in 1936, the controversial alliance between the SDF and the American Labor Party, the numerous attempts to unite the Socialist Party with the SDF, the recruitment of SDF members and the defection of Socialist Party locals to the SDF, the repudiation of the "Popular Front" issue, the SDF's strong support for American participation in World War II, the SDF's attitude towards the 1940 and 1944 Presidential campaigns, the SDF's support for full employment and fair employment practices, the decline of the SDF in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and the steps taken towards the 1957 merger of the SDF and the Socialist Party. Most of the correspondence is from August Claessens, but there are numerous letters from Leo Meltzer, Algernon Lee, William Karlin, Sarah Limbach, Louis Waldman, Tom Mooney, Lena Morrow Lewis, Sonia Teitelman, Jasper McLevy, Roger Baldwin, Darlington Hoopes, Esther Friedman, James Oneal, George H. Goebel, and Norman Thomas. The SDF convention files (X:3 X:5) include press releases, organizational papers, correspondence, minutes, resolutions, and the SDF constitution and bylaws.

This series contains files on 42 state branches, the District of Columbia, and four countries, including Argentina (X:50), Canada (X:51), Mexico (X:52), and Switzerland (X:53). There is also a file on the armed forces which is located between the state and international files (X:49). The largest files in this part of the collection pertain to state branches in California (X:8), Florida (X:13), Illinois (X:15), Massachusetts (X:25), and the District of Columbia (X:46). Most of the other state branches as well as the foreign countries have relatively small files. The state branch files are arranged in alphabetical order according to the name of the state. The international files are also arranged in alphabetical order and are located after the state branch files. Items within each state branch and international file have been arranged in chronological order, with undated items placed at the end of the file.

The contents of the state and international files relate primarily to such routine organizational matters as literature requests, membership and dues problems, and meetings. of special interest in these files are the papers of Mayor Jasper McLevy of Bridgeport, Connecticut (X:11). Other interesting items within these files are the Indiana State Executive Committee minutes (X:18) and the Pennsylvania State Executive Committee minutes (X:37).

The Jewish Socialist Verband Files contain a correspondence file (X:54) and a dues report (X:55). The items within these two files are arranged in chronological order. Besides several routine items, these papers contain information on the close relationship between this prominent socialist organization and the SDF.

This series contains 11 files which pertain to various SDF committees (X:56 X:66). The files are arranged in alphabetical order according to the name of the committee. Items within each committee file have been arranged in chronological order. One of the most interesting files in this section pertains to the Fred E. Beal case (X:56). In 1938 and 1939, the SDF conducted a vigorous campaign in support of the release of Fred E. Beal who was serving a 17 to 20 year prison term for being convicted of murdering a police chief during the 1929 Gastonia, North Carolina, textile workers strike. It was the SDF's belief that Beal was convicted because of his association with the Communist Party and his labor organizing activities. Another important file in this section pertains to the Spanish Workers Fund (X:65). The SDF organized the Spanish Workers Fund in the mid 1930s for the purpose of offering financial assistance, food, and medical supplies to the supporters of the Loyalists during the Spanish Civil War. Two other prominent files in this section pertain to the National Committee for the Protection and Welfare of Persecuted and oppressed European Victims (X:62) and the Women's Committee of the SDF (X:66).

This series contains accounts receivable (X:67), bequests (X:68), charters (X:69), mailing lists (X:70), miscellaneous papers (X:71), pledges (X:72), and pledge cards (X:73). These files are arranged in alphabetical order according to the document type. Items within each file are arranged in chronological order.

The literature files contain literature committee papers (X:74), literature requests (X:75), Roosevelt campaign leaflet papers (X:76), New Leader SDF controversy papers (X:77 X:79). and miscellaneous items (X:80). These files are arranged in alphabetical order according to the title of the file. The only exception to this order are the New Leader SDF controversy papers and the miscellaneous items. These four files follow the Roosevelt campaign leaflet file in the filming order. Items within each literature file are arranged in chronological order.

The New Leader SDF controversy files are the most interesting items in the literature section of this collection. These three files contain correspondence and statements relating to James Oneal's resignation as editor of the New Leader, the prolonged dispute between the New Leader's editorial board and the SDF leadership, the eventual withdrawal of the New Leader from the SDF, and the early SDF discussions on the formation of a new publication. Among the major correspondents are August Claessens, James Oneal, Sol M. Levitas, and Algernon Lee.

This series constitutes the largest part of this collection, and contains correspondence, financial papers, minutes, resolutions, statements, position papers, reports, and memoranda. The bulk of the New York City material is correspondence (X:81). Most of the correspondence pertains to the 1930s and early 1940s, although there are items from the early 1950s. The correspondence relates primarily to such routine organizational matters as establishing new branches and locals; scheduling meetings, rallies, and special conferences; recording dues and other membership information; handling literature requests; and sponsoring bazaars and theater parties. There are items in the correspondence, however, which convey information about the first SDF convention in 1937, financial problems affecting the SDF, the defection of Socialist Party locals to the SDF, SDF's relationship with New York City unions, the Moscow Trials, socialist refugees from Europe who worked with the SDF, the death of B. Charney Vladeck in 1939, the 1940 campaign to attract young people into the SDF, the formation of the Social Democratic Youth in 1941, the decline in SDF membership during the early 1940s, and the SDF Bazaars in the early 1950s. The principal correspondent in this file is August Claessens, but there are also numerous letters from Julius Gerber, George Field, James Oneal, B. Charney Vladeck, Jacob Panken, Louis Waldman, Lena Morrow Lewis, Sonia Teitelman, Leo Meltzer, Mark Starr, Algernon Lee, Sol Levitas, Alfred Baker Lewis, and Adolph Warshow.

Other major files in this section are the minutes of the New York City Central and Executive Committee (X:83 and X:85, respectively) papers of radio station WEVD (X:88), and various miscellaneous items (X:87). The WEVD correspondence is especially interesting in that it contains information about programming, editorial viewpoints, and the use of air time by the SDF leadership. The miscellaneous file contains city convention reports and resolutions for 1945, 1946, and 1949; minutes of meetings which discuss the American Labor Party and New Leader controversies; Branch Officer and County Executive Committee minutes; and Grievance Committee reports.

The New York State files contain papers of the New York State branch of the SDF (X:89). The papers in this file consist of routine correspondence, credential reports for the 1936 Socialist Party convention, and minutes of the New York State Executive Committee and the 1941 New York State conference. The minutes have been interfiled with the correspondence and reports. The items within this file have been arranged in chronological order.

The miscellaneous series contains several financial papers and a folder consisting of advertising layouts.